BUFFALO, N.Y. — Luke Evangelista scored twice in a span of 39 seconds as part of a four-goal second-period surge, and the Nashville Predators became the latest team to rout the reeling Buffalo Sabres in a 7-3 win on Tuesday night.
Matt Duchene also scored twice, including an empty-netter, to give him 21 goals on the season. Tommy Novak, Philip Tomasino and defenseman Ryan McDonagh — in his first game after missing four with an upper body injury — had a goal an assist each.
Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots and even picked up an assist in beating the Sabres for the first time in seven career starts (1-5-1). Evangelista added two assists to become Nashville's first rookie to enjoy a four-point game since Dan Hamhuis had a goal and four assists in setting the franchise record in 2004.
The win allowed Nashville (35-26-8) to keep pace in the race for the Western Conference’s final two wild-card playoff spots. The Predators opened the day in 10th, five points behind eighth-place Winnipeg.
While the Predators bounced back from a 7-0 drubbing by the New York Rangers on Sunday, the Sabres had little response after a 7-0 loss to Boston on the same day.
Buffalo dropped to 1-6-2 in its past nine, and 1-5-1 in its past six home games, a stretch in which the Sabres have been outscored by a combined 18-37 — including a 10-4 loss to Dallas on March 9.
Tage Thompson scored his team-leading 43rd goal and first in nine games, and Jeff Skinner and Dylan Cozens also scored for Buffalo. Thompson’s 43 goals are the most by a Buffalo player since Thomas Vanek scored that many in 2006-07.
Rasmus Dahlin set up Thompson’s goal, becoming Buffalo's third defenseman to reach the 50-assist plateau, and first since Phil Housley had 60 — a franchise record for blue liners — in 1989-90.
Craig Anderson allowed six goals on 20 shots before being pulled following McDonagh’s goal with 4:08 left in the second period. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen mopped up allowing no goals on six shots.
Tomasino converted a 2-on-1 break, and Duchene fired in a shot from the right circle in scoring seven minutes apart in the opening period.
After Cozens cut the lead to 2-1 at the 3:36 mark of the second period, the Predators responded by scoring four straight goals in less than 12 minutes. It would have been a five-goal run had Duchene’s goal 4:57 into the period not been overturned when replays showed Cody Glass being offside when Nashville entered the zone.
The Sabres were so sloppy on defense, Duchene’s first-period goal actually came with Nashville being down a skater. The puck went in with Glass lying face down behind the Buffalo net for some five seconds after being checked into the boards by Thompson.
LUCKY 27?
Newly signed Sabres goalie Devon Levi noted how he choose No. 27 after wearing No. 1 during his three seasons at Northeastern. Calling it his lucky number, Levi noted he was born on Dec. 27, his father was also born on the 27th of a month, and his home address growing up in Montreal was 127.
While Levi is still awaiting his immigration paperwork to be completed, and the NHL making sure his goalie equipment is up to league standards, there is a possibility he could make his pro debut soon. One date that stands out is Monday, March 27, when Buffalo hosts his hometown Canadiens.
INJURIES
Predators: D Roman Josi remains listed as day to day after missing his second game with an upper-body injury.
Sabres: C Tyson Jost returned after missing two games as a healthy scratch. LW Jordan Greenway, acquired in a trade with Minnesota two weeks ago, did not play due to an upper-body injury.
UP NEXT
Predators: Return home for a two-game series against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday and Saturday.
Sabres: Close three-game homestand hosting New Jersey on Friday night.
