BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — JJ Peterka scored the deciding goal in a shootout for the Sabres in a 3-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Saturday at KeyBank Center.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 24 saves through overtime and stopped all three shootout attempts, Zach Benson and Tage Thompson scored goals in the first period, and the Sabres won their third in a row to even their record season record at 7-7-1.
Zach Benson continued Buffalo's recent trend of scoring early in periods when he backhanded a rebound for his second goal in as many games 1:11 into the contest.
Thompson gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead with his team-leading 10th goal later in the first. The sixth NHL player to score 10 goal, this was Thompson's first of the year on a power play. He's scored in three consecutive outings and has a point in 12 of 15 games.
Rasmus Dahlin set up on Thompson's one-timer from the left circle to pass Alexi Zhitnik for third all-time among Sabres defenseman with 235 assists.
Buffalo has the chance to rise above .500 for the first time this season when it hosts the last-place Montreal Canadians on Monday.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.