Sabres Fall In Calgary Thriller After Late-Night Comeback

The Buffalo Sabres had a late-night comeback bid thwarted by the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, falling 5-3 in a thrilling contest. Buffalo trailed 3-0 after the first period but rallied to tie the game in the third period before ultimately surrendering the game-winning goal with just over two minutes remaining.

A Tale of Two Periods

The Sabres were comprehensively outplayed in the first period, managing just four shots on goal while allowing the Flames to generate 14. Calgary capitalized on their chances, scoring three goals from Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Toffoli to take a commanding lead.

The second period was a different story, as the Sabres came out with renewed energy and began to dictate the pace of play. Tage Thompson scored a power-play goal late in the period to cut the deficit to 3-1, and the Sabres carried that momentum into the third period.

Late-Game Heroics

The Sabres continued to press in the third period, and their efforts were rewarded when Jeff Skinner scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-2. With just over five minutes remaining, Alex Tuch tied the game with a rebound goal, sending the crowd at KeyBank Center into a frenzy.

However, the Flames regained the lead with just 2:06 left on the clock. Elias Lindholm scored his second of the game, deflecting a shot from Nikita Zadorov past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The Sabres were unable to answer back, and the Flames held on for the victory.

Missed Opportunities

Despite their late-game heroics, the Sabres ultimately paid the price for their slow start. They missed several opportunities to score in the first period, and they were unable to sustain their momentum in the third period after tying the game.

The Sabres also struggled to contain the Flames' top line of Lindholm, Kadri, and Toffoli. The trio combined for four goals and six points, and they consistently created dangerous scoring chances.

Looking Ahead

The loss drops the Sabres to 11-14-2 on the season, while the Flames improve to 15-13-3. The Sabres will look to rebound on Thursday when they host the Montreal Canadiens, while the Flames will face the Edmonton Oilers on Friday.

Conclusion

The Sabres' late-night comeback bid ultimately fell short against the Flames, but it was a performance that showed both their resilience and their potential. If they can learn from their mistakes in the first period and sustain their momentum for a full 60 minutes, they have the talent to compete with any team in the NHL.