With the loss, the Sabres fell to 9-3-1 (one tie) in their last 13 home games against the Stars. “I didn’t know 100 percent, but I had a pretty good idea”. Bogosian practiced alongside Rasmus Ristolainen on the Sabres’ top defensive line and figures to play on the left side when he returns.
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Zach Bogosian went through his toughest practice yet Monday, and how he recovers from it will determine when the defenseman returns to the Sabres’ lineup.
His Dallas Stars were 3-1 winners against the Sabres on Tuesday night thanks in large part to a coach’s challenge in the third period that negated what would have been a game-tying goal from Buffalo rookie Sam Reinhart.
The performance may not have been up to Dallas’ usual offensive standards, but coach Lindy Ruff was pleased with his team’s ability to finish a road game in a more methodical fashion.
“Last year, we hurt ourselves dearly with a one-goal lead and trying to make something out of nothing and all of a sudden we’re giving up the odd-numbered rushes that hurt us”, Ruff said.
“He’s really been working hard”, Ruff said of Nichushkin.
That’s when Spezza gave the Stars a few breathing room, deflecting Goligoski’s shot after the defenseman glided into the slot with the puck before firing a low shot toward Ullmark’s five hole.
Just like bad bounces, it is reasonable to expect that the coach’s challenge will even itself out as the season progresses, but it is indeed frustrating to fans in Buffalo at the moment as we see momentum getting killed and points getting snatched away from the Sabres.
Scoring Change: Ottawa’s second goal has been awarded to Jason Spezza, with assists to Alex Goligoski and Mattias Janmark.
Bylsma called timeout before a late faceoff in the Dallas zone, but the Stars won the draw and Seguin scored an empty-net goal with less than 1 1/2 minutes to go.
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NOTES: C Zemgus Girgensons (upper body) and D Carlo Colaiacovo were scratched for the Sabres. LW Evander Kane (knee) returned to the ice at Buffalo’s morning skate on Tuesday and appears to be ahead of schedule. He’s been out since suffering the MCL injury against New Jersey on October 24, less than four weeks ago.
