Buffalo starts 3-game road trip with 4-3 loss to the Flames.
By Chris Ryndak / Sabres.com
CALGARY — The Buffalo Sabres battled back from a three-goal deficit with a pair of goals in the final 2:44 of their game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, but they were unable to complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss at Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames scored on the power play and while shorthanded to add to their pair of even-strength tallies. Buffalo, meanwhile, finished 1-for-8 on the power play and did not convert on two separate 5-on-3 opportunities.
Sam Reinhart scored early in the game to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead, but Calgary scored four straight to put the game out of reach and snap the Sabres’ four-game point streak.
Buffalo made a strong push late as Jake McCabe added a goal with 2:44 remaining in regulation to cut Calgary’s lead to two and then Jeff Skinner had a great chance in tight with just over two minutes to play.
They also had a power play opportunity in the final 1:28 where Jack Eichel was able to capitalize with 47.4 seconds remaining to make it 4-3.
Linus Ullmark made 25 saves while David Rittich stopped 26 Buffalo shots.
What happened
The Sabres opened the scoring when Sam Reinhart deflected in Rasmus Ristolainen’s point shot 3:29 into the first period for his 10th goal of the year.
Buffalo had their first two-man advantage in the later stages of the first period, but it was cut short when the Sabres committed a penalty of their own.
On that power play, Johnny Gaudreau scored with 16 seconds left on it – and 3:18 remaining in the first period – to tie the game.
The Flames sustained offensive pressure in the second period, and it eventually led to a pair of goals of their own.
Tobias Rieder capitalized on a shorthanded opportunity when he scored on a breakaway with 8:42 left in the second to put Calgary ahead. The Sabres have now allowed four shorthanded goals this season.
Sean Monahan made it 3-1 with a one-timer with 4:58 left in the second.
Then Milan Lucic scored his first of the season 3:58 into the third period to make it 4-1.
Buffalo’s late rally with goals from McCabe and Eichel kept things interesting until the final horn sounded.
What it means
Buffalo is 13-11-5 on the season and 5-8-2 on the road. They wrap up their season series against the Flames with an 0-1-1 record.
Eichel extended his point streak to 11 games. It’s the longest streak in the NHL and he has 20 points (10+10) in those 11 games.
Victor Olofsson collected a pair of assists, giving him points in 12 of his last 14 games (5+9).
Ristolainen extended his point streak to four games. He has a goal and three assists in that stretch.
Brandon Montour tied his career-best point streak, set from Nov. 18 to 25, 2018 (1+5) with an assist on Eichel’s goal.
Up next
The Sabres will be in Vancouver tomorrow, where they’ll have a practice before Saturday’s afternoon game against the Canucks.