Buffalo entered the third period with a lead and held on

Boxscore

Score: Buffalo Sabres 3-2 Vancouver Canucks
Shots: BUF 15-32 VAN

Buffalo Sabres Goals: Dahlin 3 (McLeod, Quinn), Thompson 15 (Dahlin), Benson 1 PPG (Doan, Thompson)
Vancouver Canucks Goals: Sherwood 13 PPG (Garland, Hughes), Sasson 6 (DeBrusk, Pettersson),

Quick Thoughts

Much Needed Goals

Two key Sabres who haven’t had much luck finding the net this season bagged goals as Buffalo made it 2-3-0 for this road trip – Rasmus Dahlin opened the scoring in the first period while Zach Benson’s marker in the third ensured that the Sabres’ power play goal streak was extended to six games.

Lyon-Heart

If the Canucks are the worst team in the league they certainly didn’t look it tonight as they not only held the depleted Sabres to a season-low 15 shots while peppering Alex Lyon with 32 shots.

A couple of nights after having to come in and win the game in relief of a concussed Colten Ellis, Lyon got the start and came through with a number of key saves especially late in the game with Vancouver being roared on by the home crowd looking for the tying goal. The Sabres however defended strong and were able to brinf that hoe.

Staffing Shortage

Already short Jason Zucker and Josh Norris, the Sabres were without Alex Tuch for this one too with the forward missing the game with illness. Word has it that Norris could be back for the next one in Seattle on Sunday.

Welcome to the League

Williamsville’s own Trevor Kuntar, who leads the Rochester Americans in scoring this season with nine goals along with four assists in 24 games, was signed by Buffalo to a two-way contract for the remainder of the season. The 24-year-old Kuntar also has 43 penalty minutes this season and plays a bruising game that will serve the NHL side well. He got flown cross-country and went straight into the lineup for this one, playing 8 shifts for just over five minutes, ending the night on a minus-one with one hit.

At The Horn

The Sabres stopped the rot on the road in Edmonton and have now picked up a second win this time in Vancouver. After making it back to .500 parity, they proceeded to start the road trip with three road losses to entrench them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, there is still a chance to redeem themselves with a win at the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night and get back to .500, one more time.

Comment of the Game

Like many others, Matt-G predicted Benson finally popping his goal cherry for this season, but with a totally believable (not) reason to get it reversed.

I’m thinking Benson scores tonight but it gets reversed because his stick doesn’t have enough curve or it’s a centimeter too short or long.