Michael Kesselring and Mikhail Sergachev scored 24 seconds apart in the second period to help the Utah Hockey Club beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 in a Saturday afternoon game.
For the third game in a row, the Sabres led after the first period but couldn’t hold on to that lead, losing their sixth consecutive game (0-4-2). This is Buffalo’s longest losing streak since they lost eight straight games from October 25 to November 19, 2022.
The Utah defensemen’s goals gave them a 2-1 lead less than four minutes into the second period, with some help from Buffalo players.
Kesselring, playing in his 100th game, scored to tie the game. He prevented the Sabres from clearing the puck at the blue line, and Barrett Hayton recovered it and set up Kesselring, who took a shot from above the faceoff circles. The puck went in under the crossbar as Buffalo winger Alex Tuch screened goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Right after, Utah’s Michael Carcone got past Jacob Bryson’s check, and Dennis Gilbert pushed him into Luukkonen, knocking the goalie off his crease. Alexander Kerfoot, who had two assists, passed the puck to Sergachev, who fired it into the open net with 16:18 remaining in the second period.
Nick Schmaltz extended Utah’s lead with 52 seconds left in the period. It was his fourth goal in three games after going the first 23 games without scoring.
Jack McBain and Kevin Stenlund added goals in the third period to seal the win for Utah.
Kesselring finished with two points, also assisting on Schmaltz’s goal, and 10 Utah players earned at least one point.
Tyson Kozak scored his first career NHL goal midway through the first period to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead, and Jiri Kulich scored Buffalo’s second goal with 2:20 remaining.
Those were the only goals Karel Vejmelka allowed, as he made 23 saves. Luukkonen also saved 23 shots.
The Sabres were without defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who missed the game due to back spasms. Dahlin also missed Thursday’s overtime loss to Winnipeg.
