Author: Buffalo Winter

Buffalo has earned five straight victories versus Ottawa

Sabres 8 – Senators 4 (en) Ottawa came to Buffalo sporting their awesome looking third sweater, a beautiful red & black with gold trim design, but left our lakeshore with a beating that will not soon be forgotten.

Buffalo had fortuitous bounces, four power play goals (not since 2018 have the Sabres scored four PPs in a game), a shorthanded goal, three players scoring twice and an empty netter to cap everything off.

Buffalo took the 1-0 lead on the power play as (RW) Quinn ripped a shot wide that bounced off the end glass up over the net and off the back of the Ottawa goaltender into the net.

Four minutes into the second period the Senators took a 2-1 lead and after the first three losses one could be skeptical of Buffalo finally winning, but the Sabres scored four times within the next seven minutes taking a 5-2 lead to erase any doubt.

Ottawa did not lay down and scored the next two goals in the first two minutes of the third period to get within one at 5-4, but Buffalo responded in kind scoring 15 seconds later and again 45 seconds after that for the 7-4 lead, and with an empty net goal just under four minutes to play an incredible 8-4 lead and first win of the season.

Sabres are perfect penalty killers

Sabres 1 – Avalanche 3 Buffalo killed off four Colorado penalties to remain at 100% efficiency this season at thwarting opponents power plays.

Sabres (C) Thompson scored his first of the season with teammates (RW) Tuch and (D) Dahlin earning their first assists contributing to the offense.

Additionally, (G) Lyon once again played over .900% save percentage which he has consistently provided over the first three games of the season affording Buffalo the opportunity to win.

The Ottawa Senators arrive in Buffalo tomorrow as the Sabres host their division rivals for Buffalo’s fourth game of the season in an effort to strike the Senators down for the Sabres initial October victory.

First Weekly Matchups

Buffalo Winter vs Mike’s Magnificent Team A close low-scoring matchup between West Division teams to start the ESPN FHL regular season during the five-day week initial matchups.

A strong finish by both teams ensured that the lead MMT earned was kept and now has one up on BW for a playoff seeding, good news is that there are 21 more weekly matchups to battle for division supremacy.

This week’s matchup has Buffalo Winter versus George’s Great Team the division leader from the East Division and to start off this holiday BW has a full roster and GGT has goaltenders that are probable but only five skaters on the active roster with one skater sitting on the bench.

One move of note; had to drop unproductive (RW) Laine for (LW) Lehkonen the Avalanche player already scored twice with an assist as Montreal’s newest player has yet to produce enough to justify keeping him on the roster.

This Christopher Columbus Day the NHL begins early Monday afternoon with the Sabres and Avalanche puck drop at 12:30pm here along the Lake and the other nine games have four afternoon starts with the evening games beginning between 7pm and 8:30pm.

Boston avoids home loss to Buffalo

Sabres 1 – Bruins 3 (en) The Sabres played a tight game on the road hampering the Bruins offense by killing off all four of Boston’s power plays, and LW Zucker scored his first goal of the season halfway through the third period to make it a one goal game.

Newcomer (G) Lyon was once again solid in net posting a .933% save percentage and the defense was hitting and blocking shots affording the Sabres an opportunity to win.

The Sabres begin a three-game homestand this Christopher Columbus Day versus the Colorado Avalanche with the early afternoon holiday game starting at 12:30 pm tomorrow afternoon to kick off the NHL’s 10 game Monday schedule.

One NHL game to be played tonight at 7 pm between the Capitals and Rangers in NYC.

There are 81 games remaining

Sabres 0 – Rangers 4 (en) Here along the Lake fans anticipated a fresh beginning and a regular season geared towards finally making the playoffs.

Buffalo outshot New York and killed off all three Rangers power plays as newcomer (G) Lyon earned a .906% save percentage, and home fans can treat themselves to two sandwiches named after Tage Thompson at the KeyBank Center concession stands.

Tomorrow the Sabres are in Boston for their first road game of the regular season before a three-game homestand.