Buffalo beats the Central Division’s top team with a strong, disciplined performance.
Score: Sabres 4, Avalanche 0
Shots: BUF 29, COL 23
Buffalo Sabres Goals: JJ Peterka (4), Casey Mittelstadt (2), Tyson Jost (1), Rasmus Dahlin (2)
Colorado Avalanche Goals: None
Plus 1: Peterka and Skinner Open Things Up
After the Colorado Avalanche dominated the first period’s initial 10 minutes, JJ Peterka beat Avs’ goaltender Alexandar Georgiev with a wrister and an assist from Jeff Skinner to put Buffalo on the board first. Peterka’s fourth goal this season changed the momentum and gave the Sabres and their fans something to cheer about.
Skinner’s skill, both with scoring goals and setting up other players such as Peterka, continues to shine in moments like these.
Plus 2: Mitts Makes it Two
Leading 1-0 into the second period, the Sabres had to kill off an overlapping penalty, a Zach Benson two-minute minor for tripping Cale Makar. Almost as soon as Buffalo returned to full strength, Casey Mittelstadt beat Georgiev with a wrist shot and help from Skinner and Henri Jokiharju. Mitts keeps finding ways to score and it’s exciting to watch.
Plus 3: Jost Widens the Lead
At the 12:50 mark of the second period, Mattias Samuelsson was penalized two minutes for tripping Mikko Ratanen. Fortunately for the Sabres, Colorado couldn’t capitalize with the man advantage and once its power play ended, Jost scored a wrister with an assist from Alex Tuch and Owen Power to make it 3-0 Buffalo.
Jost is one of the Sabres’ quieter scorers so far and his first goal this season is something we’d all like to see more of.
Plus 4: Dahlin Delivers Knock Out Blow
Down 3-0 well into the third, the Avs pulled their goalie early to try to get some pucks in Buffalo’s net. Thankfully for any nervous Sabres fans who watched their team blow leads recently, Rasmus Dahlin took control of the puck and shot it down the ice into Colorado’s empty net to put this one away.
Dahlin is a great offensive-minded defenseman. Not content to just dump it out of Buffalo’s zone, No. 26 made sure the Avalanche couldn’t get back in the game and score a late goal or two.
Plus 5: UPL Shuts Out Division-Leading Opponent
BigDadEnergy FKA Mr.Ibu had the Comment of the Game: “Ukko Pekka Lookslockedin.” Backup goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was thrust into a starting role when Devon Levi and Eric Comrie both became injured. After a rough ending against the Ottawa Senators and a tough loss versus the New Jersey Devils, UPL was incredible, blocking 23 shots and shutting out one of the NHL’s top teams.
With Comrie and Levi both out for a while, the Sabres may need Luukkonen to keep this up and perform the same way against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Final Thoughts
The Buffalo Sabres have been up and down this October, unfortunately more down than up. However, they played a nearly solid 60 minutes against one of the NHL’s best rosters. Time and again throughout the afternoon, Buffalo closed off Colorado’s scoring opportunities, protected its own net and took advantage of Georgiev’s weak spots to come away with four goals and two points.
Good teams find ways to win against tough opponents like the Avs. Colorado tested the hosts through three periods and the home team not only beat off the challenge, they shut out the visitors and closed out the game in the third period. The Sabres will need to maintain that effort if they hope to improve on last year’s record.
Next up, Buffalo goes on the road to face the Flyers Wednesday night. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m at Wells Fargo Center.