The Buffalo Sabres walked into Tuesday night facing a Minnesota Wild team that had not lost yet and had given up only two goals through its first two games. By the end of the night, Buffalo had turned that into a 3-2 overtime win, its first overtime victory since December 23rd, 2025, when it beat the Ottawa Senators.
It took a full 60 minutes and then some, but the Sabres kept clawing. Minnesota controlled the second period with two goals, including one on the power play, and looked ready to keep rolling. Buffalo answered with two goals in the third to force overtime, then finished the job late in the extra frame when Owen Power scored the winner.
That comeback didn’t happen without some important work in the margins, and Louis Crevier was right in the middle of it. Buffalo’s penalty kill, which had already cleaned things up after allowing two power-play goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets to start the season, kept doing its job.
After shutting down both Chicago Blackhawks power plays, the Sabres killed three of four Minnesota chances. Crevier was a big part of that, especially late in the first period when he spent the final 25-30 seconds of a Wild power play wrestling the puck away along the boards and denying Minnesota a clean look.
He finished as the only Buffalo defenseman with a negative plus/minus, but the rest of his line was strong: two shots, three blocked shots and a team-high three hits.
The second period also came with its share of frustration for Buffalo. Minnesota’s first goal came after Peyton Krebs was whistled for interference at the blue line as the Wild were entering the zone.
That gave the Wild their fourth power play of the night, and they cashed in. Later in the period, Buffalo had reason to feel even more aggrieved.
Minnesota was trying to get the puck out of its own end, and there were two separate plays that looked similar enough to draw an interference call, but none came. The Wild pushed the puck back the other way, and Maxim Shabanov beat Colten Ellis to make it 2-0.
Still, Buffalo never let the game slip away. Down two goals entering the third, Lindy Ruff adjusted his lines and defense pairs for the second straight game after a two-goal deficit.
Josh Norris and Peyton Krebs swapped spots among the forwards, with Krebs moving to the top line and Norris skating with Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius. On defense, Owen Power joined Rasmus Dahlin, while Mattias Samuelsson was paired with Olen Zellweger.
The changes paid off quickly. Early in the third, Dahlin and Power helped create Buffalo’s first goal, and it was Power’s shot that went toward the neck before deflecting off Noah Ostlund’s leg and into the net.
Later, Krebs made another key play by settling a loose puck and quickly finding Tage Thompson in the slot. Thompson did what he usually does from there, burying the chance to tie the game at 2.
The teams traded chances through overtime before Power ended it late in the extra period, sealing the 3-2 Sabres win.
Buffalo now gets a day off before returning to KeyBank Center for Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Stars.
In Other News...
Sabres Win Came With A Wild Injury Scare Fans Will Notice
The Sabres overtime win over Minnesota carried an unsettling moment for the visitors when Wild forward Nick Foligno left the game early with an upper-body injury. Foligno was in the middle of his first full season with the Wild after being acquired last season and then re-signing on a one-year deal, a setup that has made him a familiar veteran presence in their lineup.
Folignos night ended long before the final horn, and Minnesota had to play through the rest of the game without him as the matchup drifted into overtime. For Buffalo, the result was a needed divisional-style victory, but the injury scare was the kind of development fans notice immediately, especially when it involves a seasoned player still trying to settle into a new team. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Have An Early Josh Doan Concern Ruff Just Amplified
Josh Doans start with the Sabres has been a little quieter than anyone would have expected after the winger signed a recent contract extension and came off a strong previous season. Through Buffalos first three games, he has not produced a point, and the early lack of offense has stood out on a team still sorting out its lines and roles. Beck Malenstyn, another player who recently got extended, has also been held off the score sheet, though his value has shown up in the less glamorous areas with hits and penalty killing.
Lindy Ruff added a layer to Doans sluggish opening when he pointed to a minor lower-body issue that may be affecting him, which at least offers some explanation for the limited impact so far. Buffalo does not need panic over three games, but it is the kind of early development worth watching closely, especially for a player the club clearly sees as part of its future and hoped would bring more than just energy on the forecheck. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Turn Thursday Night Into An Oktoberfest Experience For Fans
The Sabres are giving Thursday night at KeyBank Center a fall festival feel, with an Oktoberfest theme wrapped around their game against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. Fans coming through the doors will find themed concession specials, a fall photo backdrop, commemorative beer steins and matchup pucks, plus autographed memorabilia for sale as the team leans into a night built around more than just the hockey.
The entertainment lineup is meant to keep the atmosphere lively from start to finish, with a performance by The Polka Boyz and fan-friendly activities sprinkled throughout the evening. A stein-holding competition and surprise giveaways add another layer to the event, giving the Sabres a chance to turn a regular October home date into one of those nights where the arena experience is part of the draw. [Read more 🡒]