Another great game for the Sabres that they controlled from start to finish tonight, beating the Kings 4-1 at home to stay red hot in the third playoff spot in the Atlantic, with a record setting night for Alex Lyon and Alex Tuch getting a hat trick!
Alex Tuch started the scoring tonight, on the power play, taking the puck off the wall, spinning around and just throwing it in front of the net, deflecting it off a skate and into the back of the net to put the Sabres up 1-0, 7:14 into the game. The Sabres made it 2-0 on Mattias Samuelsson’s ninth goal of the season, with some quick passing on the wall setting up a rocket from Sammy with 8:45 left in the first. We got outshot 12-8, but have a 2-0 lead with a solid period for Buffalo.
A few minutes into the second period, Lyon got run into as the Kings were entering the Sabres zone and after he got up quick enough to make an initial save, the puck went in the net. They called it a goal on the ice, then immediately reviewed it and took it off the board for goaltender interference. Which was the right move. Then with 13:31 left in the second, the Sabres added to their lead as Alex Tuch tipped in a shot from the point by Bowen Byram to make it 3-0 Buffalo. The Kings answered on the power play, just eleven seconds into it with Dahlin in the box, with Adrian Kempe sneaking through to the crease for a quick redirection past Lyon to get LA back within two with 12:14 to go in the period. I thought we played well as the Kings pushed pretty hard in that second period, with the Sabres staying strong on the back end.
Alex Tuch completed his hat trick, the second game in a row that a Sabres player has gotten one with the hats of KeyBank Center flying to the ice, capping off the 4-1 win with 59.9 seconds to go.
FINAL: Sabres 4, Kings 1
Another huge win tonight, in a great game that we controlled from start to finish. We scored early and didn’t look back. Even when the Kings were pressing, especially in the second period, the Sabres held on and played well defensively. Alex Lyon makes it a ten game win streak setting the Sabres franchise record for most straight wins for a goaltender, while Alex Tuch led the way offensively, being the third Buffalo player this month alone to get a hat trick! Feels like we have to re-sign him now, or at least keep him through the end of the season. Can’t trade him at the deadline.
What a game! Two huge points with both Boston and Montreal winning again tonight.
Let’s keep rolling to the Olympic break!
Let’s go Buffalo!
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 