Frank Nazar gave the Blackhawks exactly what they needed Thursday night, scoring twice as Chicago edged the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime at United Center.
Buffalo struck first when Owen Power scored at 9:00 of the opening period, with Josh Norris and Jack Quinn picking up the assists. Chicago answered on the power play at 12:22, when Nazar pulled the Blackhawks even at 1-1. The Sabres quickly regained the lead at 15:46 of the first on Tage Thompson’s power-play goal.
The game stayed tight until the third period, when Nazar struck again at 8:22 to make it 2-2. Then, 3:12 into overtime, Ryan Donato finished it off for Chicago, with Anton Frondell and Sam Rinzel assisting on the winner.
Nazar finished with two goals, while Rinzel added two assists and Donato scored the deciding goal. Spencer Knight made 21 saves on 23 shots for the Blackhawks.
For Buffalo, Quinn had two assists, while Power and Thompson each found the net. Alex Lyon stopped 22 of 25 shots.
Chicago outshot Buffalo 25-23, went 1 for 3 on the power play, and killed off three of four Sabres opportunities. The win moved the Blackhawks to 5-13-1. Buffalo dropped to 8-7-4 and has now lost three straight.
The Sabres remain ninth in the Eastern Conference, while Chicago sits 15th in the Western Conference. The season series is tied 1-1 after Buffalo won the first meeting 4-3 on Oct. 3.
Chicago is back home Saturday, Nov. 14, against the Winnipeg Jets at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Buffalo visits the Dallas Stars later that night at 8:00 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Sabres Suddenly Face A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Loss
The Sabres latest stumble against Tampa Bay did more than add another loss to the ledger. It sharpened the questions already hanging over a team that has been trying to find some consistency, with Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson both pointing to the need for sharper play across the board. When a game ends with the kind of defensive breakdowns, shaky goaltending and special-teams issues Buffalo has been dealing with, it becomes less about one bad night and more about a pattern the club has to confront.
Thompson still gave Buffalo something to build on with his offensive work, and he remains on pace for a strong scoring season. But the bigger concern for the Sabres is whether that production can matter if the rest of the lineup keeps leaving them exposed. The grades from the game reflected that imbalance, and for a team trying to climb out of its own way, the margin for these kinds of losses is getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Loss To Tampa Exposed A Problem Fans Wont Ignore
The Sabres latest trip through Tampa Bay turned into one of those nights that can linger long after the final horn. The Lightning jumped out fast with four goals, Buffalo briefly steadied itself by scoring three straight to make things interesting, and then the game slipped away again in a way that felt all too familiar for a team still trying to find consistency in its own end.
Nikita Kucherov was at the center of the damage for Tampa Bay, and the sequence that followed Buffalos push only sharpened the frustration. After the Sabres allowed a goal on a backhand shot, the response on the bench said plenty about how the night was unfolding, and it left another reminder of how quickly a game can tilt when the margin for error disappears. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Have A Tough Choice If Penguins Start Selling
If the Penguins decide to move veterans, Buffalo could have real reason to pay attention. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell both fit the kind of forward help the Sabres have been looking for, and either one would bring a different layer to a group that could use more proven scoring and playoff experience. Rust has long been valued for his all-around game, while Rakell has remained a name to watch in trade chatter because of what he can still provide offensively.
The fit is easy to see from Buffalos side, but the timing is complicated by what Pittsburgh does next. Rusts injury situation and Rakells recent surge only add to the intrigue, because the Penguins may not be in a hurry to make anything simple. For the Sabres, the question is whether they can strike if the market opens, and whether the price for that kind of upgrade becomes worth paying. [Read more 🡒]