It’s been a few games that I haven’t had a chance to blog, but today the Sabres played a really solid game, beating the Devils 4-3 in a matinee after a hot start at home for our third straight win.
Fun start to the game, with both teams getting some good chances early, especially for the Devils with two fantastic saves from UPL. Tage Thompson continued his hot run, scoring the first goal of the game, getting the rebound on the rush from an Owen Power shot right in the slot as Jersey was making a line change, putting the Sabres up 1-0, 8:11 into the game. JJ Peterka with a beautiful move in front of the goal to keep the puck on his stick in the second effort of a rush from Tage Thompson made it 2-0 Buffalo with 4:10 left in the first period. In the closing minute of the period, with 28.6 seconds left, Ryan McLeod got on a breakaway to make it 3-0 shorthanded. Really solid first period for Buffalo.
The Sabres thought that Luukkonen made the save, but after a lengthy review overturned what wasn’t called a goal on the ice, the Devils got on the board on second effort by Justin Dowling, pushing the bouncing puck just past the goal line as the net came off it’s moorings 4:43 into the second, making it a 3-1 game. With 2:35 left in the second period, Jason Zucker put the Sabres back up three on a tip into the empty net from a spectacular pass by Tage on a little drop pass right in front of Allen.
Just 18 seconds into the third, Paul Cotter scored on a perfectly placed top shelf short side shot to make it 4-2. What a shot. Tage Thompson got blown up with a hit to the head by Stefan Noesen, getting booted from the game. Not even one Sabres played did anything about it though. Pathetic. After taking the five minute penalty, the Devils scored shorthanded with 14:28 to go in regulation as Jesper Bratt hit a streaking Jack Hughes on a two on one to make it a one goal game. The Devils poured it on in the third period, but with their hot start in the first period, the Sabres were able to sustain that pressure to get the win.
FINAL: Sabres 4, Devils 3
Really good start to get our third win in a row. Even though the Devils were the far better team in the third period, that lead early was enough to get the win.
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