Three Takeaways From The Buffalo Sabres 4-3 Overtime Loss To The Washington Capitals
Sabres lose lead late, fall in overtime on Dylan Strome’s game-winner
Three Takeaways From The Buffalo Sabres 4-3 Overtime Loss To The Washington CapitalsThe Buffalo Sabres had an opportunity to return home going 2-1 on their three-game road trip and getting back to .500, but the club could not hold a one-goal lead late in the third period and lost 4-3 in overtime to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday. Tom Wilson scored with 1:15 left in regulation with goalie Darcy Kuemper pulled for the extra attacker to tie the game, and Dylan Strome scored the game-winner with eight seconds left in overtime to give the Capitals their 10th win of the season.
J-J Peterka and Zach Benson scored (his first career NHL goal) to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead, but Alexander Alexeyev replied before the end of the first and TJ Oshie tied it in the middle frame. Dylan Cozens re-established the Sabres lead with a power play goal late in the second, and Buffalo attempted to make their slim lead stand up in the third, playing low-event hockey and limiting Washington to only three shots on goal, but Wilson’s tying goal was a result of Buffalo being rather stationary front of Devon Levi.
Levi made 26 saves in the loss, moving his record to 3-4-1 on the season.
Here are three takeaways from Buffalo’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Capitals:
Don’t Pack Your Bags Just Yet, Zach
If the decision of whether Zach Benson was staying or returning to Wenatchee came down to how he played in his ninth game, there is little chance he is heading to the state of Washington anytime soon. The 18-year-old’s first career goal was not just a run-of-the-mill deflection or wrist shot, the gifted winger calmly crossed in front of Darcy Kuemper, stickhandled the puck between his legs and roofed the puck past the Capitals goalie.
A Thanksgiving Turkey
The Sabres finished their road trip 1-1-1 or with three of a possible six points, and remain under .500 at 8-9-2. In the salary cap era, teams outside of a playoff spot on American Thanksgiving have only a 25% chance of making the playoffs. Buffalo is only three points in back of Detroit for the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, so they are not well out of range, but without leading scorer Tage Thompson for likely the next month and getting inconsistent goaltending and scoring, it will be a tough task.
Seven D
The Sabres successfully utilized seven defensemen earlier in the month in a victory over Toronto, but since they have had only mixed results. Buffalo went 11-7 in a 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh on November 11 and used the non-traditional alignment in the win over Chicago earlier this week. On Wednesday, head coach Don Granato leaned heavily on Rasmus Dahlin (27:21) and Owen Power (23:53) and lightened the load on veteran Erik Johnson (12:28) and Connor Clifton.
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