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Wrap: Stars Fall Short in Buffalo |
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The Dallas Stars sustained their second loss of the 2024-25 season (both on the road) as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
The Stars erased two-thirds of a late third period deficit but could not find an equalizer after tallies by Thomas Harley (1st) and Tyler Seguin (3rd) cut a 3-0 gap to a single goal with 2:12 remaining on the clock. Finally, an Alex Tuch empty net goal iced the final 4-2 margin in Buffalo's favor.
After a scoreless first period, goals by Peyton Krebs and Ryan McLeod (four-game goal streak) staked the Sabres to a 2-0 edge. In the final frame, Tage Thompson added to the Sabres' lead before later assisting on the Tuch empty netter. Defenseman Owen Power assisted on each of the first three Buffalo goals.
Winning goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves on 30 shots. In a losing cause, Jake Oettinger stopped 21 of 24 shots.
For most of the game, the Sabres did a good job of taking away the middle of the ice and blocking shots. They also outworked the Stars down low and in battles on the side boards. On the power play (0-for-3 on Tuesday, 2-for-21 on the season to date), Dallas struggled to generate clean entries and shots on goal.
Before the Stars depart for their two "Global Series" games in Finland against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, there are two games on the docket. On Thursday, the Stars (5-2-0) will visit the Boston Bruins (3-3-1). On Saturday, they are home to host the Chicago Blackhawks (2-4-1).