Late Miscues Turn Into Mammoth Utah Victory
Score: Buffalo Sabres 2-5 Utah Hockey Club
Shots: BUF 27-32 UTAH
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Peterka (20) McLeod (16)
Utah Hockey Club Goals: Cooley (19) Sergachev (12) Guenther (25) Stenlund (1) Sergachev (13)
Plus 1: Peterrrrka!
The Sabres were happy to have J.J. Peterka back in this one. He started strong and slid right back into the lineup. Peterka was skating hard early and had two of Buffalo’s best chances. Later, Utah took the game’s first penalty, a holding call against defender Ian Cole. The Sabres had a few good looks with the man advantage, especially a late chance from Rasmus Dahlin. Utah’s goalie Karel Vejmelka was up to the challenge and the penalty was killed. Buffalo returned the favor by killing off a Utah power play on another holding call on Tyson Kozak. The rest of the period was back and forth with very little physical play, just hard and fast skating. Buffalo’s best chance was a scramble in front of the Utah net with the top line on. But late in the period, a rare bad turnover from Ryan McLeod led to a Utah goal. Pressured behind the net, the puck ended up right in front all alone for two Utah players. Logan Cooley buried a quick pass from Nick Schmaltz and it was 1-0. Buffalo’s starter James Reimer was helpless on the play.
Now late in the period, Buffalo’s Peyton Krebs drew on a penalty on Ian Cole once again. This time the Sabres cashed in. At the 19:49 mark, Peterka drilled home a nice pass from Jason Zucker to tie the game. It was J.J.’s 20th goal of the season. Tage Thompson also picked up an assist on the PP goal. It was a huge tally to even the score late and the Sabres skated off tied at 1-1. The shots favored Buffalo 11-10 in the period and the Sabres outhit Utah 7-4. The Blue and Gold also dominated on the faceoffs, winning 66 percent. It was a good overall period, minus that one turnover.
Minus 1: I’m a Loser, Baby
Just seconds into the 2nd period, Buffalo appeared to get on the board as Beck Malenstyn skated by Vejmelka screening him. The shot came in, deflected and ended up in the net. But right away Vejmelka complained of interference and on the replay, it did appear Malenstyn made contact with his stick. The refs took a long look at it but the goal was waved off. It has been a long while since Beck has scored a goal and he will have to wait longer still. For much of the period after that, it was back and forth with each team trading a power play. Each man advantage looked equally awful. The scoring chances were down from the first period. But with just over 8 minutes left in the period, Utah won a draw, crowded the net in front and scored from the point. Mikhail Sergachev blasted home his 12th of the year on a shot James Reimer never saw. It was a great screen in front of the goalie, take note Sabres.
Krebs for Buffalo took a penalty on the draw late, pulling the puck back with his glove. It set up a near full power play for Utah to start the third. After two periods, the Sabres were down 2-1. Utah took the lead in shots at 21-20. Buffalo still led in hits and in the faceoff circle.
Minus 2: On McLeod Nine, Then a Free Fall
As the Sabres were killing that penalty to start the third, Ryan McLeod made up for his 1st period blunder big time. He picked up a loose puck at center ice, skated in on Vejmelka and backhanded a beauty top shelf. He was badgered from behind but used his speed and skill to tie the game for Buffalo. The goal was short handed and unassisted. Utah picked up their game after that and James Reimer had to come up with some big saves, two without his stick. Krebs then picked up his second straight penalty, this time for hooking. Reimer had to come up big once again until Utah quickly picked up a call of their own. The game remained scoreless for a while but the Sabres were on their heels for much of it. Utah then scored after Reimer made a save but the puck found it’s way off to the side. He had no idea where it was as Dylan Guenther slammed it home. Rasmus Dahlin’s turnover on the play was a killer.
Buffalo pulled the goalie late but Tage Thompson’s pass back to the point went out of the zone. The puck bounced off the boards and carried down right into the net. There was a delayed call for high sticking on the play. The Sabres should have given up the puck for a two man advantage. Instead, mistakes and a bad pass and then empty net city. Still having a power play, the Sabres pulled Reimer again. Same result, right into the yawning cage. A tight close hockey game that could have gone either way turned into a 5-2 drubbing. Or maybe clubbing is the right word here.
Final Thoughts: The Diehards Deserved Better
Buffalo played a pretty good game for 2 and 1/4 periods but Utah picked up the offense in the 3rd. They controlled the tempo late and if it wasn’t for Reimer, it would have been 5-2 without the empty netters. I thought he played a solid game for Buffalo, can’t really blame him for either of the first two goals. Defensive breakdowns more than anything is what kills this team.
Karel Vejmelka beat Buffalo twice this year and is now 5-2-1 in his career against the Sabres.
J.J. Peterka looked solid coming off his injury, he had plenty of chances plus his 20th goal of the year. I think Rasmus Dahlin would like a do-over in that game.
The road trip continues with game 3 of 4 on Saturday. The Sabres play an afternoon affair with the Minnesota Wild at 2 pm Eastern Time.