At the Horn | Sabres 5 - Golden Knights 2

The Buffalo Sabres scored four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 inside T-Mobile Arena on Friday. The Sabres handed the Golden Knights just their sixth regulation loss of the season and snapped their nine-game point streak.

Zach Benson scored the game-winning goal 9:29 into the third and added an assist for his third multi-point performance of the season, while Casey Mittelstadt (2+1), Dylan Cozens (1+2), and Alex Tuch (1+1) recorded multi-point nights of their own.

Goaltender Devon Levi stopped 33 of 35 shots to improve to 3-0-1 in his last four starts.

Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel tallied for Vegas while Logan Thompson made 22 saves in the opposing net.

SCORING SUMMARY

Period 2, 7:42 – Dylan Cozens from Casey Mittelstadt (1-0, BUF)

Vegas held a 14-10 advantage in shots following a scoreless opening period, but the Sabres struck first in the second with a goal from Cozens.

Cozens laid out a hit on Keegan Kolesar in the neutral zone to force a turnover at center ice before finding Mittelstadt at the offensive blue line. Mittelstadt passed it back to Cozens, who buried a shot from the high slot to put the Sabres on the board.

Period 2, 13:44 (PP) – Ivan Barbashev from Nicolas Roy (1-1)

After Mattias Samuelsson was assessed a hooking penalty drawn by Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights capitalized on the power play.

Levi made the initial save on Roy but a scramble in front of the net led to a tally by Barbashev off the rebound.

Period 3, 3:22 – Jack Eichel from Paul Cotter (2-1, VGK)

Vegas took its first lead of the night early in the third as Eichel intercepted a pass at center ice to send himself and Cotter on the rush.

Levi stopped a shot by Cotter, but Eichel put away the rebound for his 13th of the season.  

Period 3, 5:01 – Casey Mittelstadt from Dylan Cozens and Connor Clifton (2-2)

Buffalo responded less than two minutes later when Cozens fed Mittelstadt, who buried a one-timer from the right circle over the shoulder of Thompson.

Period 3, 9:29 – Zach Benson from Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson (3-2, BUF)

Benson gave the Sabres the lead once again 9:29 into the third after Dahlin took a shot from the point through traffic.

Tuch tipped the puck over to Benson and he pulled the puck from the forehand to his backhand to beat Thompson.

Period 3, 11:12 – Alex Tuch from Zach Benson (4-2, BUF)

Benson and Tuch recorded their second points of the game as Benson picked off the puck in the neutral zone to give Buffalo a 2-on-1 opportunity.

The Sabres capitalized with Benson dishing the puck over to Tuch, who beat Thompson 1-on-1 with a shot under the crossbar to extend the lead.

Period 3, 17:17 (EN) – Casey Mittelstadt from Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin (5-2, BUF)

Mittelstadt sealed the win with an empty-net goal after Dahlin stole the puck in the Sabres' zone and sent the puck down ice.

HIGHLIGHTS

POSTGAME COMMENTS

UP NEXT

The Sabres conclude their three-game road trip in Arizona on Saturday. 

Pregame coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. on MSG/MSG+ with puck drop scheduled for 9. Radio coverage can be found on WGR 550.