After an amazing 9-2-2 start to the 2019-20 NHL Regular Season for the Buffalo Sabres on October, it all fell apart in November as the team slumped to 3-8-3 for the month. December and January were inconsistent, while February saw an upturn in results and one of the most spectacular couple of moment the team has produced this season.
Of course, we’re talking about that three-goal blitz when the Sabres managed to slice and dice the Toronto Maple Leafs, which all took place in just 91 seconds during what WKBW Buffalo called a “monstrous” third period of remarkable play.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in the opening period, Johan Larsson finally edged Buffalo ahead after 1:32 of the second period. Conor Sheary added a second with 9:42 on the clock and the Sabres looked in command, only for Egor Korshkov to pull one back, scoring on his debut appearance for the visiting Maple Leafs.
Then it all went ballistic in the third period. Much to the frustration of home fans, the Sabres found themselves having squandered a two-goal advantage, as Zach Hyman levelled the score at 2-2 with 2:11 on the clock in the third period. But, as the sixth minute of the third rolled around, everything changed.
Congrats Kyle! ????#Sabres50 | @bookerT2116 pic.twitter.com/GVpDEjVH3p
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 17, 2020
On 6:06 Jack Eichel struck his 33rd goal of the season with the 23-year-old enjoying a fine campaign, finishing off a superbly worked power-play by the Sabres. Less than a minute later, Kyle Okposo made it 4-2 and, at the same time, registered the 500th NHL point of his career, making the most of a turnover by the Maple Leafs in their own end.
The Maple Leafs were then left completely shell-shocked when Jimmy Vesey fired the home side 5-2 ahead with 7:37 of the third period on the clock, completing a magical trio of goals in just 91 amazing seconds of play on the ice. Undoubtedly, this was a remarkable feat accomplished by the team and, for fans at the KeyBank Center, it made for a night of hockey action from the Sabres they won’t forget any time soon.
Ending the homestand on a high note ????#Sabres50 | @PerrysIceCream pic.twitter.com/uCkOtXeSk3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 17, 2020
Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons and, unless there’s a miracle run to end the regular season campaign, they’re unlikely to do so this time around. Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins are the two main favourites for the Stanley Cup this year, according to the latest NHL betting odds.
Meanwhile, the Sabres will attempt to finish as high as they can in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference standings. The Buffalo franchise has endured a tough decade, last reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2010-11 season during Lindy Ruff’s thirteenth campaign as head coach of the team, before he was fired in February 2013 and 17 games into his 15th season at the helm.
Ruff remains the last coach to lead Buffalo to a Stanley Cup Finals, doing so after an amazing run through the 1998-99 Playoffs, before losing out against the Dallas Stars in controversial circumstances. While it’s a long time since the Sabres have enjoyed such a similar level of success, this season, the team has shown that it’s still capable of producing some memorable moments for the fans to enjoy. Hopefully, there’ll be more before the campaign ends.