Sabres fall short in back-and-forth affair with Avalanche

DENVER -Ralph Krueger felt proud of the resolve he saw from his hockey club.
The Buffalo Sabres twice erased one-goal deficits during their 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. They came mere inches from tying the score a third time during the game's final minute.
It was the sort of loss, Krueger said, that a team might feel OK about early in the season. But at a time when every game feels like a playoff game for the Sabres, the prevailing feeling afterward was pain.

"There's a lot to take with us here for how we need to play on the road and into Las Vegas," Krueger said. "But, right now, all that's at the surface is the pain."

It was physical, fast-paced contest worthy of the stakes that surrounded it. The Avalanche pulled ahead twice in the first two periods on power-play goals from Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Kaut. The Sabres responded each time, receiving goals from Zemgus Girgensons and Curtis Lazar.
Lazar's goal, scored with 5:04 remaining in the second period, sent the teams into the second intermission deadlocked at two goals apiece.

"We were right here," said forward Michael Frolik, who assisted on Lazar's goal. "We were in a great spot after two periods and we just said in the room, 'Let's go get it.'"
The Sabres had plenty of chances to take the lead. Kyle Okposo, after earlier setting up Girgensons' goal, had a chance alone in front that went high over the net. Jack Eichel had a deflection swallowed by Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz.
The chances continued to come even after J.T. Compher scored to put the Avalanche ahead, 3-2, with 8:06 remaining. The Sabres killed a late hooking penalty against Brandon Montour, pulled goalie Carter Hutton with 1:30 remaining and went on one last offensive.
Victor Olofsson came closest to tying the game. He took a one-time shot from point-blank range that hit the inside of the post, bounced off the back of Francouz and drifted through the crease, it's path going just wide of the net. He had another one-time attempt stopped by the goaltender's pad.
"Both teams are playing for something," Lazar said. "We're fighting for our lives there. It's a playoff atmosphere, a playoff game. Every little battle matters, and we're learning that. We had some good pushback throughout the game, unfortunately we just couldn't get the last one."
The game was a clear improvement over Buffalo's last meeting with Colorado, a 6-1 Avalanche win in KeyBank Center on Feb. 4. The Avalanche put their speed and transition game on full display that night, areas the Sabres felt they were better able to suppress in the rematch.

"They play an unbelievably connected attacking style which I thought for large portions of the game we were able to neutralize compared to that game," Krueger said. "We all know we're a completely different hockey team than then.
"It's hard to believe that was [10] games ago, and I'm again really proud of the effort here, really proud of the performance, the fight, the spirit on the bench, everything was excellent. Just the final result not what we could've got out of this today."

Okposo extends his streak

Okposo's assist on Girgensons' goal extended his point streak to five games. He has four goals and two assists in that span.
Okposo drove into the offensive zone down the left side, deked his way past defenseman Ian Cole and delivered a pass to Girgensons in the blue paint.

The line of Girgensons, Okposo, and Johan Larsson has combined for 13 points over the past five contests while playing primarily against opposing teams' top lines. They saw the most ice time of any line against Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon.
"They feel this responsibility now, often playing against top lines of the other team and nailing those lines down into their D-zone is a pretty good skillset to have," Krueger said before the game. "They extend those shifts and then find the opportune moments to attack, which has been brilliant for us. It's an example for our younger players too to see them grind out those long O-zone shifts."

Simmonds makes his debut

Wayne Simmonds, acquired in a trade with New Jersey on Monday, tallied three hits in 12:53, including 1:03 on the power play.
"I thought for his first game, he showed up," Krueger said. "He was trying to play the right way. We've given him a lot of information in 36 hours and just really good execution today. Brought some physicality, was a good spirit on the bench, good spirit in the room already."

Up next

The road trip continues in Las Vegas on Friday. Coverage on MSG begins at 9:30 p.m., or you can listen to the game on WGR 550. Puck drop is scheduled for 10.