FINAL: BUF 3 DAL 4
SHOTS: BUF 27 DAL 38
POWER PLAY: BUF 1/2 DAL 1/5
HITS: BUF 22 DAL 19
BLOCKED SHOTS: BUF 17 DAL 13
GOALS:
BUF: Evander Kane (13) unassisted
BUF: Matt Moulson (10) assisted by Evander Kane (9) and Brian Gionta (13)
DAL: Patrick Sharp (5) assisted by John Klingberg (20) and Lauri Korpikoski (12)
DAL: Jamie Benn (13) assisted by Jason Spezza (23) and Patrick Eaves (13)
DAL: Patrick Sharp (6) assisted by Devin Shore (13)
DAL: Tyler Seguin (18) unassisted
BUF: Evander Kane (14) unassisted
RECAP:
The Sabres had a chance to win 4 games in a row for the first time this season. They haven’t won 4 games in a row since their 10-3 stretch during the McEichel tank. The Sabres have won 3 straight overtime games defeating the Detroit Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Nashville Predators. Dan Bylsma only made a couple of changes to the lineup tonight. Nic Deslauriers would be scratched in favor of William Carrier and Anders Nilsson would start in goal.
The Sabres got off to a very strong start. Evander Kane raced all the way down the ice and put the puck past Niemi to give Buffalo an early 1-0 lead. Kane has been on fire as of late and has looked great on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Gionta. The three of them are showing some good chemistry.
While the Sabres were shorthanded, Jack Eichel blew past the Dallas defense and he drew a penalty.
Evander Kane took the puck around the net on the power play and found Matt Moulson who then gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead. Moulson has 10 goals this season. He had 8 goals in 81 games last season.
But just moments later Patrick Sharp beat Anders Nilsson to put the Stars within 1.
After Niemi gave up 2 goals on 5 shots, Lindy Ruff decided to start Kari Lehtonen in the 2nd period.
Buffalo was unable to clear the puck and Jamie Benn beat Anders Nilsson for his 13th of the season. That was a shot that Anders Nilsson should stop. The Sabres used their offside challenge and it was determined that it was inconclusive if there was a Stars player who was offside so the goal counted.
Patrick Sharp went end to end and beat Nilsson short side. Another bad goal given up by Nilsson.
There was a scramble in front of the Buffalo net. Nilsson made a nice save and then Cody Franson put the puck in his own net. Dallas scored 4 unanswered goals.
Evander Kane put the puck on net from in front of the bench and somehow it beat Lehtonen to put Buffalo within a goal.
The Sabres got pummeled in the shot category through 40 minutes. The Stars out shot the Sabres 35-11 and somehow they were still down by only 1 goal.
Sam Reinhart put a spinning back hand shot on Kari Lehtonen. The puck clearly crossed the goal line and Lehtonen kicked the puck out of the net. After a very very long review it was determined that it was no goal.
With just seconds left in the game there was a scramble in front of the net. There was a very long review and it was determined that the puck did not fully cross the goal line.
The referees really dropped the ball in this game. Reinhart’s goal should’ve counted. Right at the end it was pretty close. I don’t think the puck 100% crossed the line. Also the goal that the Sabres challenged for offsides should’ve been overturned. And you can’t forget about that terrible call on Bogosian at the end of the game.
The Sabres 3 game winning streak comes to an end tonight. You can blame the loss on officiating but if this team would’ve just played more than 25-30 minutes of good hockey they would’ve won no matter what. Nilsson did not have a very good game at all as well.
They face the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday after the all star weekend.
