For 55 minutes of tonight’s game, the Sabres couldn’t find their way on to the score sheet. Then, down 1-0 late in the third, they scored two goals in 61 seconds and managed to hold on in the final minutes for a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
After a scoreless first, the Red Wings would open the scoring thanks to the once-coveted Brad Richards, who scored his second of the season to give the Red Wings the lead. After a forgettable thirty minutes, the Sabres found themselves down 1-0 with less than five minutes remaining. And that’s when Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Sam Reinhart finally clicked for a beautiful goal. Ristolainen made a great play along the boards to keep the puck in, and O’Reilly deflected Reinhart’s shot to tie the game.
And then, just 61 seconds later, Johan Larsson finally scored his first goal of the season, blasting home a wide open shot past Petr Mrazek to put the Sabres in front. The goal was challenged by Detroit, but was upheld on a clear win for the Sabres. After a wild final minute that saw Chad Johnson make an incredible diving save to keep the lead intact, Buffalo came out with the 2-1 win.
The victory was the first time the Sabres beat the Red Wings in regulation in Detroit since 1994, according to Sabres PR, which is an insane stat. The victory also snapped Detroit’s 13-game point streak, and gave the Sabres their second win in a row over a strong opponent.
Three Questions
1. Can the Sabres take advantage of a suddenly weak Red Wings PK?
The Sabres had three power plays tonight, but could not find the back of the net on any of them.
2. Will the Sabres be able to get the first goal?
No they could not. Detroit’s Brad Richards scored the game’s first goal, though it did take the Red Wings until the second period to get on the scoresheet.
2. Can ROR keep his point streak alive?
Yes! Ryan O’Reilly scored on a beautiful deflection to move his point streak to eight. May it never end.
Comment of the Game
AMAZING
NO DIMINUTIVE SABRES PLAYERS WERE OFFSIDE