WIVB

‘“In games you’ve got to recognize there are moments where there are some pretty big swings and you have to find a way to come out on the right side of some of those big moments and I think for us tonight we didn’t do a great job obviously,” forward Jeff Skinner said. “We definitely had opportunities, we just didn’t seem to be able to sustain any type of momentum.”’

‘The Sabres took the lead in the second period on a goal from Dylan Cozens. Detroit responded back with two goals in less than two minutes. Carter Rowney scored the game-tying goal, and Pius Suter gave the Red Wings the lead in the second.’

‘That’s as close as Montreal would get the rest of the night, as the Sabres scored three unanswered goals in the final two periods. Their first goal came when Cody Eakin took a Vinnie Hinostroza pass just outside the crease. It was an easy shot, and the Sabres led 2-1. Later in the second, Buffalo took a 3-1 lead while on the penalty kill. A puck bounced off the skate of a Montreal player, that allowed Eakin and Kyle Okposo to go on an odd-man rush to the other end. Okposo’s first shot didn’t go, but his rebound attempt scored, and it was now 3-1.’

‘Obviously the biggest reason for Monday’s loss was the stretch early in the second period where Columbus scored three goals in 3:41. This isn’t the first time that’s happened. It’s not even the first time in the last week that’s happened. It’s the third straight game where the Sabres have allowed three goals in a short span. They gave up three to New York on Sunday in a span of 5:26, and against Calgary on Thursday they allowed three goals in 1:37.’

‘It was an overall back-and-forth game, as neither team gained a clear advantage throughout the contest. One team would score, then the other would match it, and both sides went punch for punch in a game that ended with nine total goals.’

‘They played poorly in their own defensive zone at times and they couldn’t create a lot of offensive chances.’

‘The Sabres broke up a scoreless tie in the 2nd period on a goal by Colin Miller. They would add to the lead later in the period on Kyle Okposo’s 4th goal of the season. The Sabres captain only had 2 goals in 35 games last season.’

‘Buffalo trailed 4-2 at the halfway mark of the third, but showed a lot of fight down the stretch. Jeff Skinner scored his second goal of the night, and less than a minute later Rasmus Dahlin tied the game on a one-timer.’

‘“Just being here, in a new city, as a fan of the opposing team, it’s a great feeling,” said Rob Jot-Kandola, who traveled to Buffalo from Toronto with a group of friends. “It’s the Leafs. The Leafs are playing in Buffalo. We always come every year whenever they play and the borders been closed for about a year almost and when they opened up the first thing we did was look for tickets,” said Hargit Singh, who’s from Toronto.’

‘“It’s a big confidence boost for sure, going against one of the top players in the world,” Cozens said. “I wanted to be up for the challenge.”’