Enlargement cousins the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres met up for the second time this season after the Canucks beat the Sabres 4-3 in time beyond regulation on Nov. 29. This time, it was the Sabres that obtained the final chuckle as they used a powerful third interval to erase a 2-1 deficit and win 3-2.
It was the Sabres’ high line of Tage Thompson, Jiri Kulich, and JJ Paterka that led the way in which on this one with Thompson opening the scoring within the first interval and Kulich and Paterka fueling the comeback within the third. It was Kulich that had the strongest recreation general, notching a objective and two assists for a three-point evening. Paterka potted the winner late within the third, serving to the Sabres to their 18th win of the season and giving the Canucks yet one more disappointing loss at Rogers Area, a spot they’ve solely gained eight instances in.
Recreation Recap
The primary interval was quiet for probably the most half with each groups struggling to seek out scoring probabilities and lengthy durations of possession within the offensive zone. According to Natural Stat Trick, they someway mixed for 13 scoring probabilities with the Sabres out-chancing the Canucks 8-5 and 3-0 when it got here to the high-danger areas. A type of was transformed when Tage Thompson (21) opened the scoring on a laser of a wrist shot after rookie Jiri Kulich gained a faceoff towards Elias Pettersson. Aside from that, there wasn’t lots of motion within the opening body because it got here to an finish with the Canucks trailing 1-0 on the scoreboard regardless of being forward 8-7 on the shot clock.
The center body was extra one-sided because the Canucks got here alive within the scoring likelihood division, particularly within the high-danger class. They ended up with a 6-1 edge in high-danger probabilities and scored two targets courtesy of Phil Di Giuseppe’s first of the season and Elias Pettersson’s eleventh. First, Di Giuseppe obtained on the board for the primary time since March 9, 2024, when he backhanded a shot previous Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after a ricochet off the boards at 3:05. Then it was Pettersson, giving the Canucks the lead at 10:29 with a perfectly-placed wrist shot benefiting from the Sabres’ misfortune of getting solely 4 gamers with the advantage of a stick.
The Canucks went into the third with a 2-1 lead and like a couple of instances this season, let their opponent off the mat attempting to guard it. They allowed the Sabres to manage play for many of the interval and ultimately surrendered the tieing objective to Kulich on the 8:42 mark when he was left alone in entrance of Demko. JJ Paterka discovered him with a go from the nook boards as Filip Hronek obtained there just a bit too late to examine him. The Sabres rode the momentum from that objective to a different one when Paterka accomplished the top-line trifecta with 6:27 remaining in regulation. After Kulich gained the draw towards Teddy Blueger, Rasmus Dahlin discovered Paterka within the bumper spot the place he one-timed his eleventh previous Demko for the 3-2 lead and the completion of the comeback. The Canucks obtained a couple of late probabilities with the goalie pulled, however they couldn’t put the equalizer previous Luukkonen.
Goalie Matchup
- Luukkonen stopped 32 of 34 photographs for a .941 save share (SV%) and improved to 15-14-4.
- Demko on the different finish stopped 23 of 26 for a .885 SV% and fell to 3-4-3.
What’s Subsequent For the Canucks & Sabres?
The Canucks will head out on the street for a fast one-game stint in Edmonton on Thursday the place they may face the Oilers for the second time up to now week. The Sabres may even head to Alberta, however face the Flames within the third cease of their Western street journey earlier than ending it in Edmonton on Saturday.
