Buffalo Sabres Battle to 4-2 Victory Over Blues, Extend Win Streak to Three

A resilient performance from the Buffalo Sabres culminated in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon at Enterprise Center, marking their third consecutive win. Jason Zucker‘s clutch power-play goal in the third period, followed by a dazzling insurance marker from Jiri Kulich, sealed the triumph in a game where the Sabres were significantly outshot.

The victory brings Buffalo to a 14-19-4 record and showcases the team’s perseverance after relinquishing a two-goal lead. Despite being outshot 37-16 overall, including a lopsided 25-12 margin through the first two periods, the Sabres found a way to win the decisive third period, outscoring the Blues 2-0.

Fast Start, Third Period Heroics

Buffalo wasted no time setting the tone, as Peyton Krebs opened the scoring 6:52 into the first period. Following a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Rasmus Dahlin moved the puck to Bowen Byram, who set up Krebs with a perfectly executed shot-pass. Krebs’ fourth goal of the season ignited the Sabres’ offense, which has thrived in the opening frame of late.

Tage Thompson doubled the lead with a wrist shot from the slot on a power play just under seven minutes later. The Sabres, now with eight first-period goals over their last three games, have consistently found success starting strong, scoring first in 22 of 37 games this season.

However, St. Louis refused to go quietly. Brayden Schenn capitalized on a loose puck following a scramble near Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen‘s crease to cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the first. The Blues sustained heavy pressure through the second period, testing Luukkonen with 25 shots through two frames. Nathan Walker eventually tied the game early in the third, pouncing on a rebound during an extended sequence of defensive-zone struggles for Buffalo.

Buffalo regained control midway through the final period. Zucker, positioned perfectly in the slot, unleashed a blistering one-timer off a feed from Jack Quinn to put the Sabres ahead 3-2 with 9:30 remaining. Kulich then delivered the dagger, weaving through defenders and roofing the puck past Blues netminder Jordan Binnington for a highlight-reel goal.

Luukkonen Stands Tall Amid Blues’ Barrage

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced a relentless onslaught from St. Louis, particularly in the second period, where he made a series of critical saves to keep the Sabres in the game. His ability to withstand high-danger opportunities, including a point-blank save on Robert Thomas and a desperate stop on Colton Parayko, ensured Buffalo entered the third period tied despite the Blues’ dominance in shot volume.

Dahlin’s Historic Playmaking

Rasmus Dahlin continued his torrid stretch of offensive production, tallying another assist to bring his total to seven in the last three games. The Sabres’ blueliner is now the first defenseman in franchise history to achieve this feat since Brian Campbell in October 2007. Dahlin’s contributions at both ends of the ice have been pivotal in the team’s recent success.

Power Play Sparks Sabres Again

The Sabres’ power play delivered when it mattered most. Zucker’s game-winning goal marked the unit’s fourth tally in as many games, a testament to its improved execution and puck movement. Buffalo’s special teams have played a crucial role in their current win streak, with Dahlin, Thompson, and Quinn driving the offense on the man advantage.

Lineup Notes and What’s Next

Buffalo stuck with the same lineup that produced back-to-back wins earlier in the week, with Mattias Samuelsson returning after a maintenance day Saturday. The Sabres will look to extend their streak when their road trip continues Tuesday against the Dallas Stars at 8 p.m. Eastern. Stops in Colorado and Vegas follow, providing a stiff test for a team riding high on confidence and momentum.

For now, the Sabres can savor another hard-earned victory, where resilience, timely scoring, and strong goaltending carried the day.

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Stay tuned to Sabres Insight for continued coverage and updates on Buffalo’s road trip.