At the Horn | Predators 4 - Sabres 2

Bowen Byram had a goal and an assist in his team debut, but the Buffalo Sabres fell 4-2 to the Nashville Predators inside Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Byram, who was acquired Wednesday from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt, played on a defense pair with Rasmus Dahlin and skated 24:46. He scored to erase a 1-0 deficit during the first period, then assisted on Owen Power’s goal in the third.

Byram became the third defenseman acquired in a trade in Sabres history to have multiple points in his team debut, joining John Van Boxmeer and Lee Fogolin.

Filip Forsberg had a hat trick for the Predators, who also received a goal from Luke Evangelista. Gustav Nyquist had three assists.

Eric Comrie started in goal for Buffalo for the first time since Feb. 15 and made 21 saves. Juuse Saros made 26 saves for the Predators.

The Sabres were without forward Tage Thompson, who is considered day to day with an upper-body injury.

SCORING SUMMARY

Period 1, 3:53 (PP) – Filip Forsberg from Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist (1-0, NSH)

The Predators opened the scoring on their first power play of the night following an interference call against Zemgus Girgensons. Forsberg picked the near-side corner from a tough angle low in the right faceoff circle.

Period 1, 4:23 – Bowen Byram from Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs (1-1)

Byram answered quickly for the Sabres, receiving a pass from Dahlin and drifting into the left faceoff circle before beating Saros with a wrist shot to the short side. 

Byram became the first defenseman acquired in a trade by the Sabres to score a goal in his team debut since Alexei Zhitnik on Feb. 15, 1995.

Period 1, 16:15 (PP) – Luke Evangelista from Mark Jankowski and Tommy Novak (2-1, NSH)

The Predators regained the lead on their next power play, this time after Rasmus Dahlin took an interference penalty to prevent a Forsberg breakaway. Jankowski sent a feed across the net to Evangelista, who tapped the puck in at the back door.

Period 3, 1:49 – Filip Forsberg from Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O’Reilly (3-1, NSH)

The two teams combined for just 16 shots during a quiet second period before Forsberg helped the Predators pull away in the third. Nyquist sent a pass from the corner of the Buffalo zone to Forsberg, who tucked a backhand shot in from the left of the net.

Period 3, 6:43 – Filip Forsberg from Jeremy Lauzon and Gustav Nyquist (4-1, NSH)

Forsberg retrieved his own carom off the end boards and buried a wrap-around attempt to complete his hat trick.

Period 3, 12:52 – Owen Power from Bowen Byram (4-2, NSH)

Byram carried the puck over the offensive blue line and waited patiently for a seam to open to Power, who caught Byram’s pass in the slot and buried a quick wrist shot.

UP NEXT

The Sabres host the Edmonton Oilers to open a three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available here.

Pregame coverage on MSG/MSG+ begins at 12 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 12:30. Radio coverage can be found on WGR 550.