When you’re on the road, you have to do everything right to win against quality teams. Tonight, the Sabres did just enough to lose, as a late Avalanche charge led Colorado to a 2-1 win.
The game-winning goal came with just :32 seconds left in the game, and a couple of Sabres helped put it past their own netminder. Francois Beauchemin’s shot from the right point first deflected off Evander Kane and then the glove of Mark Pysyk before it deflected into the net past Robin Lehner.
Buffalo carried a 1-0 advantage into the 3rd period, but couldn’t hold on as they lost their 10th straight against Colorado. Alex Tanguay netted the tying goal halfway through the final period. Carl Soderberg’s shot was saved by Lehner, but Tanguay found the rebound and put it home.
This was easily Lehner’s best game as a Sabre, finishing with 33 saves. He had two standout saves in the 3rd period. One came against Matt Duchene with 6:30 left to go in the game. Duchene was fed with a cross ice pass that left him alone down right wing. Lehner moved perfectly with the pass and stoned the 25 year old Canadian. The other was on Blake Comeau on the Avs power play midway through the 3rd.
Evander Kane scored the lone goal for Buffalo near the end of the 2nd on the man advantage. Ryan O’Reilly kept the puck in the zone at the point, and Jack Eichel slid a touch pass over to Kane who put it past Semyon Varlamov for the lead. Varlamov finished with 28 saves allowing just the one goal.
Buffalo successfully killed a four minute penalty for the second straight game after Kane’s stick found the face of Cody McLeod in the 3rd period.
Sam Reinhart left the game with what is being called an upper body injury. He did not return.
Buffalo returns home to face the Red Wings on Friday night. Detroit took the last meeting 4-3. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at First Niagara Center.