Jiri Kulich's three-point game leads Sabres past Canucks

Field Level Media|published: Wed 22nd January, 24:52 2025

Jan 21, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Lafferty (81) checks Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Jiri Kulich had a goal and two assists to help the visiting Buffalo Sabres rally for a 3-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

JJ Peterka added a goal and two assists, Tage Thompson also scored and Rasmus Dahlin had two assists for the Sabres, who had lost three of their previous four games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves for the win.

Phillip Di Giuseppe and Elias Pettersson scored, and Thatcher Demko stopped 24 shots for the Canucks, who are 2-5-2 in their past nine games.

Kulich tied it 2-2 at 8:42 of the third period. Peterka collected Dahlin's rim around the boards behind the net and spotted Kulich uncovered in front, where the rookie quickly directed it stick side past Demko.

Peterka put the Sabres ahead 3-2 at 13:33. After Kulich won the faceoff, Dahlin retrieved the puck along the left wall before feeding Peterka inside the circle for the one-timer.

Thompson gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 17:34 of the first period. After a Vancouver icing, Kulich won the ensuing faceoff, Thompson collected the puck above the slot and took it to above the right circle before firing a wrist shot through traffic that beat Demko under his right arm.

Di Giuseppe tied it 1-1 at 3:05 of the second period. Carson Soucy's shot deflected and hit the end boards. Luukkonen moved to his right, but it landed to his left, where Di Giuseppe backhanded it into the open side.

Thompson's stick broke on a good chance from the left circle midway through the second period, sending the Canucks the other way and leading the home side to put the pressure on for a stretch in the offensive zone.

The Sabres struggled to clear, and Vancouver capitalized. Quinn Hughes corralled the puck down low and quickly fed Petterson, who sent a wrister high glove side over Luukkonen for a 2-1 advantage at 10:29.

Buffalo had its chances moments after but couldn't convert. Demko deflected a Dylan Cozens shot from on a two-on-one to send it high. A few minutes later, the goalie held on to Owen Power's attempt from the right circle, and shortly thereafter he stopped Alex Tuch's wrist shot from the left side.

--Field Level Media

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