Score: Sabres 3 | Wild 2
Shots: MIN 32 | BUF 28
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Casey Mittelstadt (13), Dylan Cozens (11), Henri Jokiharju (3)
Minnesota Wild Goals: Joel Eriksson Ek (25), Declan Chisholm (1)
Plus-1: A Productive First Period…Almost
As fans are well aware at this point in the season, the Sabres have a tendency to fall behind in the first period and struggle to recover during, well, most games. Today was a bit different as they scored in the final minutes of the opening period. Unfortunately for Buffalo, though, it was ruled offside (on a power play, no less!). Tage Thompson’s goal was erased after he put himself offside and the score reverted back to 0-0 going into the first intermission. While this was not the best outcome for the visiting team, Buffalo still managed to avoid that dreaded deficit – thanks in large part to some great saves made by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is thankfully back between the pipes following a brief injury.
Plus-2: Luuuukkkkkk
Though both the first and second periods garnered zero goals for either team, the goaltending on both sides was impressive. The Sabres managed only three shots in the second period compared to the Wild’s 10, which was a bit discouraging for Buffalo fans. Luckily, Luukkonen was sharp throughout those 40 minutes, even aggressively skating out towards center ice to stop a breakaway by Minnesota forward Connor Dewar.
By the end of the second period, Luukkonen had stopped 22 total shots to help keep his club in the game, 0-0.
Plus-3: On the Board First!
After winning the opening faceoff in the third period (somewhat rare these days as Buffalo’s faceoff win percentage can be unimpressive), Rasmus Dahlin fought to keep possession of the puck. Dylan Cozens – though struggling a significant amount this year – hustled with the puck and fed it to Casey Mittelstadt along the boards in the neutral zone. Rather than wasting time with floundering passes, Mittelstadt made a quick decision with a wrister that buried the puck behind Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson.
Minus-1: Momentum Shift
Just a few minutes after Mittelstadt’s goal, the Wild earned their spot on the scoreboard to tie it up with just under 16 minutes remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, it was downhill for the Sabres from there (at least until the final seconds of the third period). Connor Clifton found himself serving a double minor penalty after a high-sticking call and the home team snagged their first lead of the game, 2-1. The Wild’s second – and first NHL goal by defenseman Chisholm – came at the tale-end of Clifton’s penalty through plenty of traffic, giving Luukkonen no chance to stop it.
Plus-4: Welcome Back, Greenway
As time ticked down, the Sabres fought back from their only deficit of the game and tied it up to take the game into ‘oooovertime’ as Rick Jeanneret would say.
Jordan Greenway – in his first game in a Buffalo uniform at his old arena – whacked at the puck as it dribbled through Gustavsson’s pads to make it 2-2. Though it was originally given to Greenway, Cozens would be credited with the goal later on following a closer look.
Henri Jokiharju later sealed the deal with his game-winning goal after a nice assist from Alex Tuch. Jokiharju’s goal came not a moment too soon: after a 31-game goalless drought for the Finnish defenseman.
Three Stars:
1. Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen (32 saves)
2. Henri Jokiharju (1G, 1A)
3. Joel Eriksson Ek (1G)