Sabres too much for Coyotes

Field Level Media|published: Mon 11th December, 21:59 2023

Dec 11, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley (92) and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) look for the puck during the first period at KeyBank Center. credits: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Robinson and Kyle Okposo each had a goal and two assists as the Buffalo Sabres recorded a 5-2 win over the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Monday.

The Sabres are 2-0-1 over their last three games. This points streak coincides with three consecutive starts for Devon Levi, who has looked excellent since his recall from the AHL.

Levi stopped 21 of 23 Arizona shots, giving the goaltender a .942 save percentage over his last three games.

Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist, and Connor Clifton had two assists. Peyton Krebs and JJ Peterka scored Buffalo's other goals.

Robinson matched a personal best with his three-point game, and collected his first points in a Buffalo uniform. The Sabres acquired the veteran forward in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets last Wednesday.

After collecting just four assists in his first 19 games, Okposo has started to heat up with eight points (five goals, three assists) in his last 10 games.

Michael Kesselring and Michael Carcone scored for the Coyotes, who are on a three-game (0-3-0) losing streak.

Coyotes goalie Karel Vejmelka stopped 33 of 37 shots.

Clifton's aggressive pass up the middle of the ice to Okposo led to a quick goal for Buffalo 2:25 into the first period. Okposo passed to Robinson for the initial shot, and then Okposo buried the rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

Kesselring's first career NHL goal equalized for Arizona at 3:01 of the second period. The defenseman had eight assists in his 19 previous NHL games over the last two seasons, but Kesselring finally got his breakthrough goal on a well-placed wrist shot.

The Sabres regained the lead for good with three consecutive goals in the second period, starting with Robinson's tally 6:14 into the frame.

Krebs' partially screened shot from the circle extended the Sabres' lead 10:52 into the second period, and Peterka deflected a shot off Vejmelka's pads for another goal at the 15:06 mark.

Carcone narrowed the Coyotes' deficit with a short-handed goal at 12:47 of the third period, but Dahlin put away the win with an empty-netter at the 18:55 mark.

—Field Level Media

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