BLOWING IT IN BUFFALO
Sabres push game to OT with quick pair of comeback goals in the third period, then win in shootout
CANUCKS CAN’T CLOSE Sabres erase 3-1 deficit in final 2:27, win in shootout
Matinee movies can often disappoint.
You’re looking for something special and often don’t see nearly enough, especially when there are names of note on the marquee.
On Saturday afternoon, there was more anticipation about a building lake-effect blizzard that was supposed to blanket the area than what Swedish rookies and firstround draft picks Elias Pettersson and Rasmus Dahlin were able to produce.
They didn’t quite play like lead actors.
Pettersson was kept in check and held pointless for just the third time in his first 12 NHL games, but there was a plot twist that helped the Vancouver Canucks on the third stop of their six-game road trip. It’s because the understudies not only showed up, they stole the show.
Loui Eriksson scored his fourth goal in as many games. Jake Virtanen ignited another social media goal celebration with his seventh of the season as the Canucks erased a 1-0 deficit in 70 seconds late in the second period.
And Erik Gudbranson collected his sixth point in the last five games — and his second goal in as many games — to build a 3-1 cushion early in the third period.
That should have been it. After all, goalie Jacob Markstrom made a quick post-topost move to thwart Jeff Skinner in the third period before stopping Evan Rodrigues on a short-handed breakaway. But he then gave up a goal to Skinner, followed by a big rebound to Sam Reinhart, making this movie run longer.
“It wasn’t a great game, I thought it was a bit sloppy by both teams,” Canucks coach Travis Green said.
“It was a sleepy game and a bit of a mucker for a while then two power plays in overtime (and a Pettersson broken stick). We miss (Brock) Boeser there for sure with his shot and having a right-shot option there.
“We had our chances to put it away.”
Here’s what we learned as Nikolay Goldobin hit the post in overtime before the Sabres “woke” and “got lit” and won it 4-3 in a shootout at the KeyBank Center:
JAKE’S BEST TAKE IS TO THE NET
Virtanen goals in consecutive games shouldn’t be shocking because he had three shots in the first period Saturday and had it going early with linemate Nikolay Goldobin.
And on a strong rush late in the second period, Virtanen raced down the left side and got enough space on Zach Bogosian to send a backhander along the ice to the far side post. The goal was better than the dribbler looked because Virtanen dove the net, instead of going around it. It has been a marked improvement in the winger’s game.
“I like to go wide and take it to the net, but I just tried to go off the pad for someone (else) coming in and went far side,” Virtanen said.
HEALTHY GUDBRANSON HAS GIDDY-UP
The big blue-liner has been telling anybody within earshot that he’s feeling better, skating better and is more confident with making sharp breakout passes and jumping up into the play.
Gudbranson jumped up into the play in the second period and ripped a wrist shot from the high slot off the post. And then in the third period, his seeing-eye wrist shot got by a maze, including the outreached stick of Bo Horvat, to find the high short side to give the Canucks a two-goal cushion.
“It got tipped in front of net,” he said. “I just got it by the first guy and see what happens. I feel like I’m skating better, finding holes and getting up in the rush.”
GOLDY THE GOOD
... AND NOT-SO-GOOD
Goldobin has not scored since the season opener, but there’s reason to believe the Russian winger might be finding some mojo with Virtanen and Pettersson.
Goldobin played one of the best periods of the season with two good scoring chances in the opening frame — including a quick-release wrister from a sharp angle — and also had a take-away. He then missed the net with two second-period shots but also had two gaffes.
He also failed to keep the puck at the offensive blue-line as his line applied pressure and tried a tricky cross-ice, breakout pass that was picked off for a Sabres chance.
But the goals have to start coming. “He’s got to find a way,” said Green. “You can’t just keep talking about offence; you’ve got to put some numbers on the board.”
ERIKSSON RUNNING ON HIGH ENERGY
Eriksson was coming off a two-goal effort Thursday in Boston where he got down low to shovel home a rebound and tip a point shot. On Saturday, he took a Markus Granlund feed from behind the net late in the first period and as he was being driven to the ice by Jake McCabe, he roofed the puck while falling to the ice.
Showing that kind of jam to hang in while being belted is going to go a long way on the ice and in the room.