Wild (Lyon) and Wooly (Vejmelka) Goaltending

Score: Buffalo Sabres 1-2 OT Utah Mammoth
Shots: BUF 18-35 UTAH

Buffalo Sabres Goals: Noah Ostlund 1st (Rosen)
Utah Mammoth Goals: Nick Schmaltz 8th (Keller, Marino) Clayton Keller 5th (Sergachev, Vejmelka)

Even 1: Goalie Goodness

Starter Alex Lyon got tested early in this one as Utah came to play. The Mammoth were buzzing with a few good looks but Lyon stood tall and the Sabres soon settled down. Buffalo was physical with nice bumps from Conor Timmins and Beck Malenstyn and got themselves into the game. Tage Thompson hit the pipe with a nice pass from Jordan Greenway soon after. Around the 10 minute mark, goalie Karel Vejmelka robbed former Utah defenseman Michael Kesselring. Moments later, he stopped Jack Quinn in all alone too, two glorious chances. Not to be outdone, Lyon snagged a tough shot for his best save of the period.

Utah then took an offensive zone penalty where they were putting on good pressure. Brandon Tanev went off for cross-checking. Buffalo’s power play was listless though, barely able to set up at all. Utah had the best chance with a 2-1 that was shot wide. Having no Zach Benson hurts, and really shows. Jason Zucker was missed as well.

The Sabres got another chance on the man advantage when Michael Carcone went off for tripping Owen Power at the blueline. Buffalo looked a little better but struggled to keep up with any sustained pressure. The period ended knotted at 0-0 with both goaltenders playing solid. Especially Vejmelka in the Mammoth’ net. The Blue and Gold had the shots advantage at 9-7.

Even 2: More Stonewalling

Some solid defensive play by both teams to start the 2nd. Buffalo and Utah were backchecking hard and stealing pucks or thwarting the attack. Eventually both teams starting getting chances again, but both goaltenders were up to the challenge. It was the Sabres’ turn to go to the box now as Bo Byram was the offender. Utah showed the Sabres how it is done, with tremendous pressure in the Buffalo zone. Alex Lyon made some difficult saves and bailed out the #1 PK unit, who didn’t look their best on this kill.

After some back and forth play, Tage hit the post again, with a nice screen from Greenway. The puck came out the other side, right along the goal line. No luck and we remained scoreless. Later on, Quinn had a partial break but Vejmelka got a piece of it to deny him. Old friend JJ Peterrrrrka had a hard shot on net with a nice dish from Logan Cooley but Lyon swallowed it up. Former Utah Clubber Josh Doan would get called for hooking later on but the Sabres’ PK looked much better this time. They were able to kill it off without any real threats from the Mammoth, though Lyon was called upon.

Off the strength of that good looking 1st power play, as well as the 2nd one, Utah carried the play this period. They outshot Buffalo by a whopping 16-5 in the middle frame. Oddly enough, the Sabres may have had as many quality scoring chances but the Mammoth had the territorial edge. Shot attempts were heavily in favor of the road team. After two, it was still scoreless.

Nov 4, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (27) watches as Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) makes a save during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Even 3/Minus OT: Undermanned Sabres Start to Show

The Sabres got a 3 on 1 break in the first minute of the 3rd period and after some slick passing, failed to get a shot on net. Alex Tuch (shocker) shot wide on what may have been one pass too many. Utah would finally break the game-long goose egg as Nick Schmaltz scored with Lyon moving across the crease. The shot eluded the Buffalo goaltender after some nifty passing.

That may have woke Buffalo up. Or perhaps I should say it was Rochester who woke up instead. Noah Ostlund scored his first NHL goal after the initial shot went high off the glass and came down in front. (with the help of a near high stick) Ostlund jumped on it with Vejmelka still trying to track the puck and fired it home. The assist went to fellow Amerk Isak Rosen. The Sabres tied it up but little did we know the team would slow down to a slumber after that.

Utah carried much of the play after the Buffalo goal but the Sabres’ goalie came up big. Alex Lyon was tested as the Mammoth shot total ballooned to 33 in regulation time. Meanwhile, the Sabres DID NOT HAVE A REGISTERED SHOT in the last ten minutes of the game. Feel free to shake your head like me. Low on firepower or not, play some hockey! To overtime we go, the 3 on 3 crapfest that it is. After the Sabres got possession, Alex Tuch was fed a beauty of a pass right in the slot and his wicked shot was labled for the top corner of the net. But Vejmelka, after about 20 minutes of real time off, was still sharp and snagged it with ease. He accidently dropped the puck here and decided to play it. That would be costly for Buffalo. Utah moved up ice and Clayton Keller found himself with the puck. He just decided to bully his way to the net with ease like the Sabres were opening a door for their mother. Come on in! He beat Lyon to end the game and ruin the goalies’ efforts for 60 minutes. A sad but near expected conclusion in OT.

Final Thoughts:

Well, the Sabres march on, racking up points…often one at a time, unfortunately. They are 0-4 in the extra session while pulling out one victory in the shootout.

Buffalo was really shorthanded this game with 6 forwards out, including Zucker, Kulich, Kozak and Benson. (Norris obviously too and Danforth as well) The play of Lyon and some good physicality had them looking good in the 1st. But the lack of talent on the ice for Buffalo started to show the rest of the way and disappointingly, turned into lack of effort. Low on firepower or not, the will to take this game was not there late. If one of Tage’s post dings tonight went in, this may have been a different story to tell.

The Sabres next play Thursday, Nov 6 at 7pm against the St. Louis Blues.