Cozens goal streak snapped at six in win over Slovakia
Three Buffalo Sabres players have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Czechia on Thursday, but winger J-J Peterka and Team Germany fell to Switzerland in the quarter-final.
Canada was in complete control in their match against Slovakia, scoring twice in the opening five minutes, extending their lead to 5-1 before coasting to a 6-3 victory. Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul scored twice, Seattle’s Jared McCann and Brandon Tanev, LA’s Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Utah’s Dylan Guenther scored, and Jordan Binnington made 18 saves in the win.
Conspicuous in his absence from the score sheet was Sabres forward Dylan Cozens, who entered the games as the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals but had his six-game goal streak snapped. Bowen Byram assisted on Dubois’ first-period marker, while Owen Power was +1 in just over 19 minutes of ice time.
Germany's hopes of medaling for the second straight year ended, as first-period goals by Christoph Bertschy and New Jersey’s Nico Hischier were enough for Switzerland, to hold on for a 3-1 victory. Peterka had one shot on goal in nearly 23 minutes of ice time and finished the tournament with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in eight games.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was a quiet night for the five former Sabres on the Florida Panthers. Ex-Buffalo team captain Kyle Okposo was a healthy scratch, as the Panthers opted for a more energetic, physical fourth line with the likes of Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins.
Brandon Montour led Florida in ice time with 22:41 and was +1, while Sam Reinhart led all forwards with 21:37.
Other Sabres:
Dmitry Kulikov(FLA), 15:18 TOI
Evan Rodrigues(FLA), 12:07 TOI
Jimmy Vesey(NYR), 11:00 TOI
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