Calgary, Alta. (WGR 550) - Stop No. 2 of three for the Buffalo Sabres in Western Canada went as well as the first, as the blue and gold doubled up the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday night, 6-3.
The home team struck first, as just 4:21 into the game, Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane potted his second goal of the season with help from linemates Nazem Kadri and Dillon Dube.
The Sabres answered quickly a little over two minutes later. Dylan Cozens' first goal of the season came as he stuck to the play and jammed home a loose puck.
Just past the halfway point of the opening period, a bit of history was made by fifth-year defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the midst of an ongoing scoring streak. Dahlin's fourth goal in as many games not only made the score 2-1, he becomes the first defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in each of the first four games of the season.
The rampant Sabres attack continued later in the frame, as Casey Mittelstadt joined the fun on a penalty kill. Mittelstadt's first goal of the season was of the shorthanded variety, as he lifted a filthy backhand up above the reach of Calgary goalie Jacob Markstrom.
That goal-against was one of the last shots Markstrom faced on the night, as Flames head coach Darryl Sutter pulled the veteran netminder during the first intermission.
Sutter opted for backup Dan Vladar to start the middle frame, and he was promptly greeted by a shot from winger Alex Tuch that gave the Sabres a three-goal lead.
Buffalo's run of four unanswered goals came to a halt with two seconds left in the second period, as Calgary forward Trevor Lewis snuck a puck in-behind Comrie for his first goal of the season.
Things got interesting just 69 seconds into the third period, when former Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov scored a goal through a screen to cut the Buffalo lead to one, 4-3.
From that point on, though, it was the "Tuch Show" in Calgary.
Just minutes later, Tage Thompson and Tuch connected for the prettiest of power play goals to re-claim the multi-goal edge.
With less than two minutes to play, Tuch put the bow on his career night with an empty-net goal to mark his first career hat-trick.
Comrie made 40-plus saves for the second-consecutive game in the victory as the Sabres moved to 3-1-0 on the season.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 6:34 - Dylan Cozens (1) (Jacob Bryson, Vinnie Hinostroza); 10:49 - Rasmus Dahlin (4) (J-J Peterka, Vinnie Hinostroza); 13:10 - Casey Mittelstadt (1) SHG (Vinnie Hinostroza)
CGY: 4:21 - Andrew Mangiapane (2) (Nazem Kadri, Dillon Dube)
Second Period:
BUF: 0:46 - Alex Tuch (3) (Owen Power, Jacob Bryson)
CGY: 19:57 - Trevor Lewis (1) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Michael Stone)
Third Period:
BUF: 5:41 - Alex Tuch (4) PPG (Tage Thompson, Casey Mittelstadt); 18:35 - Alex Tuch (5) ENG (Unassisted)
CGY: 1:09 - Nikita Zadorov (1) (Rasmus Andersson, Tyler Toffoli)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 11:37 - Alex Tuch (Tripping - 2 min.)
CGY: 8:20 - Bench minor (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CGY: 5:01 - Chris Tanev (Hooking - 2 min.); 9:51 - Nikita Zadorov (Boarding - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CGY: 4:54 - Nikita Zadorov (Tripping - 2 min.); 15:44 - Rasmus Andersson (Interference - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Tuch - BUF
2.) Vinnie Hinostroza - BUF
3.) Casey Mittelstadt - BUF
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What's next:
The blue and gold head to Vancouver, British Columbia to visit the Canucks on Saturday night. Puck drop at Rogers Arena is set for 10 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550 - starting at 9 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.
