UPL Played Strong, Goal Support Not There
Score: Buffalo Sabres 2-3 SO Florida Panthers
Shots: BUF 28-34 FLA
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Dahlin (17) PP Peterka (26) PP
Florida Panthers Goals: Verhaeghe (19) Jesse Puljujarvi (4)
NOTE: No photos from tonight’s game were available to use for this article.
Plus 1: UPL Sharp to Start
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was a surprise starter in this one and Florida tested him with a few shots early. Buffalo got a few chances too but soon after Connor Clifton took a boarding call, Panthers to the power play. UPL made a nice save from 10 feet out and then Beck Malenstyn blocked two shots, the second one up in his face. He’s a hockey player though and would return later. Buffalo killed it off effectively. Alex Tuch hit the pipe on a 2 on 1 soon after. Both teams went back and forth after that in a fast/physical period. Florida was getting most of the chances and were throwing the body around too.
Buffalo’s Tage Thompson got a glorious chance in alone late in the period but was stopped by Vitek Vanecek. There was a big scramble in front and another blocked shot before the Florida goalie covered it up to stop play. The Panthers then took a late penalty when Evan Rodrigues got called for tripping and Buffalo would cash in. Rasmus Dahlin skated in over the line with authority and dished it off to Jason Zucker. The captain went to the net like you SHOULD and slammed home the return pass from Zuck for a 1-0 Sabres’ lead. The goal came with just 19 seconds left in the period. JJ Peterka picked up an assist on the power play goal as well. Florida had 9 shots in the frame, Buffalo 7.
Minus 1: Same Old Second Period
Florida put the pressure on early in the 2nd but Luukkonen was up to the challenge. The shots were 7-1 in favor of the Panthers at one point. Ryan McLeod got a good look in front for Buffalo but his spinarama backhand went high and wide. That miss would prove costly as soon after Florida scored. The puck came out hot from behind the net and Carter Verhaeghe came up with it. He skated out and around a sprawling UPL and tucked it home to tie it. The Buffalo defense was caught flat footed on the play and was no help to the goalie. Soon after the Sabres had 2 or 3 chances in a row but Vanecek came up large.
With a little over 5 minutes left in the period, a Florida shot from the point eluded UPL through some traffic. It looked like he still had an eye on the puck but it was tipped by Jesse Puljujarvi right in front of his glove. Florida took the lead 2-1 and kept the pressure on with 15 shots total. Later on, Jiri Kulich was skating up ice on a breakout and took a big hit. Jiri blocked some of it by raising his arm up but the hit seemed illegal from the start. Kulich never touched the puck or had possession. The zebras reviewed it and found no foul. How Buffalo. How NHL. Jason Zucker then took a slashing penalty late but Buffalo killed it off. Thankfully the period ended with no more damage. Shots were 24-18 favoring Florida and they more than doubled up the hits at 25-12.
Plus 3
After the Kulich hit in the middle frame, Alex Tuch stepped up and challenged A.J. Greer to a fight early in the 3rd. He got in a few shots but was mostly outmatched. That always seems to be the case with this team, not having a real bruiser to stand up for them. Dahlin then took a crosschecking penalty which Buffalo killed off. Meanwhile, the Sabres had just one man advantage which seems odd as Florida is such a physical team. Things got heated again later as multiple players got involved after the play. Dahlin with Greer again and then Taz himself, Zach Benson sticking up for the captain. Buffalo finally got another power play after that scrum, a 5 on 3 advantage. After passing it around for an ETERNITY, the Sabres finally got a clean look and JJ Peterka tied it. Dahlin found JJ along the goal line and he powered it past Vanecek for a 2-2 score. Alex Tuch picked up a helper as well.
Buffalo hung on to earn a point and to OT we go. Good chances at both ends but it went to a shootout. But not before a gassed Rasmus Dahlin gave everything he had to defend late in OT. In the shootout, UPL let in the first shot and the Sabres missed their first two. It wasn’t looking good. Alex Tuch then had the last shot for Buffalo but Vanecek stoned all 3 shooters. Florida wins it 3-2 but a hard fought point for the Blue and Gold against the Stanley Cup Champs.
Final Thoughts:
Even though Florida was shorthanded firepower in this game, they still have a well coached and hard working team. Not to mention their physicality which seemed to overwhelm the Sabres at times. But they did step up for their teammate which was good to see.
Owen Power was injured and did not return in this one. A Panthers player fell on his bent leg and he collapsed doing the splits. It’s not looking good for Owen to play again this year. Jiri Kulich did return.
Buffalo has a return date with Tampa Bay on Sunday evening, another 6 pm Eastern time game. Only two games left after that, Toronto on Tuesday and Philly on Thursday to close out the season. Both games are home at Keybank Center.
From Lance Lysowski, Sabres’ beat reporter for the Buffalo News: Lindy Ruff wasn’t certain on latest medical reports since the Sabres have been on the road, but all signs point to Josh Norris and Jordan Greenway being done for the season. “… we’re running out of time.” The Sabres have only one practice left on their schedule. Looks like we won’t see either player before the season ends, probably for the best.