Golden Knights Handed 4-2 Loss In Buffalo

Despite outshooting the Buffalo Sabres, 37-17, the Vegas Golden Knights struggled to solve Carter Hutton and fell, 4-2 in a Columbus Day matinee at the KeyBank Center.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
Jack Eichel opened the scoring with a power-play strike with less than six minutes to play in the first. He netted his second goal of the game 4:58 into the middle period to put Buffalo up 2-0. Less than three minutes later, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson combined to set up Erik Haula to get the Golden Knights on the board. His wrist shot went under the arm of Hutton and into the net for his first goal of the year. But it took only 27 seconds for Buffalo to reestablish the two-goal lead as Marco Scandella's wrister from the point got through traffic and past Marc-Andre Fleury. Jason Pominville added to the lead 1:28 later to quickly put the Sabres up 4-1. Marchessault scored halfway through the third period to cut the lead to 4-2, but that was end of the offensive push and Buffalo held on to win.

TURNING POINT
When Scandella scored quickly after Haula's goal, it took away any momentum that the Golden Knights had mustered from their first goal of the game. Pominville's successive tally further flattened Vegas' tires and the Sabres held onto the momentum for most of the afternoon.
TOP PERFORMERS
Carter Hutton: His 35 saves frustrated the Golden Knights and allowed the Sabres to focus on the offensive side of the puck.
Jack Eichel: Eichel scored both of Buffalo's first two goals and was a force in the offensive zone throughout the game.
Kyle Okposo: Okposo assisted on Eichel's first goal of the game and set up Scandella for the eventual game-winner.
Jonathan Marchessault: His two points were the source of Vegas' offense and helped him extend his season-opening scoring streak to three games.
TAKEAWAYS
Bear Down Along The Boards: Throughout the afternoon, Buffalo was winning the majority of the puck battles and it took away from some of the offensive pressure that Vegas tried to sustain.
Power Play Problems? Vegas is still yet to connect on the power play this season and went 0-for-2 on the man advantage on Monday.
Marchy Marchy Marchy: Jonathan Marchessault has been the focal point of the Golden Knights' offense so far this season. He's now posted four points through the first three games of the year.