Krebs, Byram Seal the Deal Late In Gritty Win
Boxscore
Score: Buffalo Sabres 4-3 New York Islanders
Shots: BUF 33-28 NYI
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Quinn 18 PPG (Norris); Thompson 38 PPG (Norris, Quinn); Krebs 11 (Tuch, Thompson); Byram 11 EN (Samuelsson)
New York Islanders Goals: Ritchie 12 PPG (Schenn, Horvat); Lee 18 (Horvat, Schaefer); Schenn 17 (Barzal, Horvat)
Quick Thoughts
A Better Start
After a few games where the Sabres found themselves playing catch-up, this was a good start to the game for two pretty quick teams. Buffalo’s aggression meant the Isles had a couple of odd-man rushes but were unable to create shooting opportunities from them. The Sabres’ passing wasn’t as crisp as we’ve seen in recent weeks, but they were quick to cover and prevent any damage.
Byram hadn’t scored since early January, but presented with a couple of shooting chances early he missed the target. Then midway through the period a pass found him alone on Sorokin with his back to goal, but he turned and chose to pass instead.
Good to see Greenway back – good passing, strong on the forecheck and standing up players at the blue line.
The second line of Quinn – McLeod – Zucker had a couple of good looks, not least when a Dahlin stretch pass was almost corraled by McLeod who had skated away from the Isles. Quinn’s promotion to the top power play unit might have been met with skepticism, but his stick-handling skill and wicked shot were on full display when he made Pelech pay for high-sticking Doan.
Malenstyn then snuck in behind the defense and Greenway found him with a deft flick, but his backhander was well-saved by Sorokin to keep Beck from adding another story to his legend. Benson also had a shot that went off Sorokin’s mask and the crossbar.
Sabres had the 12-5 shots edge, and 10-4 on scoring chances to banish the ghosts of their recent slow starts in the last night of their four-game homestand.
Sorokin Wins The Second
Another high-sticking penalty, this time on Byram, led to nearly two minutes of possession for the Sabres, filled with good feet and puck movement, but just the one shot. That then led to more sustained possession for the Sabres but Lee then pounced on an errant pass to break away. Power slashed the Isle and was penalized, with the referee deeming it a penalty shot. UPL is yet to be beaten in the shootout, and brought his wizardry to regulation time making an excellent glove save to maintain the Sabres lead.
Side note: Don Stevens, the soon-to-retire voice of the Amerks, was in house tonight as he was being honored by the organization and even stepped into the booth to call UPL’s penalty shot save.
Quinn drove to the net and was stood up, and as the puck lay in the blue paint Zucker followed up but got stuffed by Sorokin’s pad, with the Isles’ starter not showing any of the yips he had last night when yielding half a dozen goals to the Pens.
Seconds after a lazy clearance from Dahlin almost gifted the Islanders a peach of a chance, Benson did a great job holding on to the puck on a rush and waiting for the second wave to follow up. The puck came to Dahlin who had a scoring chance from the slot but was unable to beat Sorokin.
With a shade over two minutes left in the period, Samuelsson took a delay of game penalty to give the visitors a chance to level the game, and they took it with both hands. Just sixteen seconds in a neat passing sequence ended up with Schenn finding Ritchie in the blue paint with UPL overcommitted and not a single blue sweater within six feet of him.
Lee then crunched Norris with a big hit to the boards that had him bleeding from the mouth as his face bounced off the stanchion, and as the Isles players whooped and yelped only Dahlin stepped up to the Isle. After a minute or two down, the center got up and left the ice, and despite the refs consulting with each other, no penalty was called.
Buffalo certainly seemed woken up after that, nailing a couple of big hits that created a couple of chances as well, but the period ended with the game tied and the Sabres ahead on shots 19-15.
A Big Third
It was a relief to see Norris back on the bench with a bloody lower lip and none the worse for wear. Thompson went dancing between Soucy and Schaefer, with the former then high-sticking Tage to give up a power play. Norris would then have his revenge, setting up Thompson to fire home from the slot on the ensuing man advantage and the Sabres were back in the lead early in the third. Thompson being more mobile and moving around in the middle instead of his lower left position has definitely made the power play more dangerous.
Metsa then stepped up into the offensive zone and almost found Tage’s stick in the blue paint, but Sorokin was out quick. Power used his gangly reach to stop the Isles breaking out, and Benson then had a couple of prime shooting attempts but the visitors were able to fend him off.
Quinn then danced through a couple of players to get a backhand on Sorokin, and as the Isles started pushing up the game got more stretched. Mayfield smacked Norris’ head off the boards and the Sabres forward had had enough of the targeting, throwing a crosscheck at the Isles’ goon and with both players in the box, the refs earned the crowd’s boos after giving Norris the additional minor.
With KBC fired up, the Sabres maintained discipline on the penalty kill and were able to see out the two minutes with just under half the period left to play. Playing with a lead allowed Doan and Benson to go into full attack-dog mode on the forecheck as the Islanders struggled to get out past their own blue line at times.
Youngster Schaefer continued to get to the Sabres blue line with ease which created chances for others even when he was eventually closed down. He ended up playing an astounding 29:40 in this game and picked up one assist. Power then had the misfortune of seeing a speculative Lee shot bounce off his toe and in behind a surprised UPL for the game’s first 5-v-5 goal, 2-2.
Seconds later Benson couldn’t make enough contact on a 3-on-2 break as the clock ticked into the last five minutes of the game, with both sides looking like they could steal the points.
Enter Alex Tuch. The Syracuse native drove to the net, went around and with a wraparound pass found Krebs who hammered home high over Sorokin’s shoulder, with a shade over three minutes to play. The Isles then pulled their goalie with over two and a half to go, and as they buzzed around a calm UPL, a big Sammy hit allowed Byram to loft a nearly two-hundred-footer into the net to make it 4-2.
The Islanders pulled Sorokin again and buzzed the Sabres goal to try put some gloss on this defeat, scoring with exactly one second still on the clock, but that didn’t stop Tuch and Power giving Lee a warm farewell with some kind words after the final horn, 4-3 the final score. The Sabres outshot the Isles 33-28, and beat them 31-20 on scoring chances as well.
At The Horn
Against a desperate opponent, the Buffalo Sabres were tested on both ends of the ice and found ways to win. UPL finished yet another game with a positive goals saved above expected to outduel Sorokin. Byram ended his long scoring drought with the gamewinner while Krebs once again proved how valuable a piece he can be for these Sabres. Let’s not forget Quinn who is finding his scoring touch late in the season and finally a shout out to Norris. Often chided for his injury record, he proved he belongs out there tonight, taking his lumps and having the last laugh with two points as well. Have a good flight back home Anders Lee.
The Sabres became the eleventh NHL franchise to record 2,000 wins with tonight’s victory, and also hit the 100 point milestone. Canadiens beat the Lightning to leave the latter at 98 while Montreal is now at 96 and threatening to catch Tampa Bay. The Bruins aren’t giving up yet, winning again and they sit at 94 points. Unfortunately Carolina also won so they lead the Eastern Conference having played a game less than Buffalo.