Vancouver Canucks vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 29th 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Vancouver Canucks find themselves in unfamiliar territory after their eight-game winning streak on the road was brought to an end on Wednesday.
The Canucks will look to bounce back on Friday afternoon as they face the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth game of their six-game road trip.
On Wednesday, Vancouver suffered a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking their first defeat away from home since October 15th when they were defeated 4-1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The Canucks had a slow start and allowed four goals in the first period, much to the disappointment of head coach Rick Tocchet.
"In the first period, we gave away goals," Tocchet said. "It seemed like every shot they took went in, but we also gave away some goals. Then we were behind 4-1."
Vancouver conceded another goal in the second period before Pius Suter scored one back 10 minutes later. Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson both scored in the third period, but the Canucks were unable to complete the comeback.
"I liked our effort to come back," Pettersson said, "But we can't start a game like that and expect to win."
Hughes had a goal and two assists on Wednesday, bringing his total points for the month to 15 (three goals, 12 assists) in 12 games. Pettersson also scored and assisted a goal against the Penguins, giving him 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last nine games.
Conor Garland extended his point streak to six games (two goals, five assists) with an assist.
Kevin Lankinen is expected to return to the goal after a night off on Wednesday. He has an impressive record of 10-3-2 and has won all eight of his starts on the road this season.
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The Sabres returned home from a successful four-game road trip (3-1-0) only to be shut out for the first time this season in a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
Buffalo's Tage Thompson told reporters that despite the loss, he didn't think the team should be discouraged, especially after recording a season-high 39 shots on goal.
"Honestly, I think we played a really good game (on Wednesday). I don't think we should let that discourage us," Thompson said. "Obviously, it's tough to lose, especially when you feel like you outplayed the other team for most of the game. Sometimes you come up against a hot goalie and there's not much you can do. We just need to find a way to score one."
Thompson had six shots on goal in his return after missing five games due to a lower-body injury.
"It felt great," Thompson said. "Obviously, after missing that much time, your lungs are burning a bit and your legs feel heavy at first, but then you get into a rhythm and start to feel good. I felt like I got better as the game went on."
Despite missing time, Thompson still leads the Sabres with 11 goals this season. His 18 points are only three behind the team leader, Alex Tuch, who also has a team-high 14 assists.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Buffalo Sabres Recap NOV 29TH 2024
Conor Garland capped a two-goal performance by scoring 3:59 into overtime to fuel the visiting Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Garland converted Brock Boeser's backdoor feed at 5:15 of the third period to extend his point streak to a career-long seven games.
Garland then ended the game after cleaning up a loose puck in the crease following a shot by defenseman Quinn Hughes for his eighth goal of the season.
Vancouver's Pius Suter collected a goal and an assist and Jake DeBrusk tallied for the fourth time in his last four games. Boeser notched two assists and Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves for the Canucks, who have won three of their last four games.
Buffalo's Dylan Cozens scored two goals 99 seconds apart in the third period to forge a 3-3 tie. Defenseman Bowen Byram also tallied, Zach Benson had two assists and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 18 shots for the Sabres, who have lost two in a row.
Garland put his body on the line to help the Canucks to a 3-1 lead at the nine-minute mark of the third period. Garland went to the ice to block a slap shot from Buffalo's Tage Thompson, setting up a breakaway that Suter converted for his eighth tally of the season.
Cozens scored twice to atone for taking two minor penalties earlier in the third period. He fired a shot from the right circle past Lankinen to halve the deficit at 13:18 and deflected Benson's wrist shot into the net at 14:57.
Benson feathered a nifty centering feed from the right circle that Byram batted out of the air and into the net to open the scoring with 2:27 remaining in the first period.
Buffalo's slim lead held up until DeBrusk evened it with 1:48 remaining in the second. DeBrusk cleaned up a rebound of Suter's shot from the slot for his seventh goal of the season.