Buffalo 4, Nashville 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 12, 2019
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees:
Frederic L'Ecuyer, Francois St. Laurent
Linesmen:
Trent Knorr, Jonny Murray
Attendance:
17211
By Field Level Media
Rookie Victor Olofsson scored the go-ahead goal midway into the third period as the host Buffalo Sabres skated to a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Buffalo captain Jack Eichel scored a pair of goals in the second period to extend his career-high point streak to 15 games, tying Chicago's Patrick Kane for the longest in the NHL this season. Eichel has 14 goals and 13 assists during his streak.
Jimmy Vesey also scored, and Linus Ullmark finished with 36 saves for the Sabres, who have won a season-high-tying three in a row overall. Buffalo has collected at least a point in eight of its past nine games (5-1-3).
Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene and Colton Sissons also tallied for the Predators, who have lost three of their past five games (2-2-1).
Olofsson displayed dogged determination to help Buffalo snap a 3-3 tie at 8:29 of the third period. The 24-year-old Swede was unable to convert defenseman Brandon Montour's feed at the doorstep, but he alertly settled the puck after it bounced off the end boards and tucked it inside the right post for his 19th point in his past 18 games.
Eichel skated in from the left-wing boards and wristed a shot from the circle that sailed past Juuse Saros (28 saves) and just under the crossbar to tie the game at 2 at 4:55 of the second period.
Eichel increased his team-leading goal total to 22 nearly 10 minutes later, deflecting defenseman Henri Jokiharju's shot from the point.
Buffalo's 3-2 lead would be short-lived, as Johansen cleaned up a rebound and beat Ullmark between the pads with 3:53 remaining in the second period.
Nashville wasted little time making its presence felt, scoring just 57 seconds after the opening faceoff. First, Kyle Turris forced a turnover just inside the blue line. He then quickly slid the puck ahead to Duchene, who skated in and faked a shot before tucking the puck past the outstretched pad of Ullmark for his eighth goal of the season.
Vesey redirected defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen's shot past Saros at 14:33 of the first period before Sissons regained the lead for Nashville just 59 seconds later. Sissons extended his stick to deflect defenseman Ryan Ellis' shot from the point between the pads of Ullmark for his seventh goal of the season.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Nashville |
|
Buffalo |
|
Matt Duchene 1 |
Points |
Jack Eichel 2 |
|
Matt Duchene 1 |
Goals |
Jack Eichel 2 |
|
Ryan Ellis 1 |
Assists |
Sam Reinhart 2 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Juuse Saros .875 |
Save Percentage |
Linus Ullmark .923 |
|
Juuse Saros 28 |
Saves |
Linus Ullmark 36 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Nashville
|
39 |
3 |
0-2 |
1-1 |
2 |
31 |
| Buffalo
|
32 |
4 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
4 |
28 |
Upcoming Games
-
Buffalo will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Sabres have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .471 after a loss.
-
Nashville will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Predators have a W/L % of .467 after a win and .467 after a loss.
For more information, contact us