The Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders 5-0. Buffalo is one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League. They have won 17 of their last 21 games and came into this game in a playoff spot. They have not made the playoffs in 14 years, but are in a playoff spot now.
Bo Horvat, the leading scorer for the Islanders, returned to the lineup for this game against Buffalo. However, it was a case of one in, one out for the Islanders, as defenseman Ryan Pulock missed this game due to an injury. Do you think the Islanders got better?
Buffalo Sabres-New York Islanders Scoring Summary
There were no goals scored in the first period, which was fairly even. The period was played fast; Buffalo is a fast team. The tempo of the game helped the Islanders, who were coming off a big road trip.
In the second period, Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres, giving them a 1-0 lead on the first shift of the period. Tage Thompson scored with just 11 seconds left in the period, and that gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead. That goal came on the last shift of the period, so the Islanders were undone by their first and last shift.
In the third period, Zucker scored again in the first minute of the period. The Sabres took a 3-0 lead. Then, Rasmus Dahlin scored for the Sabres into an empty net, and it was 4-0. Alex Tuch then scored to make the game 5-0, which was the final score.
Injuries
The Islanders welcomed back leading scorer Bo Horvat in this game. That is good for the Islanders, who struggle to score goals. It is also good news for Horvat, who is going to play in the Olympics for Team Canada.
There was more injury news for the Islanders. Defenseman Ryan Pulock missed this game. His absence necessitated the Islanders shifting their defensive pairings and calling up Isiah George from the Bridgeport Islanders.
Player Of the Game
The player of this game was Alex Lyon, the Sabres’ goaltender. He made several great saves, including two breakaways in the second period. He beat the Islanders three times last season as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He only won 14 games last season. It is not surprising that a goaltender would be named the player of the game against the Sabres, as the Islanders struggle to score.
Turning Point
The turning point of this game was Zucker’s third-period goal to give the Sabres a 3-0 lead. The lead was insurmountable for the Islanders. It was very unlikely that the Islanders were going to score four goals in the last 19 minutes of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
The final score of the game was 5-0 in favor of the Buffalo Sabres. This was the first game back at home for the Islanders. The player of the game was Lyon. He is an Islanders killer and was one in this game. The turning point of the game was Zucker’s second goal of the game.
The Islanders next play on Monday on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. Buffalo finishes their road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Parting Shots
This game had all of the hallmarks of a trap game for the Islanders. First, they played this game after a long road trip. Teams often lose their first game back from a long road trip. Second, the Islanders are not good in matinee games. Third, Buffalo is a good team. The Islanders play this one game at home, and then they travel to Philadelphia.
