Postgame Report | Sabres pick up point in overtime loss to Chicago

CHICAGO -The Buffalo Sabres carried a two-goal lead into the third period but lost 4-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks inside United Center on Tuesday.
Seth Jones scored the tying goal with 55.8 seconds remaining in regulation and then buried the winner 2:24 into overtime. Jones also assisted on Philipp Kurashev's goal which cut the Sabres' lead in half early in the third period.
The Sabres led 3-1 after two periods on the strength of goals from Victor Olofsson, Tage Thompson, and Peyton Krebs.
Buffalo finished the game with a 33-26 edge in shots. Craig Anderson made 22 saves.
"We obviously had more chances," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "Just didn't bear down and allowed that game to remain close."

How it happened

PERIOD 1
Connor Murphy opened the scoring for the Blackhawks at 8:41, but the Sabres stormed back with goals from Olofsson and Thompson to take a 2-1 lead into intermission.
Olofsson buried a puck in the blue paint after Tyson Jost fended off Jake McCabe behind the goal line and carried it to the net front.

Thompson stickhandled his way behind goaltender Petr Mrazek to score the go-ahead goal with 6.9 seconds remaining. Alex Tuch initiated the sequence by fighting off a defender at the net front and sending the puck behind the goal line. Jeff Skinner collected it and squeezed a pass to Thompson.

The Sabres finished the period with an 11-4 edge in shots.
"We got off to a good start," Jost said. "We were doing well getting on top of pucks and pressuring them, using our speed and our skill and being tenacious. You could see when we did that we got a lot of offensive-zone time and good chances. We've just got to keep doing that.
PERIOD 2
The Blackhawks killed the Sabres' first power play of the night, then immediately earned their own man advantage when the Sabres were killed for too many men.
What had the potential to serve as a momentum swing for the Blackhawks instead turned in favor of the Sabres. Krebs intercepted the puck from Max Domi at the Buffalo blue line and went to his backhand on the breakaway for the first shorthanded goal of his career.

PERIOD 3
Kurashev cut through the paint and deflected a shot from the point just 1:34 into the period to make it 3-2.
With 55.8 seconds remaining, a shot from Jones made its way past Anderson to tie the game. Anderson was screened by Tyler Johnson and while the ruling on the ice was a goal, the officials reviewed the play for goaltender interference. The call was confirmed, forcing overtime.
Anderson said afterward that he felt Johnson's elbow prevented him from getting his glove to the puck.
OVERTIME
The teams traded chances in the extra period. Early on, Ramus Dahlin cut in on net and the puck found its way to Domi in the neutral zone. On a breakaway, Domi was stopped by Anderson.
Then on a 2-on-1 rush with 2:36 to play, Johnson and Jones connected to win the game for Chicago.

What we learned

1.The Sabres recalled Krebs from Rochester prior to the game and inserted him into the lineup on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. Krebs had sat the last two games for roster management purposes.
"Krebs had great jump," Granato said. "Obviously stepping back for a couple games, he steps into the lineup and had great jump. Very nice to see him score."

2. Olofsson set a new career high with his 14th even-strength goal in just 43 games this season, surpassing the mark he set in 72 games last season.

Up next

It's Ryan Miller Night at KeyBank Center for the Sabres' game against the New York Islanders on Thursday. The team will induct Miller into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame and retire his No. 30 to the rafters during a special pregame ceremony.
Fans who are attending the sold-out contest are asked to be in their seats by 5:50 p.m. for the beginning of the ceremony. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Find more information on the night here.
Fans watching from home can enjoy the ceremony on MSG beginning at 6 p.m. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30.