BUFFALO, N.Y. — In an exciting matchup on Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres secured a 4-2 victory against the Dallas Stars, with Peyton Krebs and Ryan McLeod scoring in quick succession during the second period, just 83 seconds apart. The Sabres managed to maintain their lead despite conceding two late goals in the final 4:36 of the game.
Tage Thompson’s goal, which came at the 4:17 mark in the third period, proved to be the game-winner, putting Buffalo ahead 3-0. Alex Tuch added an empty-net goal with just 11 seconds left on the clock. Defensively, Owen Power showcased his skills by tying his career high with three assists, while goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a solid performance, making 28 saves.
On the opposing side, Jake Oettinger faced 25 shots but ultimately suffered defeat in his first start of the season. Thomas Harley managed to break Luukkonen’s shutout with a goal that deflected off Buffalo’s Jason Zucker, and Tyler Seguin scored with 2:11 left in the game after Oettinger was pulled for an extra attacker.
Takeaways from the match highlighted Dallas’s possible overconfidence after their recent 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, a team that eliminated them in the Western Conference finals last spring. While Oettinger was effective in net, the defensive lapses of the team hindered their effort.
For the Sabres, this victory improved their record to 3-1-1 over their last five games, serving as a significant affirmation of the strategies and message that coach Lindy Ruff has been instilling since his return to Buffalo.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Luukkonen made an impressive save against Miro Heiskanen’s powerful shot from the left circle, later shifting to deny Jason Robertson’s attempt to capitalize on the rebound, thus preserving a 2-0 lead early in the third period.
In terms of special teams, the game featured a notable statistic: both teams struggled on the power play, with Dallas going 0 for 3 and Buffalo finishing 0 for 1, which brought their season totals to 2 of 43 combined power-play attempts altogether.
Looking ahead, the Dallas Stars will conclude their two-game road trip with a match against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, while the Buffalo Sabres will continue their four-game homestand by hosting the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.