The Buffalo Sabres dominate the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-0 victory. Casey Mittelstadt scores two goals, including one on a 3-on-1 breakaway. Mikko Rantanen and Zach Benson of the Avalanche both receive tripping penalties. Nathan MacKinnon gets an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a 10-minute misconduct. Rasmus Dahlin scores an empty-net goal to seal the win for the Sabres.
Empty-net goal for Rasmus Dahlin has the Sabres ahead 4-0 with 3:08 left in regulation. Dahlin's eight-game point streak is tied for the eighth-longest by a Buffalo defenseman. First to reach 8 since Phil Housley.
Long -- I mean, LONG -- empty-net goal by Rasmus Dahlin at 16:52.
And a 200-foot empty netter for Dahlin makes it 4-0 for #Sabres with 3:08 left. This one is over.
Dahlin from deep in the Sabres' end into the empty net. 4-0 with 3:08 to go.
Sabres kill off the penalty.
Sabres to the penalty kill. Benson called for slashing.
Benson gets a slashing call and #Avs go back on the PP with 8:48 left. The #Sabres PK is 4-4 today.
Zach Benson has learned through his short time in the NHL that he's gotta be more careful with his stick. Another penalty with 8:48 left in the third period puts the Avs on the power play.
Rantanen snaps his stick in half as the second period ends with the Sabres leading 3-0.
Nate MacKinnon just got a two and a 10 for unsportsmanlike conduct. This is definitely off the rails now for the #Avs.
MacKinnon gets 2 and 10, probably had something to say to the refs about the no-call on the Makar play.
MacKinnon gets two for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct. Sabres to the power play with 4:32 left in the second.
Nathan MacKinnon just got an unsportsmanlike and a 10-minute misconduct.
Nathan MacKinnon gets a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct peenalty and then a 10 minute misconduct.
MacKinnon just got a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct AND a 10-minute misconduct. Gotta wonder if that's related to the Okposo-Makar play. #Sabres #Avs
Rough sequence after the #Avs power play ends. Leads to a 3-on-1/4-on-2 for the Sabres and Casey Mittelstadt scores. 2-0 Third goal against in eight games right after a special teams chance ended for someone.
Sabres to the power play just over two minutes in. Tatar off for tripping.
Right after the power play ends, the Sabres catch the Avs on change and go on a 3-on-1. Middlestadt scores to make it 2-0. And now Tomas Tatar goes to the box for tripping. Colorado is in danger of digging a 3-0 hole.
Casey Mittelstadt keeps the puck on a two-on-one w/Zach Benson and makes it 2-0 1:39 into the second.
2-0 Sabres Casey Mittelstadt uses a 3-on-1 to score his second goal of the season. High blocker on Georgiev, who was cheating to his left anticipating a pass over to Benson.
Mittelstadt on a 2-on-1 with Benson out of the box, waits, waits, shoots. 2-0 Sabres
#Sabres kill the penalty and Mittelstadt burns Georgiev short side on the 3-on-1. Looked off Benson and it seemed the goalie was expecting the pass. A 2-0 lead at 1:39 of the 2nd.
Mittelstadt uses Benson coming out of the box as a decoy, and rips one home on a 3-on-1, 2-0 Buff.
Benson got a tripping penalty with 32 seconds left. #Avs with a split PP.
Sabres to the penalty kill right after the power play expires as Benson gets called for tripping.
Zach Benson called for tripping as Rantanen's penalty ended. Sabres to the PK with 31.5 seconds left in the first period. They're 8th in the NHL on the PK.
Sabres have really come on in the last 10 minutes and are outshooting the Avs 10-8. Now Mikko Rantanen goes off for tripping.
Owen Power draws a tripping penalty with 2:33 left in the first period and the Sabres leading 1-0. The Avs' PK is 4th in the NHL (93.1%), while the Sabres are 26th on the power play (3-for-25).
#Sabres have been hard on the puck through most of this one. Samuelsson and Mittelstadt have each stripped MacKinnon at different points. And now a PP coming as Rantanen goes for tripping at 17:27. Shots currently 10-8 for BUF.
Skinner stopped and Mittelstadt had a mostly open net for the rebound but couldn't corral the bouncing puck. Shots are 5-5 and it's zip-zip through 8 1/2 minutes. #Sabres #Avs
Sabres have iced the puck three times in the opening 4:23.