BUFFALO — Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres came back from a 4-1 deficit for an impressive 5-4 overtime victory. Tonight they found themselves in the same position, down 4-1 half way through the third period. Different results.
Anaheim handily won the third period — and subsequently the game — tallying a 5-2 victory over the hometown Sabres.
Things looked potentially promising at the end of two, Jack Eichel having tied the game at 1-1 for the Sabres at 6:04 of the second period, assisted by Kyle Okposo and Ryan O’Reilly.
Then Anaheim scored. And scored. And scored, taking the 4-1 lead at 10:11 of the third period with a even-strength goal by Corey Perry. Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler assisted on the goal. Buffalo finally tallied a second goal at 18:22 of the period. The Rasmus Ristolainen goal from Justin Bailey and Sam Reinhart was just too little – too late. Andrew Cogliano added an empty netter for Anaheim with 56 ticks left in regulation for the 5-2 final.
The Sabres are back at it at 7 p.m. Saturday when they face off against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
