Buffalo’s comeback falls short as Boston posts a 2-1 victory.
By Jourdon LaBarber from sabres.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. — For a time, it looked like the stage was set for another third-period comeback. The Buffalo Sabres found themselves within a goal of tying the game when Evander Kane hit the back of the net with 10:48 still remaining in regulation against the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon, one of 18 shots the Sabres recorded in the third period.
Unlike their come-from-behind win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday, however, the Sabres never did complete the rally. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask turned in a 35-save performance and the Sabres were unable to make up for their slow first period in the 2-1 loss.
“We had some chances throughout the course of the game that didn’t go in unfortunately,” Kane said. “We’ve got to find ways to put those away.”
The 18 shot third-period was a far cry from the three shots they put on net in the first, all of which came in the first 4:44 of play. Boston took the lead with 5:50 remaining in that period when David Krejci tipped a point shot from defenseman Brandon Carlo in past Lehner off the crossbar. Krejci was one of four bodies screening goalie Robin Lehner in front of the net, including two Sabres.
“I liked our first five minutes of the game and then it dropped off,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “We struggled getting out of the defensive zone, turned the puck over there and gave them momentum, gave them opportunities.”
The Sabres got back to the way they hoped to play in the next two periods, outshooting the Bruins 33-23 the rest of the way. Still, it was another defensive zone turnover – this one an intercepted exit pass by Rasmus Ristolainen that led to Patrice Bergeron scoring Boston’s second goal in the third period.
Buffalo, meanwhile, was stoned by Rask at seemingly every turn. When they finally did put a puck past him in the second period, it was waved off when it was ruled that Brian Gionta kicked the puck into the net.
“Brendan Guhle had a shot from the point there that I don’t think Rask saw at all and it still found a way to hit him,” Bylsma said. “The rebound comes to Gio and he’s trying to kick it up to his stick to get another whack at it, it goes through there and as I said I was pretty certain they were going to disallow that one … You start to think, ‘How are we going to get one by this guy?'”
Kane nearly ignited the comeback with his goal in the third period, which came on a feed from Sam Reinhart behind the net. The goal was Kane’s first since of the season, which has been limited to 13 games due to injury.
“I think he hasn’t shot the puck this year the way he normally does and he’s had opportunities to do it,” Bylsma said of Kane. “This was a goal you typically see from Evander, it was a shooting spot for him and [it was] good to see him get that goal for us.”
The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Sabres and a departure from their high-scoring performances in those two games with Jack Eichel back in the lineup. Buffalo combined for nine goals in wins over Ottawa and New York this week.
Part of that scoring success has come from the power play, on which the Sabres were 0-for-3 on Saturday, albeit with only 5:10 of ice time on the man advantage.
The Sabres’ next chance to rebound will come on the road in Washington, D.C. against the Capitals on Monday.