Empty Net Goals Solidify ‘Canes Win, 6-3
Score: Sabres 3 | Hurricanes 5
Shots: BUF 22 | CAR 35
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Owen Power (2), Alex Tuch (6), Tage Thompson (6)
Carolina Hurricanes Goals: Sebastian Aho (5), Andrei Svechnikov (4-PP), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2), Eric Robinson (4), Seth Jarvis (9-EN), Charles Alexis Legault (1-EN
Plus-1: Tied After One
The game began a little too familiar for Sabres fans. The opposition scored first and, undoubtedly, fans all over Buffalo felt some deja vu. Sebastian Aho was the one to open up scoring with a quick wrister on the stick-side of Alex Lyon. Aho’s goal was the third shot on goal for Carolina, just five minutes into the game. Something not-so-familiar was the Sabres answering back relatively quickly with a goal from the struggling defenseman, Owen Power. Isak Rosen kept the puck in Carolina’s zone but ultimately, it was Noah Ostlund who fed the puck up the middle to Power to tie it up. Tied after one may not seem like a “plus,” but against the Hurricanes and without our captain, it certainly is.
Minus-1: Behind and Then Some
The best penalty kill in the league was put to the test again tonight. Unfortunately for the Sabres, the home team capitalized on the man-advantage early in the second period with winger Andrei Svechnikov’s rocket to the top shelf – where “mama hides the cookies,” as the late great Rick Jeanneret would say – giving the ‘Canes the lead for the second time. This time, Buffalo did not answer back and Carolina went on to score another unanswered goal. Looking lost, the Sabres quite frankly let them walk right into their third goal. Making matters worse? With 8:01 left in the period and a power play under their belts that yielded zero shots, the visitors still only totaled seven measly shots on goal. Woof.
Minus-2: Salt in the Wound
Did the Sabres come back after the second intermission ready to score? No. Did they fight to keep the score as it was, at least temporarily? Also, no. Did the Hurricanes score their third unanswered goal? You bet.
Eric Robinson beat Bowen Byram to the net and buried his shot to make it a disappointing 4-1 game just 29 seconds into the third period.
Plus-2: Third Period Pressure
It looked as though the ‘Canes would continue to dominate through the remaining minutes of the third period. Something unusual happened, though: the Sabres scored two of their own unanswered goals to make it 4-3 with plenty of regulation time left. The first Buffalo goal of the period came thanks to Alex Tuch, making him the first Sabre since Jeff Skinner to score a goal in three or more consecutive games against Carolina. The second Buffalo goal in the period found the back of the net after Mattias Samuelsson snagged back possession of the puck and made his way up the ice. A few passes later (specifically, a beauty by Ryan McLeod fed to Tage Thompson) helped the Sabres to make it a one goal game, 4-3.
Final Thoughts
Alex Lyon kept the Sabres alive many times throughout this game, most notably during a breakaway by Aho late in the second period. Knowing that the Hurricanes are an elite team, Buffalo really needed to bring their best tonight and they continued to struggle in the areas of power play (0-for-1) and shots on goal (22). They came alive in the third period, but it was too little too late after playing lackluster for half of the game. The Sabres have now lost 12 straight games in Raleigh.
Three Stars:
1. Andrei Svechnikov (1G, 1A)
2. Charles Alexis Legault (1G, 1A)
3. Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1G, 1A)