The Buffalo Sabres drop a tough 2-1 game to the Nashville Predators before the NHL All-Star break. Sam Reinhart had the lone goal for the Sabres and Linus Ullmark kept Buffalo in the game all night long.
After a tough start, the Sabres were able to get out of the 1st period with a 1-0 lead. The lone goal came off of a highlight real pass by Rasmus Dahlin to find Reinhart all alone on the far side of the net. This would be the only goal for the depleted Sabres.
Good looks all around 👊#Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/vICHNLvjun
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 19, 2020
The Predators were able to tie the game up with an unfortunate bounce off of Zach Bogosian’s leg after a shot into the crease by Ryan Johansen. This came at the end of a long shift in Buffalo’s zone.
Nashville seemed to keep the pressure on through much of the game but wasn’t able to take the lead until the latter half of the 3rd period. Jack Eichel took a tripping penalty that sent Nashville to the power play. Only a few seconds in, Craig Smith rang a shot off the post that bounced into the back of Ullmark’s leg and into the goal. Buffalo seemed to be on their heels the rest of the game as they never generated any scoring opportunities after that.
After 31 shots on net and only 1 goal, it was a tough loss for the Sabres who were on a 3-game win streak.
Reinhart: "It's frustrating because we had our opportunities but we couldn't capitalize" #Sabres50
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) January 19, 2020
Okposo: "Tough to swallow right now…we wanted that one bad…gotta move on and shut the brain off for a week, turn the mind off and refresh…" #Sabres50
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) January 19, 2020
Linus Ullmark was arguably the best player on the ice tonight as he stopped 35 of 37 shots on net. There were many spectacular saves he made tonight but none topped his giveaway-redemption save in the 2nd period.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 19, 2020
Krueger: "Linus played an outstanding game, gave us a chance" #Sabres50
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) January 19, 2020
Ullmark wasn’t the only goalie to shine tonight as Nashville’s Pekka Rinne made 30 saves on 31 Buffalo shots.
Buffalo will go into the All-Star break 7 points back of the final wild-card spot. However, they feel as though they are in a position for a late-season push.
McCabe on schedule: "It was a tough first fifty games…but we put ourselves in the mix to be playing meaningful hockey ahead" #Sabres50
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) January 19, 2020