With less than a month to go in their regular season, the Buffalo Sabres played the second game of a five-game road trip. After a tough result in Detroit on Saturday afternoon, Buffalo's next opponent was the team they have never beaten, the Seattle Kraken.
Coming into the night, Buffalo was five points out of a playoff spot and looked to gain some ground as well as beat Seattle for the first time. In the first period, it was an entertaining one. Just 24 seconds into the game, the Kraken took a 1-0 lead. 25 seconds later, Tage Thompson scored his 21st of the season to even things up.
A few minutes later, Jeff Skinner gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Alex Tuch joined in on the fun and made it 3-1 Buffalo. With four goals being scored in the first few minutes of the game, both team's goaltenders shut the door. Unfortunately for the Sabres, Peyton Krebs took a four-minute high-sticking penalty. Matty Beniers made Krebs and Buffalo pay as he made it 3-2.
After a five-goal first period, there were only two goals scored in the second and they both came from the Sabres. Dylan Cozens hit the post but Owen Power was there for the rebound as he made it 4-2 Buffalo. Not even two minutes later, Skinner scored his second goal of the game as he kept the puck after momentarily losing it at the Kraken's blue line.
Skinner got his third goal of the game for a hat trick en route to a Sabres 6-2 victory.
Postgame thoughts
It was a very eventful first period. Even though they gave up the first goal so early, the Sabres had a great response and didn't look back. They had a strong second period and despite going into defensive mode in the third, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen held it down for his team.
When it comes to the playoff picture, there's good news and bad news. The bad, Washington beat Calgary and is now occupying the second wild-card spot. However, the good news is Buffalo won so they are now four points back of the Capitals. It's not a huge jump but it's better than being six points back.
The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow night as they will be in Vancouver to take on a very good Canucks team.