The Buffalo Sabres lost their second straight game Friday night at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the first of three road games by a 3-2 score.

After their disappointing home showing against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, this road trip was seen as a potential turning point for the young team. Despite the setback, the team’s resilience is evident, and there’s still hope for a successful season.

The two teams were scoreless during the first period. However, the second period proved to be the dagger for the young Sabres team.  

Eric Comrie, who was reinstated from Injured Reserve, had a tough night, allowing three goals in the second period. This was a disappointing return for Comrie, especially against his former team.

By the five-minute mark of the middle frame, the Jets had already taken a 2-0 lead. Jets winger Cole Perfetti got things started, scoring in his fifth straight game. Over two minutes later, Mason Appleton doubled the lead with his fifth of the season.

Finally, the Sabres scored as Alex Tuch scored his fifth of the season, cutting the lead in half at 2-1. Jet forward Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 08:12, restoring his team’s two-goal lead.

Buffalo’s JJ Peterka closed the gap to 3-2 at the 01:00 mark of the third, with assists from Rasmus Dahlin and Zach Benson. However, that’s all the Sabres could muster, and this loss brought their season record down to 7-9-1. Despite this setback, the team has shown promising signs this season, and fans can look forward to their continued growth and improvement.

The Sabres’ next game is not just a chance for redemption, but a testament to the team’s determination. The game, scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, presents an exciting opportunity for the team to bounce back and for fans to witness a thrilling match.

It was labeled the season’s biggest test thus far, and couldn’t have begun any worse. The Sabres weren’t even five minutes into the opening period, and they were already two goals behind.

As the period came to a close, the Sabres were down 0-3, but they were not alone. They heard boos, but they also listened to the unwavering support of their fans. They skated to the friendly confines of their locker room, united in their determination to repair the damage done and get back into the game. Every player, coach, and fan knew that this team had to find a way to succeed. There’s still 40 minutes to play, they all told themselves, strengthening their bond as a team.

The second frame was similar to the first. The Boston Bruins tacked on two more with goals from Oskar Steen and Hampus Lindholm, bringing the score to a whopping 5-0. What could the Buffalo Sabres tell themselves now that they didn’t already after the first intermission?

Adding insult to injury, Sabres star center Tage Thompson left the ice with an apparent leg injury, missing the final 15 minutes of the first period. However, he returned for the second period, which was short-lived. He left the ice for good after blocking a Charlie McAvoy shot. After the game, Head Coach Don Granato deemed his recovery to be long-term.

Sabres forward Victor Olofsson managed to cut into the Bruins’ lead; however, the damage had already been done. It was a little too late for the Sabres on a night where they honored Captain Kyle Okposo as he laced them up for the 1,000th game of his NHL career.

Bruins power forward David Pastrnak finished with 1 goal and two assists, while teammates Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy added a pair of assists. Former Sabres netminder and Vezina winner Linus Ullmark last season made 30 saves on the night.

Sabres winger Victor Olofsson scored two goals, and Owen Power, Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka, and Casey Mittelstadt scored a point. Late in the second period, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced Sabres goalie Devon Levi.

Maybe a blessing in disguise is the Sabres heading out on a three-game road trip beginning Friday night in Winnipeg. Gametime will be at 8 pm Eastern.

As much as I hate to point it out, the Sabres continued what may be their most glaring fault over the first fifteen games of the 2023-24 season—the inability to earn back-to-back wins more than once.

However, that is only one way to look at their record. Since the start of November, they’ve earned a record of 3-2-1. Despite the inconsistency, the fact that they are gaining points and growing as a team is a promising sign for the future.

Pittsburgh’s most significant signing this past offseason was All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson. He led all scorers with two goals in the third period. Evgeni Malkin finished with a goal and an assist, but goaltender Tristan Jarry took home the game’s first star. He stopped all 35 shots faced to earn his third shutout of the season and 16th of his career.

With the win, the Pens extended their impressive winning streak to four games, a feat that commands respect in the league.

The Sabres are gearing up for an exciting game on home ice on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Boston Bruins. It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their potential and make a lasting impression in the season.

It was Hockey Fights Cancer Night inside KeyBank Center tonight, and everyone showed their love for those fighting cancer with a will and strength most others can’t imagine. Like many of you, I look forward to this night every year.

After 18 minutes into the opening period, Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju broke the ice with his second goal. This shot rocketed past several players, including Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson. Owen Power received the lone assist. Then, with only 0:30 seconds left in the period, Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov tied the game.

Buffalo took a 2-1 lead with less than a minute left in the second period. Jeff Skinner scored his seventh goal when he made a fantastic deke on the Minnesota goalie. JJ Peterka received the lone assist.

Peterka scored his sixth goal of the season at 03:33 of the third period, increasing the Sabres’ lead to 3-1. Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner assisted.

Minnesota cut into the Sabres’ lead with less than eight minutes left to play in the final frame, with Joel Eriksson Ek scoring his 8th, but that’s as close as the Wild would get on this night.

The Sabres sent the near-capacity crowd home happy with a 3-2 win, their fourth in the last six games. With a record of 7-6-1, the Sabres are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. It’s an exciting time for the team as they are only one point behind three teams tied for third place.

The final shots on goal favored Minnesota 35-25. Devon Levi collected his 3rd win of the season, making 33 saves.

Buffalo will carry its recent success as it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. to meet the Penguins. The team aims to continue its winning streak and maintain momentum.

Despite playing well against a formidable opponent like the Hurricanes, the Sabres could only muster a single point in overtime. They ran out of gas and lost 3-2.

The game was close throughout, with the Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin scoring a Dahlin-type goal to tie the game. He passed the puck to himself as he entered the Hurricanes’ zone, went in, and fired the puck past goalie Antti Raanta, tying the game at two goals apiece.

Tony DeAngelo scored the lone goal of the opening period while the Hurricanes were on the power play. Alex Tuch tied it up unassisted at 03:51 of the second period. 

The Canes took a 2-1 lead on Brady Skjei’s goal at 07:54 of the third; however, Sabres star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, assisted by Tage Thompson and Casey Mittelstadt, tied the game just over two minutes later. 

Regulation time ended at 2-2, and off to overtime, they went. Unfortunately, the Sabres got caught with exhausted defenders, and Carolina took full advantage 01:30 into the extra session when Martin Necas scored his 5th of the season.

The Carolina Hurricanes won with the final shots tonight, 27-21. The Sabres’ next game will be on Friday at 7 p.m. at KeyBank Center versus the Minnesota Wild.

On most nights in the National Hockey League, a Hatty by any player, let alone one of the league’s top players, meant a considerable chance of victory. The sheer skill of superstar Auston Matthews was on display as he scored his third hat trick tonight, bringing his total to 11 for the season after just 13 games.

The Maple Leafs opened the scoring when Mitchell Marner scored his 4th of the season just past 12 minutes in the first period. The Sabres would tie the game more than four minutes later off the stick of JJ Peterka on the powerplay. Owen Power and Victor Olofsson assisted him.

Tage Thompson gave Buffalo their first lead early in the second frame. The goal came unassisted while the Sabres were on the penalty kill.

Matthews would tie the score with his 9th of the season while on the powerplay. Not just 0:34 seconds later, Sabres forward Jeff Skinner notched his 6th of the season, helping his team claim the lead for a second time at 3-2. The lone assist went to the rookie blueliner Ryan Johnson. It was the first point of his career.

Toronto’s Auston Matthews scored his second and 10th of the season just 0:17 seconds into the third to tie the game at three apiece.

The game took another unexpected turn when Jordan Greenway scored his second of the season, giving his team their third lead. The assists from Casey Mittelstadt and JJ Peterka added to the surprise, as the Sabres took a 4-3 lead.

Matthews, determined to make a difference, scored his 11th of the season and his 3rd goal of the game, earning the coveted hat trick. With the game tied at 4-4, Alex Tuch’s go-ahead goal and empty netter sealed the victory, showcasing the players’ unwavering determination.

Final shots on goal favored the Sabres 41-28. Rookie netminder Devon Levi made 37 saves, earning his second win of the season.