Another night, another 4-1 win for the Buffalo Sabres.
Tonight, they got revenge against the Nashville Predators, who beat them earlier this week 3-2 in Buffalo. Tonight, in the Music City, the Sabres evened the season series and have now won their last two games in two days by a combined score of 8-2.
While Nashville opened the scoring with their only tally of the evening on a quick power play goal, the Sabres were helped by a power paly of their own, specifically a five minute major when Viktor Arvidsson cross-checked Carlo Colaiacovo in the throat. On the major penalty, the Sabres would get goals from Jamie McGinn and Sam Reinhart, and would never look back.
Colaiacovo, who was rushed to the hospital, has a “dented trachea” according to Bylsma, which sounds just awful, and Arvidsson was ejected from the game for the hit. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The Sabres third goal was Reinhart’s second of the night, and was helped in by Preds goalie Juuse Saros, making his NHL debut, when he kicked the puck backwards into his own net. Welcome to the league, kid. Ryan O’Reilly would add the empty netter at the end to give the Sabres their second consecutive 4-1 win.
Two Questions
1. Will the offensive good time continue for the Sabres?
Yes, in fact they won by exactly the same score they did Friday, 4-1. The Sabres scored more goals in their last two games (8) than in their previous six games (7), and they got scoring from up and down the lineup. Reinhart (2) O’Reilly, McGinn, Gorges, Eichel, Gionta and Legwand. That’s the balanced score sheet that the team has been missing for most of November.
2. Can the Sabres dominate possession as much as they did last time these teams met?
No, and actually tonight it was Nashville outshooting Buffalo and winning more faceoffs, but losing where it really counts – on the scoreboard.
Comment of the Game
My 3 year old son’s favorite player, he calls him “Auto Parts”
O, O, O, O’Reillyyyyyy….