Overturned call leads to OT loss in New York

NEW YORK - So often this season, the difference between winning and losing for the Buffalo Sabres could be traced to a single mistake or a missed opportunity. Against the New York Islanders on Wednesday, it came down to a matter of mere inches.
When Josh Bailey shot on an open net with 1:09 remaining in regulation and Robin Lehner lunged across the crease to catch the puck in his glove, it initially seemed like a candidate for save of the year. Instead, the play was reviewed, overturned and stood as the game-tying goal in an eventual 3-2 overtime win for New York.
The review was initiated by the NHL's Situation Room in Toronto and ruled that, while catching the puck, Lehner's glove had completely crossed the goal line. Mathew Barzal scored 1:08 into the extra period to hand the Sabres their eighth overtime loss of the season.

"It's just small margins," Lehner said. "We're one minute away from winning 2-1 and we lose 3-2. I felt like I had a really good game and I blew it on the last goal there. I kind of got caught and it's just something I want back. At the end of the day, it's a loss and it sucks. It is what it is."

Sabres coach Phil Housley said that while he initially disagreed with the ruling, he did eventually see a replay angle that provided conclusive evidence that the puck had crossed the goal line. Lehner, however, was vocal in his disappointment with the call.
The goalie compared the ruling to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin's overturned touchdown catch against the New England Patriots on Sunday, saying it seems to be something "in the Buffalo waters."
"Well, I know Toronto already made up their mind that it was a goal before they shot the puck," Lehner said. "That's just how it works in this league."
The disappointment of losing was heightened by the feeling that the Sabres had outplayed the Islanders for much of the night. After being outshot 10-1 through the game's first eight minutes, the Sabres responded with a hard-working, simple game and finished the night with a 37-34 edge in shots.
Jason Chimera opened the scoring for New York early in the second period, cleaning up a rebound at the edge of the crease, but Zemgus Girgensons scored to tie the game shortly after and Kyle Okposo scored the go-ahead goal with 8:27 remaining in the third.
"It's a tough break," Okposo said. "I thought we played a pretty good hockey game. With the exception of the first six, seven minutes of the game, I thought we outplayed them. We had our chances. We played a pretty simple game and moved our feet. It was a tough outcome."
Before and after Bailey's goal, the Sabres had plenty of chances both to widen and regain their lead. Jordan Nolan was stopped on a breakaway earlier in the third period and Sam Reinhart had a point-blank shot swallowed by Jaroslav Halak with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Even in overtime, Ryan O'Reilly found Evander Kane for a point-blank, one-time shot that was saved by Halak.
"It's sort of a common theme, we're getting that golden look and we're not capitalizing on it and it comes back the other way," Housley said. "It's just unfortunate because I thought our guys played hard. They were physical, they were fast, they were hard on the forecheck, we had a lot of O-zone time.
"That's one of the things that's disappointing, because the guys really played well tonight."

Girgensons goes back-to-back

With his goal in the second period, Girgensons has scored in back-to-back games for the first time this season. It's no coincidence that he's also spent the last two games playing on a line with Jack Eichel, who's earned an assist on both goals.
Against Carolina on Saturday, Girgensons' goal was the product of a designed play by Eichel on a faceoff in the offensive zone. On Wednesday, Girgensons worked his way to the net to capitalize on a quick backhand feed from behind the goal line.

"We have a pretty good chemistry," Girgensons said. "It's pretty easy to play with a guy like that. He can make anything happen out there, so it's fun playing with him."
With the assist, Eichel now a 14 points (6+8) in his last 11 games.

Hello, old friends

Since joining the Sabres prior to last season, it's become customary for Okposo to receive a warm ovation when he comes back to Brooklyn to play his former team. When he scores game-tying goals against his former team, it's a different story.
Okposo's third-period goal was his sixth of the season and, like Girgensons' goal, was the product of getting to the net. Kane took took initial shot, and Okposo was able to lift the puck behind Halak to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.

"I was just trying to go to the net," Okposo said. "Kaner's a shooter and he's going to put the puck there so I just tried to go there and put my stick on the ice and I was able to shovel it in."

Up next

The Sabres continue their tour of the Metropolitan Division with a visit to New Jersey on Friday night. Coverage on MSG-B begins at 6:30 p.m. with GMC Gamenight, or you can listen live on WGR 550. The puck drops at 7 p.m.