Dallas (17-4-0) has 18 goals during its second five-game win streak of the season and received strong goaltending of its own last time out, with Antti Niemi’s 22 saves supporting Jamie Benn’s two third-period goals in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Buffalo.
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Niemi made 22 saves to shut down a Sabres team that has only scored four goals in their past four games.
It was an early omen. “3-0, 3-1, I just want the win”. – Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist for Tampa Bay, and Ben Bishop made 30 saves for his first shutout of the season.
The goal was the 485th of Ovechkin’s career, coming a game after his 484th set an all-time National Hockey League record for Russian-born players. They won both games against Ottawa last season.
“The puck kind of bobbled and I didn’t put it where I wanted to”, Moulson, a three-time 30-goal scorer with the NY Islanders, somberly said of his key chance.
Most of the damage was done in the first period as the Capitals ran out to a 4-0 lead, before adding the other three goals in the third period.
After that penalty expired, Niemi kicked away rookie Jack Eichel’s close-in shot.
Buffalo has plenty of potential fireworks to detonate on the offensive end, but have scored just four total goals in their last three games.
The No. 2 overall draft pick remains second on the club in goals with six but has a minus-6 rating.
“I have a long way to go”, the 19-year-old said pointedly. I don’t think this is almost where I should be.
“I can do more”.
Dallas also killed off the power play following the two-man advantage.
Dallas had a 3-on-1 rush on its last power play of the second, but it ended with a shot wide of the net.
“Everybody’s contributing, and that’s why we’ve been successful”, Benn said. It’s tough to get going 5-on-5 when you’re in the box.
Boyle and Marchessault, during a power play, had third-period goals.
Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said killing the second-period penalties wore down his team.
“We have opportunities and looks at the net in a couple instances”, Bylsma said. “He had probably four or five really good saves for us”. Not so much in an overpowering, in your face trampling, but more like schooled them on how the little things matter in a big way.
Nash’s winning goal came on the power-play when his wrist shot from the right circle got past Luongo to give the Rangers their seventh straight win against the Panthers – and fourth straight against Luongo.
Of growing concern is the play of winger Tyler Ennis, who has not scored in nine games and is having major issues controlling the puck.
Benn’s first goal was at 7:11 on the power play after the Stars failed to score on their first four power plays.
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Particularly troublesome to the Sabres was the opportunity lost on this two-game trip to the Midwest, where a shootout defeat in St. Louis and this game could have easily turned into wins against two of the Western Conferences top teams. “We could have beaten St. Louis”. We’ll see you at the AAC and in the gameday thread here for a few lively discourse as the good guys search for win number 17 on the young season.
