Buffalo’s Luukkonen Stones Vegas for the Shutout
Score: Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Vegas Golden Knights
Shots: BUF 25-27 VGK
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Doan 22nd (unassisted) Norris 10th EN (Krebs, Samuelsson)
Vegas Golden Knights Goals: Luukkonized!
Plus 1: Ukko-Pekka Came to Play
Owen Power took a very early hooking penalty for Buffalo and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ended up being the Sabres best penalty killer. He made two solid saves and cleared the zone once himself as Buffalo held them off. Rasmus Dahlin then got a good chance right in front after the kill but Adin Hill for the Golden Knights made a strong stop. Josh Norris had a nice dish to Dahlin for the quality scoring chance. Buffalo rattled off the next four shots on goal with the makeshift top line for the Sabres getting some good chances. (Östlund-Thompson-Benson)
Near the halfway point of the period, Luukkonen came up big again, challenging the Vegas shooter in the slot who let one rip from under 20 feet. The Golden Knights then had some sustained pressure on the Buffalo defense but UPL stood his ground. The Sabres then got their own power play but we all know how that goes, all too often. Buffalo had some good puck movement and one good shot by Jack Quinn but the team was once again too pass-happy. Luukkonen then made his best stop of the period, a wicked glove save on defenseman Brayden McNabb.
After a Buffalo turnover and more solid play from UPL, Josh Doan got the Blue and Gold on the board first after Adin Hill flubbed the puck behind the net. Doan raced in quickly and grabbed the puck as Hill scampered back into the net. Josh then banked the puck in off of Hill from below the goal line before he could hug the post with his pad. The unassisted goal was an important tally for Buffalo as Vegas controlled much of the play in the opening frame. (especially chances from the slot) It was Doan’s 22nd goal of the season. The Knights outshot the Sabres 11-10 in the first but it was Buffalo who had the 1-0 lead.
Plus 2: Sabres Hold, Luukkonen Strong
Buffalo got an early man advantage as Tage Thompson was high sticked by McNabb along the wall. The Sabres could not get it set up clean until the power play was 2/3s of the way over and came up empty again. Vegas then got a 2 on 1 break and UPL got his pad on the deflected shot that was going wide but he quickly covered it before a Golden Knight could jump on the loose puck.
Vegas went back to the power play after a Bowen Byram crosschecking call and once again UPL was outstanding. Luukkonen made a crucial cross ice save on a slapper that seemed destined for the back of the net. The Knights had good movement for much of the two minutes but the Sabres held on and killed it off. Buffalo’s top line then got a great chance on the rush with a TNT dangle and Zack Benson shot but Adin Hill made the stop.
Buffalo then flubbed a 2 on 1 opportunity and Vegas came right down the ice with a good chance. UPL came up big again as he came out to block a shot by Shea Theodore which deflected up and over the glass. Luukkonen made one last sharp save with one second to go as the Sabres skated off for the second time with a 1-0 lead. Shots were 19 each after two periods of play.
Plus 3: Buffalo Banner Raised
After a Knights defender lost the puck in his own zone, Josh Doan darted in and stole it, feeding Josh Norris out front for a great chance. Hill came up big again, thwarting the Buffalo forward. Soon after, new arrival Sam Carrick took a questionable boarding penalty. The Vegas player appeared to be falling down before Carrick even arrived, a tough call on the Sabres. UPL and the PK team did their duty, keeping the Knights off the board for a third time.
Zach Benson then took a late hit on a scoring chance as Vegas defender Brayden McNabb looked like he was going to be called for a major penalty. The puck was long gone and it was a high hit to the head. Instead, after the ensuing scrum, only 2 minutes were called by the refs, one penalty for each team. More NHL garbage officiating as the teams skated 4 on 4. Amazingly Benny returned to the game not long after. Let’s hope he is OK with no residual effects.
The Golden Knights put the pressure on late and pulled Hill from the net. Luukkonen once again made a great stop, this time on former Sabre Jack Eichel. Buffalo would clear it and after some scrambling at center ice, Josh Norris would find the empty net to seal it. For Norris, it was his 10th goal of the year as Peyton Krebs and Mattias Samuelsson would pick up the assists.
How about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s night? He stopped all 27 shots he faced and looked determined and hyper-focused all night. This was his 1st shutout of the season and 8th of his career. He also improved his overall record against Vegas to 4-0. The Sabres are now 10-1-0 since the Olympic break and continued their pillaging of the NHL, this time fittingly against the Golden Knights. They sweep the season series from Vegas and maintain their 4 point lead over Tampa, winners in Seattle. Buffalo has shockingly hit the 90 point mark with 14 games to go.
Final Thoughts:
Kudos to Beck Malenstyn who was throwing big hits and finishing his checks all game long. This guy has a motor and is dedicated to his craft.
Forward Alex Tuch missed the game against his former team due to illness. His absence was not related to his recent minor injury where he was out against the Capitals. Feel better soon, Alex. Tyson Kozak took his place in the lineup.
The four game road trip continues in another late night affair with San Jose on Thursday, March 19th at 10 pm eastern time. Join us then for After Dark with the Sharks.