The Buffalo Sabres wrap up a home and home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs as they host the Leafs tonight at 7:00 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
In the first game last night in Toronto, the Sabres fell to the Leafs 5-3 in a game that included 5 first period goals and a comeback from the Sabres that fell just short.
The game got off to a quick start for the Buffalo Sabres as Andrew Oglevie netted his second goal of the preseason just 30 seconds into the game. The Maple Leafs responded in turn with 3 goals in just over 3 minutes as Ron Hainsey, Pierre Engvall, and John Tavares each scored past Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark.
"“We were off to a really good start, and then it turned into a bad start.” – Linus Ullmark"
Ullmark finished the game with 27 saves on 31 shots faced. So far this preseason, Ullmark his split his 2 starts and has looked good overall despite the 3 goal barrage in the first period last night.
The high points of the night for the Sabres were the comeback and the continued strong play of Tage Thompson. The Sabres came back to tie the game 3-3 in the second period. Head coach Phil Housley was impressed with his team’s performance after falling behind by 2 goals:
"“I loved the way we responded. We were facing some big-time adversity there when it was down 3-1. Our guys came back and got that period back.” – Phil Housley"
Tage Thompson tied the game in the second period as he fired a wrist shot past Leafs goaltender Garret Sparks after a toe-drag that undressed defenseman Connor Carrick.
This is the preseason and @TThompson_97 is doing this.@BuffaloSabres... get ready. #IsItOcotoberYet pic.twitter.com/KPHj0Esmqd
— NHL (@NHL) September 22, 2018
The Sabres will come back for tonight’s game with a lineup that has more firepower than last night’s lineup. Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and Rasmus Dahlin will all be playing tonight, the second game of the preseason for all of them. Eichel and Skinner will be on the top line with the aforementioned Thompson. Thompson leads the team with 3 points this preseason and continues to impress.
Tonight will also be the preseason debut for Sam Reinhart and Zach Bogosian. Reinhart is seeing action after signing a 2 year/7.3 million contract on Wednesday. Bogosian is ready to play a full season with the Sabres which he has yet to do since joining the club in 2015.
The 2 goaltenders dressing tonight for Buffalo will be Carter Hutton and Scott Wedgewood. Hutton has 2 scoreless periods under his belt this preseason and Wedgewood is still hoping to nab the second goaltending spot on the Sabres roster.
Tonight’s game will be the last game in Buffalo this preseason. There are 3 games remaining with 2 on the road and next Tuesday’s game being played in Clifton, New York as part of Hockeyville USA. The game against the Columbus Blue Jackets will be on NBCSN.
Tonight’s game will air on MSG-B and can be heard on WGR 550.
Can the Sabres bounce back tonight? Let us know in the comment section below.