For the second and final time this season, the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators faced off against one another. After their first meeting at KeyBank Center in which the Predators won 4-0, the Sabres properly responded against the best team in the NHL. Despite Nashville getting off to a strong start, the increasing momentum from the Sabres resulted in a convincing 7-4 win at Bridgestone Arena. As a result of injuries sustained to goaltenders Robin Lehner (upper-body) and Linus Ullmark (lower-body), the Sabres recalled Ullmark’s backup in Rochester, Adam Wilcox, to fulfill similar duties in Buffalo. Chad Johnson earned the start, and struggled early, but earned 32 saves on 36 shots faced, but Buffalo’s scoring bailed him out of early trouble. While Jack Eichel’s assist on the team’s first goal scored by Jason Pominville, an Okposo penalty resulted in Nashville’s P.K. Subban capitalizing with the man advantage to tie the game at 1 with just three minutes played. Austin Watson concluded the scoring in the opening period to give the Predators a 2-1 lead. In the second period, Kyle Turris and Nick Bonino were responsible for Nashville’s two goals in the period in an effort to stall Buffalo’s momentum that grew as the period progressed. However, following a severe hit delivered by Scott Hartnell on Victor Antipin, a five minute boarding penalty was issued as well as a game misconduct. Very dangerous hit by Scott Hartnell. Antipin had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Video courtesy MSG. pic.twitter.com/pZJJGCuHdj — Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) April 1, 2018 As a result, the Sabres overcame a 4-3 deficit and scored three goals during the five minute advantage to finish the period with a 6-4 lead. Sam Reinhart’s two goals and Kyle Okposo’s second of the night capped an impressive stretch of three goals in a five-minute power play, which has not been seen in years. Their impressive performance continued with Reinhart earning his third of the night to give the Sabres a 7-4 lead and earned his second career hat trick. “It’s tough to see Victor go down like that…I think it was a good job by our team responding, special teams was the difference…I think that won us the game”- Jack Eichel. Eichel was a prominent member of the scoresheet, tallying five assists and playing an important role in his team’s offensive production, along with Ristolainen and O’Reilly both earning three points. In what was a unique performance against the league’s best team, everyone got involved in helping the Sabres score 7 goals, and given the difficulty of consistently scoring at a high level, this was indeed a special game for the team in all aspects. The Sabres look to continue this giant wave of momentum as they head to Toronto when they face the Maple Leafs for the final time this year on Monday at the Air Canada Centre. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
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