Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on February 12, 2020
Tomorrow is 2000s Night at KeyBank Center when Buffalo hosts Columbus
by Chris Ryndak @ChrisRyndak / Sabres.com
The Buffalo Sabres got back in the win column with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings last night.
Sam Reinhart scored the winner 57 seconds into the third period and also received goals from Conor Sheary and Marcus Johansson. Carter Hutton made 27 saves in net.
Buffalo's next game is Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's also 2000s Night. Tickets are on sale now.
Here's what you need to know.
A look back at last night
Video: Reinhart, Johansson lift Sabres to victory
Marcus Johansson, Curtis Lazar, and Conor Sheary stepped onto the ice for their first shift Tuesday with the Sabres already trailing the Detroit Red Wings, 1-0.
The score was tied by the time they returned to the bench.
The goal - scored from the slot by Sheary just 63 seconds into the contest - proved not only to be an important moment for the Sabres, but a sign of things to come for the newly formed forward line in what ended as a 3-2 victory at KeyBank Center.
Video: Sam Reinhart on the postgame show
Sure, it was the Sabres' top line that broke a 2-2 tie in the third period, on a goal from Sam Reinhart. But it was the offense from Johansson, Lazar, and Sheary that got them there. After assisting on Sheary's early goal, Johansson scored one of his own to erase a 2-1 deficit in the second.
"That's the kind of effort we need," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. "We can't just rely on Jack's line to carry it all the time. For us to rise up to the challenges ahead here with … these four-point games coming up here against Columbus, against Toronto, teams like that where we can really make a move here, we need everybody involved offensively and defensively. So, that gives us some good confidence going into these next games."
Johansson missed Sunday's game against Anaheim due to an illness. He returned Tuesday morning skating on the wing rather than at center, where he has spent most of the season.
His chemistry with Lazar and Sheary was apparent early. After Darren Helm put the Red Wings on the board 27 seconds into the contest, an errant stretch pass Tyler Bertuzzi found Jake McCabe in the Buffalo zone. McCabe quickly countered to Sheary, who initiated the rush sequence that ended with his goal.
It was a crucial moment for a team that had been forced to play catchup in its last two home games, one of which was a shootout loss to the Red Wings last Thursday.
"I think it was big for us to get back in it right away, get some energy for ourselves, show that we're not just going to lay down because they scored," Johansson said.
Don't miss 2000s Night
On Thursday, the Sabres will celebrate the first decade of the century with a bunch of alumni, including former captain Daniel Briere, coming back to town.
Briere joined The Instigators on Thursday:
Click here for full details on the night, which will include a pregame ceremony honoring former owner Tom Golisano, who made sure the franchise stayed in Buffalo.
Video: Inside the Numbers: 2006's 7-6 win vs. Ottawa