Buffalo Sabres Thrash Detroit Red Wings, Improve Record to 6-3

The Buffalo Sabres spent Halloween generating offense that will haunt the Detroit Red Wings.

Things started relatively slow, as the lone goal in the first period came in the frame’s final few minutes. Tage Thompson was the Buffalo skater that broke the ice. The goal was his fourth of the season.

Olli Maatta quickly tied the game when the second period commenced, but the Sabres ended up scoring the next three goals. Detroit was able to battle back and make the game 4-3 at the end of the second period, but that was the end of the Red Wings scoring.

The Sabres launched an all-out offensive attack against Detroit.

It took some time for the Sabres to bust things open against their Atlantic Division rival, but when they did, they did so in a big way.

Rasmus Dahlin extended his fantastic start to the season, as well as Buffalo’s lead, with his power play goal in the third period. Dylan Cozens scored less than two minutes later, followed closely by Thompson, whose goal completed his hat trick.

The Sabres added an empty net goal to put the finishing touches on a dominant 8-3 victory.

Buffalo outshot Detroit 46-18 for the game, highlighted by a 17-3 advantage in a third period that saw them outscored the Red Wings 4-1. Four skaters had at least two points for the Sabres, and Thompson collected six points (three goals and three assists) on his own.

With the win, the Sabres move to 6-3 on the season. Their hot start has them in second place in the Atlantic, trailing only the red-hot Boston Bruins (8-1).

Looking at the NHL as a whole, Buffalo slots in at number six overall entering play on Tuesday, though they’re tied with the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils and have a better goal differential (+12) than both.

This team will have an opportunity to prove that it belongs near the top of the standings this week as it gets set to do battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Tampa Bay Lightning.