Buffalo Battles Monarchy

Sabres Dethrone Kings

Sabres 4 – Kings 1 (en) The Buffalo Sabres scored even strength, on the power play, an empty net, and to top it off, Los Angeles cordially scored one of the Sabres goals, and with the win Buffalo extends their current winning streak to four games to keep them tied with Carolina for the Eastern Conference lead.

**Top Five Teams in the Eastern Conference**

The Kings recent addition, “The Breadman” (LW) Panarin scored the game’s initial goal halfway through the first period for the 1-0 lead that Los Angeles skated into the second period with.

**Sabres (C) Thompson deftly handles the puck**

Just four minutes into the second period Sabres (C) Thompson scored his 36th of the season off a net front rebound that he collected and skillfully dangled completely around the fallen netminder to quickly shoot the puck from the side of the net to tie the game at one apiece.

**Sabres (C) Thompson ties the game early in the second period**

During the third period Buffalo scored twice in 59 seconds, it began when Sabres (LW) Benson skated through the neutral zone and it appeared that he high sticked the puck and was the first player to touch the puck in the offensive zone and as he did so he was bodily (high elbow) crushed to the ice by two Kings.

**Newly acquired Sabres (C) Carrick scores his fifth goal in eight games**

As the two Kings were admiring their handiwork the puck slid towards the outside of the faceoff circle that Sabres (C) Carrick was able to skate into then glide in front of the net to calmly backhand a goal for the 2-1 Buffalo lead and when Los Angeles interim head coach challenged what he thought was a high stick the officials ruled there was no high stick which afforded the Sabres their only power play of the game.

**I doubt they were considering the offer**

During the ensuing power play Sabres Captain (C) Dahlin shoots the puck from above the right faceoff dot and as he skates slowly through the faceoff circle towards the net the puck goes in, literally three seconds after the shot because the ensuing rebound flew up, over, and past Sabres (LW) Zucker towards a Kings defenseman who pushed/punched the puck downwards causing it to bounce through the five hole and into the back of the net for the two goal 3-1 Sabres lead.

**Over exuberant Kings player puts the puck into his own net**

Trailing by two goals with under three minutes remaining the Kings pull their goalie and were passing smartly in the offensive zone when a blast blocked by Sabres (LW) Malenstyn is scooped up by linemate (C) Norris who passes to his winger (LW) Benson skating at center ice who then skates towards and dekes a retreating Kings defender to snap it past him for the 4-1 lead and victory.