BUFFALO – For about the first 50 minutes of Tuesday’s 5-3 victory, the Sabres showcased a near-perfect response following the end of their 10-game win streak, pouncing on the Vancouver Canucks and just about burying them.
A 4-0 lead well into the third period usually does the trick. But the Canucks mounted a ferocious comeback, scoring three times in a span of 5:38, including two goals 39 seconds apart to move them within one.
After Liam Ohgren’s goal at 14:55, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff called timeout and gathered his troops.
“All I said is, ‘We’ve been in this position a lot of times already, and we’re going to be in it a lot more times. Just play our game,’” Ruff said.
The Sabres have played a rock-solid game for nearly one month, helping them vault up the standings.
Exactly halfway through the season, they have a 22-15-4 record, good for 48 points. As of late Tuesday night, they ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference, one point out of the second wild card spot.
Not surprisingly, the Sabres fended off the Canucks’ rally before winger Josh Doan’s long empty-net goal secured their 11th win in the last 12 games.
Following Saturday afternoon’s 5-1 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Sabres focused on their response. Was it a blip or were they entering a rut?
Ruff said they couldn’t lose two games in a row. Captain Rasmus Dahlin said they would see if they’re a really good team.
For most of Tuesday, the Sabres looked like the team that just tied the franchise record for most consecutive wins.
Center Tage Thompson scored 2:01 into the contest before center Ryan McLeod converted winger Alex Tuch’s nifty feed on a short-handed two-on-one at 11:24.
Thanks to their recent exploits, the Sabres have been playing before noisy crowds in KeyBank Center, an atmosphere reminiscent of 15 or 20 years ago.
Ruff has often spoken about making it a difficult rink for opponents. In recent games, they’ve enjoyed some terrific home-ice advantage.
“The energy was great in the building, and I think that’s something these guys need to experience,” said Ruff, whose Sabres improved to 13-5-2 at home this season. “I mean, I think the building was behind us, and it’s a lift when you’re sitting behind the bench.”
The crowd of 17,036 was engaged from the get-go Tuesday, reacting to some early saves from goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the Sabres killed two early penalties.
“They’re into the whole game,” Tuch said. “Saves, goals, blocks, hits. I mean, the list goes on. The crowd was with us from the drop of the puck, gives us a lot of energy. It’s a lot fun. We knew once we started winning they were going to be right behind us and ready to go to war with us. …
“This atmosphere is one of the best, if not the best in the league. We’re making it a hard place to play, and they’re helping us with that.”
After Tuch scored halfway through the second period – defenseman Bowen Byram’s nifty backhand feed from the right circle set him up at the net – the Sabres had total control.
When defenseman Zach Metsa, a 27-year-old rookie who began his career on an AHL contract, scored his first NHL goal 6:13 into the third period, it appeared the Sabres would cruise to an easy victory.
“Crazy feeling,” said Metsa, who roofed a shot from the bottom of the right circle in his 12th NHL game. “It’s something you’ve dreamed about since you were a little kid.”
No one thought his goal would end up being the game-winner.
“You could see his excitement,” Ruff said. “You play the game, you want to get on the board at some point, and it turns out to be a huge goal.”
Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson scored the Canucks’ first two goals.
Luukkonen outplayed his counterpart Thatcher Demko, making 32 saves.
“He was feeling it tonight, he was reading the play really well,” Tuch said. “… When he’s our best player, we’re going to win a lot of games.”
