In Buffalo, the Sabres’ Dylan Cozens scored 12 seconds into extra time to give Buffalo a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
The winner was set up by a pass from Rasmus Dahlin.
“That was a crazy pass,” Cozens said. “We just kind of locked eye contact when I was curling and I just tried to get going as fast as I could. He made a football pass to me, a little Hail Mary, and I somehow managed to handle it.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 24 saves in the Sabres win.
“Big game, big night,” Dahlin. “We were very happy to do this for him, and it was something special tonight. We really wanted to win this game and we had a ton of chances. We could have been frustrated but we just kept going and we had the confidence for 60 minutes.”
Buffalo improved to 22-19-3.
Victor Olofsson forced the extra session with a goal near the midway point of the third period, his goal tied the game, 2-2.
Brock Nelson and Matt Martin were the Islanders strikers.
“Frustration is a wasted emotion,” New York coach Lane Lambert said, “We are all grown men, we’re professionals, and we have to move on. We’re in the business of being ready for the next game. I thought our guys did a great job with that tonight. Was it disappointing? Yes.”
Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres, his marker tied the game, 1-1, after Nelson had staked the Isles to a 1-0 lead.
“We came out and we just had a big focus on putting pucks to the net,” Cozens said. “‘Tuchy’s’ goal, it’s [from] a big shot from the point. I think we need to score more goals that way, just from shots from the point and getting to the greasy areas. It’s frustrating sometimes running into a goalie making saves like that, but I’m sure they were frustrated with ‘UPL’ too. He was standing on his head. It was a great game by both goalies. We found a way.”
Ilya Sorokin made 42 saves in the Isles loss.
“I don’t have frustration,” Sorokin said. “Every day is a new game. If you overthink too much, it’s not good for you and for your emotional stability.”
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