By: Brayden Peters
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres narrowly escaped the St. Louis Blues at home, winning 4-3 in overtime thanks to defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin buried a one-timer on the overtime power play after receiving a pass from right winger JJ Peterka, whose assist extended his point streak to five games. St. Louis center Oskar Sundqvist was penalized for goalie interference with 58 seconds left in the third period, and the start of the power play was delayed by the Sabres until the beginning of overtime.
"You got to be able to overcome tough moment," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "Our second period wasn't that good, but the answer in the third period was. We started to control play again. We started to skate through the neutral zone. It was a night where we had a few guys who didn't have a very good night and we were able to overcome that at the same time."
Dahlin's overtime winner on Nov. 14, 2024. Video Credit: @BuffaloSabres on X
Center Ryan McLeod and right winger Alex Tuch were tied for the team lead in points with two. Both players recorded a goal and an assist. McLeod was placed on the first line for the game after center Tage Thompson went down with a lower body injury in the Sabres' 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. Going into tonight, McLeod had nine points (four + five) in 16 games played.
"I thought [McLeod] stepped up in the way he needed," Ruff said. "It was a 'next man' opportunity and he took advantage of it."
Devon Levi got the start in net after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered an "ailment" in practice on Sunday. Levi saved 24 out of 27 shots taken (0.889 save percentage) by the Blues.
The Sabres got active early in the first period as they created lots of scoring chances with their dominant puck control. In the first three minutes of the game, Buffalo outshot St. Louis five-to-two.
Though the Sabres created more scoring chances, the Blues were the first to light the lamp when left winger Brandon Saad buried a wrist shot top right from the slot.
The Sabres didn't show any signs of slowing down though. With 7:13 left in the frame, left winger Zach Benson squeezed a wrist shot through Jordan Binnington's five-hole from near the goal line to tie the game 1-1. Center Peyton Krebs and defenseman Owen Power were credited with assists on the goal. Power now has 10 assists this season.
Almost four minutes later, McLeod sniped the left corner of the net thanks to a screen in front of Binnington to give the Sabres their first lead of the game. Defenseman Jacob Bryson and Tuch were given assists on the goal.
The score remained the same throughout rest of the period. By the end of it, the Sabres outshot the Blues 16-to-six.
Although things were initially quiet in the first few minutes of the second period, St. Louis tied the game 2-2 with 14:35 left in the frame. The goal came from left winger Pavel Buchnevich, who beat Levi blocker side on a wrist shot.
The goal caused a momentum shift as the Blues started to make progress offensively. They were able to create more scoring chances and were strong on the forecheck. They were also able to break through the Sabres' forecheck with ease.
The buildup of offensive pressure paid off for St. Louis. Saad scored his second goal of the day after getting the puck off a deflection from Dahlin's skate and buried a wrist shot to give the Blues a 3-2 lead.
For the rest of the period, neither side was able to change the score and the Blues outshot the Sabres 11-to-10 in the period.
Almost five minutes into the third period, Buffalo tied things up 3-3 after center Dylan Cozens scored off a rebound. However, the goal was wiped off the scoreboard after a successful challenge from the Blues for goalie interference against Benson.
"I respectfully disagree [with the call] because I thought he was kind of bumped in there," Ruff said.
Even after the goal got called off, the Sabres turned things up on offense. They were able to create scoring chances. Eventually, the Sabres were able to tie the game 3-3 after Tuch fired a one-timer past Binnington's blocker side. McLeod and defenseman Bowen Byram were given assists on the goal.
Even with the Sabres' offensive production late in the third period, the third period ended in a tie and the Sabres got outshot eight-to-six in the frame. However, the Sabres got to enter overtime on the power play, where Dahlin scored the game winner.
Buffalo improved to 8-8-1 with the victory and remain in sixth in the Atlantic. As for the Blues, they fall to 7-9-1 and are sixth in the Central.
The Sabres will look to build on their win as they travel to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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