How the Buffalo Sabres fared against the Blackhawks in 2022-23

In this edition of “How They Fared”, here is a look at the two game season series between the Buffalo Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks.

At the beginning of the season, the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks were viewed as rebuilding teams who would not finish anywhere close to the postseason. Buffalo was in a “growing” period while Chicago was starting a rebuild.

For the next article of “How They Fared“, we take a look at the two games these teams faced off in. Ironically enough, both meetings had the same final score as well as the loser blowing a 3-1 lead in both matchups.

The first of two meetings took place in Buffalo in late October. The score would be 1-1 after the first period thanks to power play goals courtesy of Victor Olofsson for Buffalo and Jason Dickinson for Chicago. It would be all Blackhawks in the second period as they would score a pair of goals to take the 3-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

During the third period, Buffalo would even the game up at 3-3 thanks to a pair of goals from Tage Thompson. The Sabres and Blackhawks would need overtime to determine the winner. It would not take long however as Olofsson would score once again to win the game just 36 seconds in.

Buffalo Sabres split the season series with Chicago

Fast forward to January in Chicago for the final meeting. After losing a game to the Florida Panthers, the Sabres took on the Blackhawks for the second game in a back-to-back. After giving up the first goal, the Sabres would score two goals thanks to Olofsson and Thompson once again, giving themselves a 2-1 lead after period one.

During a penalty kill, Peyton Krebs would score a shorthanded goal and made it 3-1 Sabres after the first 40 minutes. After surrendering a goal early on in the third period, Buffalo only had to hold on for one more minute.

Unfortunately for the Sabres, Seth Jones would score for the Blackhawks as he tied the game up with 56 seconds left in the third. Jones would score again a couple of minutes into overtime and the Blackhawks would emerge victorious.

In my opinion, this was one of Buffalo’s most frustrating losses. They were one minute away from getting two points. Not only did they blow a 3-1 lead but they also lost to one of the teams in the basement of the NHL.

I know fans want to point at the Panthers game in April or the Islanders game in March, but if the Buffalo Sabres could have hung on and win, then they would find themselves in the postseason.

(Historical data provided by Hockey-Reference)