BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — It was a back and forth game but in the end, the Buffalo Sabres couldn't get back in the win column, falling to a depleted Washington Capitals squad 4-3 in a shootout.
The Sabres got things going after Eric Staal scored his first goal as a Sabre in the first period to give them a 1-0 lead but Nicklas Backstrom scored four minutes later to tie things up after one period of play. In the second period, the Capitals extended their lead with a goal from Nick Dowd, but the Sabres tied it right back up. Dylan Cozens, who scored his first career NFL point the other night, scored his first NHL goal with a rocket to make it a 2-2 game.
WHAT A SHOT @Dylan_Cozens ‼️#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/DABqoViCcB
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 23, 2021
Once again down later in the period after a goal from Jakub Vrana, Riley Sheahan evened things back up, scoring his first as a Sabre and helping to force an overtime period. Neither team could score in overtime so it came down to a shootout. Each team's first three shooters missed [Eichel, Hall, Cozens] and after ## sent one past Linus Ullmark, Sam Reinhart couldn't convert, ending the game.
Ullmark, who missed the last two games following the loss of his father, made 29 saves.
Friday's game marked just the second time in team history that three players have scored their first goals as a Sabre. The last and only other time it happened was back on October 6, 1982.
With the loss, the Sabres are now 1-3-1. They will meet the Capitals again Sunday afternoon.
