National Hockey League
Minnesota 3, Buffalo 2
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 28, 2023
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Chris Lee, Brian Pochmara
Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz, Justin Johnson
Attendance: 19212

Frederick Gaudreau scored the clinching goal in a shootout to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in Saint Paul, Minn.

Joel Eriksson Ek and Jared Spurgeon scored in regulation and Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for the Wild, who have won two straight immediately after a three-game losing streak.

Jack Quinn and Zemgus Girgensons scored for the Sabres, whose five-game winning streak ended. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 33 saves.

Quinn gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 2:22 of the first period.

After intercepting Minnesota defenseman Jake Middleton's pass up the right wall, Quinn held off forward Connor Dewar and skated down low before turning back up to the top of the zone and finally curling into the slot and beating Fleury stick side.

Eriksson Ek tied it 1-1 on a power play at 3:35 of the first.

Luukkonen couldn't hold onto a shot from the top of the left circle and got tangled up with Mats Zuccarello to the left of the crease as both went for the loose puck. Zuccarello got it first and quickly sent it over to Kaprizov below the goal line, and he fed Eriksson Ek for the tap-in to an open net.

Girgensons put the Sabres back in front at 9:50 of the second period. Peyton Krebs won a puck battle behind the net and sent it back to Kyle Okposo, who quickly dished off to an uncovered Girgensons on the doorstep for a 2-1 lead.

The Wild again responded quickly.

Gaudreau showed patience inside the right circle before feeding a pinching Spurgeon on the back door, and Spurgeon tied it 2-2 at 12:39.

That spurred the home side, who pushed and pressed in the latter half of the period. However, Luukkonen preserved the tie with several key saves, including a pair of consecutive stops on Kaprizov, who was teed up by Zuccarello for one-timers from the right circle.

Rasmus Dahlin appeared to give the Sabres a 3-2 lead in the dying seconds of the middle frame, but a video review showed the puck crossed the line after time had expired.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Minnesota
Zemgus Girgensons 1 Points Joel Eriksson Ek 1
Zemgus Girgensons 1 Goals Joel Eriksson Ek 1
Peyton Krebs 1 Assists Frederick Gaudreau 1
N/A Power Play Goals Joel Eriksson Ek 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen .943 Save Percentage Marc-Andre Fleury .935
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 33 Saves Marc-Andre Fleury 29
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 31 2 0-1 3-4 6 27
Minnesota 35 3 1-4 1-1 2 30
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Wild have a W/L % of .593 after a win and .524 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Sabres have a W/L % of .615 after a win and .435 after a loss.