The Buffalo Sabres’ struggles continued Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center as they fell 5-2 to the Utah Hockey Club, extending their winless streak to six games (0-4-2). Despite an early lead, the Sabres were unable to contain Utah’s offensive surge, leaving the frustrated home crowd with little to cheer about.
Kozak Scores First NHL Goal, But Sabres Fall Behind
The game started positively for Buffalo as rookie forward Tyson Kozak netted his first career NHL goal midway through the opening period. Kozak converted a smooth feed from Beck Malenstyn, who earned an assist alongside Dennis Gilbert, marking his first point as a Sabre. Kozak’s milestone moment gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made critical saves to keep the Sabres ahead, including a stop on Nick Schmaltz’s shorthanded breakaway late in the period.
However, the energy shifted quickly as Utah responded with a dominant second period, scoring three unanswered goals. Michael Kesselring tied the game early in the frame after a failed Sabres clearing attempt, and a collision involving Luukkonen left the Buffalo net wide open for Mikhail Sergachev to score just 22 seconds later. Utah added another late in the second period as Schmaltz converted on a rebound to extend the lead to 3-1.
Utah Takes Command in the Third Period
Buffalo’s struggles deepened in the third. Jack McBain capitalized on a 3-on-1 rush to make it 4-1 just over two minutes into the period. Kevin Stenlund added another goal midway through, beating Luukkonen with a well-placed shot through traffic.
Jiri Kulich salvaged a late goal for Buffalo, poking a rebound past Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka for his third of the season. The tally, assisted by Jason Zucker and Owen Power, narrowed the gap slightly but did little to alter the outcome. Vejmelka turned in a solid performance, stopping 23 of 25 shots, while Luukkonen struggled, making 23 saves on 28 attempts.
Sabres’ Power Play Woes Continue
The Sabres’ power play remained a significant concern, going 0-for-3 on the afternoon. Over their last eight games, Buffalo has managed just one power-play goal in 22 opportunities, an alarming trend for a team looking to turn their season around. Utah, meanwhile, didn’t need a single power-play opportunity, as all their goals came at even strength.
Physicality and Frustration Boil Over
Saturday’s game featured its share of physical play, with Malenstyn engaging in a spirited fight with Kesselring in the second period after delivering a heavy hit. Both players logged five-minute majors in a game that also saw plenty of hits and scrums along the boards. Malenstyn and Gilbert each recorded a team-high seven hits, attempting to spark the Sabres with their physicality.
Next Up: Detroit Visits KeyBank Center
The loss drops Buffalo to 11-13-3 on the season, and the team now faces a critical stretch as they prepare for the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. The Sabres will look to end their skid and regain momentum against a divisional opponent. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on MSG, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Watch: Condensed Game Highlights – Sabres vs. Utah
Final Thoughts
Saturday’s defeat exposed glaring issues for the Sabres, particularly their inability to generate offense and execute on special teams. With growing frustration from fans and a challenging schedule ahead, Buffalo must find answers quickly if they hope to salvage their season. The team’s resilience will be tested as they return to the ice on Monday, aiming to reset and bounce back against Detroit.