The first period certainly had a lot to talk about. We’ll start with the bad. At the end of a power play, Matt Tennyson missed a pass to the point and Joonas Donskoi was stepping out of the box. He picked up the loose puck and beat Lehner with a nice shot under the bar to put the Sharks ahead.
While we’re on the topic of power play’s the Sabres officially went 0-4 in the opening period. However, Jack Eichel did score on the fourth chance with the man advantage, but it was called back. Upon review, Sam Reinhart made slight contact with Aaron Dell which was ruled enough to have impeded the Sharks goalie from across to stop Eichel.
Eichel rips one in for a goal on his 21st Birthday pic.twitter.com/vqr7WFJmG7
— Sabres Fanatics (@SabresFanatics) October 28, 2017
The Sabres played pretty well and the line changes seemed to be working through the first 20 minutes.
The entertaining game continued into the second period. The Sabres got on the board early in the period with a bomb that beat Dell high. Also, it finally got the team a much needed power play goal on their fifth chance of the game.
ROR’s 4th of the season, assisted by @bookerT2116 and Reinhart 🤙#Sabres pic.twitter.com/9YaKWVy2sF
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 28, 2017
After a quick start to the period by the Sabres, the Sharks controlled the middle part of the period. Lehner had to make a few good saves to keep the game tied, including a nice toe save on Donskoi.
Buffalo would jump in front on Jason Pominville’s sixth of the season. Birthday boy Eichel would pick up an assist on the goal.
The Sabres appeared to be headed to the third period with the lead, but got a little bad luck at the end of the period. Melker Karlsson fired a wrap around shot chest high across the crease. Unfortunately for the Sabres it would hit Chris Tierney in the chest as he was standing at the far post and drop down for a tap in goal to tie the game with just over ten seconds left in the period.
The Sabres had a few chances in the third period, but the rough times continued. With just under four minutes left in the game Logan Couture scored the winning goal with a nice snipe over the shoulder of Lehner.
Sabres head out west again and face the currently winless Arizona Coyotes next Thursday.
Three Stars
1. Logan Couture
2. Joonas Donskoi
3. Ryan O’Reilly
What to Watch
1. Afternoon Delight
Not so much.
2. Lineup Shuffle
The lines looked a lot so that’s some good news.
3. Can Lehner keep it going in the right direction?
Kind of. Made some good saves, but that last goal is tough. Perhaps you just have to tip your cap to Couture on a great shot.