Detroit, which got goals from Compher and Finnie in Buffalo, goes to Long Island next to finish midweek back-to-back road set
BUFFALO — Falling short for the first time since Opening Night nearly two weeks ago, the Detroit Red Wings saw their five-game winning streak come to an end with a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.
Goalie John Gibson, making his third straight start, made 27 saves for Detroit (5-2-0; 10 points). Earning the win in his NHL debut for Buffalo (3-4-0; 6 points) was goaltender Colten Ellis, who also turned aside 27 shots.
Neither Atlantic Division squad found the back of the net in the first period, which saw Detroit’s penalty killers snuff out two consecutive Buffalo power plays before the game’s six-minute mark.
Although the Red Wings couldn’t capitalize on a power play of their own that carried over from the end of the first period, they lit the lamp three minutes into the second when J.T. Compher cleaned up a rebound created by Albert Johansson’s shot from the edge of the left face-off circle for a 1-0 lead. Jonatan Berggren earned the secondary assist on Compher’s first goal of the season.
JT's first of the season! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a7zsKT1I4h
The Sabres’ offense showed up later in the second period, first when Jason Zucker finished a cross-crease pass from Jack Quinn on a 2-on-1 rush to make it 1-1 at 11:37. Then, they jumped out in front on Tyson Kozak’s goal, which he scored after crashing to the net to make it 2-1 at 16:28.
Continuing to impress as a 20-year-old rookie, Emmitt Finnie one-timed a backhand feed from Detroit captain Dylan Larkin past Ellis to tie it 2-2 at 18:20 of the second period. With the primary helper on Finnie’s third goal in the past two games, Larkin extended his season-opening point streak to seven consecutive games and Lucas Raymond’s secondary helper pushed his point streak to three straight.
For Larkin, this marks the second-longest campaign-opening point streak of his NHL career behind an eight-game run he had in 2023-24 (4-11-15 in 8 GP).
That Larkin – Finnie connection! 😮💨 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/WjZ9t7pp1e
Buffalo retook the lead when Quinn notched his third point of the night with a power-play goal to make it 3-2 at 4:15 of the third period. Josh Doan gave the hosts a two-goal cushion nearly four minutes later, beating Gibson through the five-hole on a slap shot from the left face-off circle with 11:50 remaining in regulation which would stand as the 4-2 final.
NEXT UP: The Red Wings will take on the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Thursday night.
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