Blog: Golden Knights win in overtime vs. Sabres

By Jesse Granger

Published Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 | 4:17 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 | 10:03 p.m.

David Perron scored early in the third period to give the Golden Knights a 4-1 lead, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The Buffalo Sabres scored three straight, including a spectacular goal by Evander Kane with only eight seconds left in the game, to force overtime.

Then Perron put the final dagger in the Sabres as he shot a laser past Buffalo goalie Chad Johnson to seal the 5-4 win for the Golden Knights.

Vegas’ third-period struggles continued, as the Golden Knights were outplayed down the stretch, but tonight it didn’t matter.

Golden Knights own the 2nd period

Alex Tuch tipped a Deryk Engelland shot past Sabres’ goalie Chad Johnson, and Reilly Smith found the net on a power play to give the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead heading into the final period.

It was Tuch’s second goal in two games with the Golden Knights after being called up from the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old parks himself in front of the net regularly for Vegas, and was able to sneak one into the goal with 13:20 left in the second period.

Smith’s goal came on the power play, as he sniped a wrist shot past Johnson to extend the Golden Knight’s lead to 3-1.

Vegas outshot Buffalo 21-17 through the first two periods. The Golden Knights are 2-0 when leading by at least two goals.

Golden Knights come alive after sluggish start

Reilly Smith entered the Buffalo zone on a two-on-one rush with Oscar Lindberg trailing on his hip. Smith knew he would pass to Lindberg, but first deked Buffalo goalie Chad Johnson onto his knees.

With the goalie down, Smith calmly slid the puck to Lindberg, who shot it into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.

The Golden Knights started Tuesday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres a little sluggish, surrendering a power play goal early when Ryan O’Reilly’s shot slipped by Malcolm Subban.

Following the 1-0 start, Vegas carried play in the first period, outshooting Buffalo 9-8 and racking up scoring opportunities, including when Colin Miller hit the post during a power play.

• • •

Goaltender Malcolm Subban impressed in his Golden Knights debut on Sunday. The 23-year-old net minder stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced and carried a shutout until the final 30 seconds in Vegas’ 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

It was Subban’s first NHL win and the first time he’s finished an entire NHL game without being pulled. He didn’t make any spectacular saves, but he had solid positioning and played well enough. Tonight, Subban will have to prove it wasn’t a fluke, as the Golden Knights host the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth game of a seven-game home stand.

The Sabres have struggled this year, getting their first win Sunday in Anaheim. Buffalo lost its first five games, largely because of poor play from goaltender Robin Lehner. He was replaced in net by Chad Johnson, who hasn’t played any better, statistically, but was able to get the team in the win column.

Johnson will get the start tonight for Buffalo, and the game could come down to which goalie makes the fewest mistakes.

The Golden Knights will roll with the same lineup as Sunday, including Alex Tuch and Vadim Shipachyov, who both scored in their Golden Knights’ debuts.

Puck drops: 7 p.m.

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 313, CenturyLink Prism 1760, Dish Network 5414)

Betting line: Golden Knights plus-110, Total 5.5 minus-115 to the over

Golden Knights (4-1-0) (2-1-0 home)

Coach: Gerard Gallant

Goal leader: James Neal (6)

Assist leader: Brendan Leipsic, David Perron and Luca Sbisa (3)

Expected goalie: Malcolm Subban (1-0-0, 1.00 goals against average)

Buffalo Sabres (1-4-1) (1-3-0 away)

Coach: Phil Housley

Goal leader: Jason Pominville and Evander Kane (4)

Assist leader: Jack Eichel (5)

Expected goalie: Chad Johnson (1-1-0, 3.66 goals against average)

Golden Knights game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Cody Eakin, William Karlsson, Brendan Leipsic, Oscar Lindberg, James Neal, Tomas Nosek, David Perron, Vadim Shipachyov, Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch.

Defensemen (6): Deryk Engelland, Brad Hunt, Jon Merrill, Colin Miller, Luca Sbisa and Nate Schmidt.

Goalies (2): Malcolm Subban and Maxime Lagace.

Prediction : Golden Knights 3, Sabres 2 (overtime)

Season record for predictions: 2-3