Dahlin’s 100th Goal Ignites Comeback Win: Sabres Edge Kraken in Shootout Victory

The Buffalo Sabres proved their resilience at KeyBank Center on Saturday, snapping a three-game winless skid with a gritty 3-2 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken. In a game defined by physical play and special teams, the Sabres overcame early discipline issues and a two-goal deficit to secure two crucial points in the Atlantic Division race. While defensive lapses and a high volume of giveaways threatened to derail the night, a historic milestone from the captain and a lockdown performance in the shootout ensured Buffalo moved one step closer to clinching their postseason berth.

Kraken Strike First: Loose Puck Management Costs Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres opened the first period with plenty of speed, looking to dictate the pace early on. They earned the game’s first power play at 2:34 when Adam Larsson was whistled for hooking Alex Tuch, and while the Sabres failed to convert, they did manage to generate several quality looks. However, the early momentum shifted toward special teams as Tuch was sent to the box for tripping at 5:43. Buffalo’s 8th-ranked penalty kill stood tall to bail him out, but the reprieve was short-lived; captain Rasmus Dahlin took an interference minor against Kaapo Kakko at 9:14, forcing the Sabres back into a defensive shell.

Despite Buffalo effectively neutralizing the first two Seattle power plays, their puck management issues proved costly. At 12:42, a failed zone exit by Bowen Byram allowed the Kraken to capitalize, as Chandler Stephenson notched his 15th goal of the season to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. Looking to spark a response, Logan Stanley leveled Shane Wright with a massive hit late in the frame to try and reclaim the momentum. By the end of the first, Seattle held a slight 11-10 edge in shots and dominated the dots with a 55% faceoff win percentage. Most concerning for Buffalo were the 7 giveaways in the opening twenty minutes, compared to just 3 for the Kraken.

Milestone Moment: Dahlin Hits 100 Career Goals to Spark Comeback

The Sabres came out flying in the second frame, peppering Philipp Grubauer with seven shots in the first three minutes but failing to solve the Seattle netminder. The physical intensity spiked at 2:29 when Logan Stanley dropped the gloves with Jamie Oleksiak, a heavyweight bout following Stanley’s big hit in the first.

However, Buffalo’s momentum was again stunted by discipline issues; Rasmus Dahlin was called for his second penalty of the night, a hooking minor on Jordan Eberle at 5:40. While the Sabres killed the penalty, the flow of their offense stalled significantly, managing only seven more shots over the next 12 minutes of play.

At 13:18, Bobby McMann used his power-forward frame to drive past Dahlin, beating Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen one-on-one to extend the Kraken lead to 2-0. Despite the deficit, Luukkonen remained sharp, making several high-danger saves to keep the Sabres within striking distance.

That resilience paid off late in the period when Adam Larsson headed to the box for slashing Beck Malenstyn. Just 11 seconds into the man advantage, Dahlin redeemed his earlier penalties by rifling a shot from the point past Grubauer to make it a 2-1 game. The goal was more than just a momentum shifter—it marked the 100th goal of Dahlin’s NHL career. By reaching the century mark, he joins an elite group of defensemen in franchise history and provides the spark Buffalo desperately needed.

Heading into the final intermission, Buffalo leads shots 27-25 and is dominating the physical play, out-hitting Seattle 19-9.

Comeback Complete: Sabres Edge Kraken in Shootout Thriller

The tension in KeyBank Center reached a fever pitch in the third period as Buffalo hunted for the equalizer. The comeback attempt hit a snag at 8:00 when Logan Stanley was whistled for goaltender interference after crashing into Philipp Grubauer while driving hard to the net. Buffalo’s penalty kill unit once again proved why they are among the league’s best, stifling the Kraken and keeping the deficit at one. That defensive stand set the stage for Peyton Krebs, who buried his 10th goal of the season at 11:39 after receiving a brilliant feed from Zach Benson to knot the game at 2-2.

The Sabres had a golden opportunity to win it in regulation when Oscar Fisker Mølgaard was penalized for a delay of game at 13:20, but the power play couldn’t find the go-ahead marker. Despite being outshot 9-6 in the final frame, Buffalo’s resilience pushed the game into a scoreless overtime where they registered the only two shots of the period.

In the shootout, the Sabres’ skill players took over. Tage Thompson opened the proceedings with a clinical finish, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood tall to rob Frederick Gaudreau. Jack Quinn then sealed the extra point with a dazzling deke, while Kaapo Kakko failed to convert for Seattle. The victory snaps Buffalo’s three-game winless streak.

By the Numbers: Physicality and Special Teams Carry the Night

While the shootout provided the flair, Buffalo’s blue-collar effort in the trenches ultimately earned the extra point. The Sabres outshot the Kraken 36-34 and dominated the physical battle with a 27-14 edge in hits, led by Beck Malenstyn and Mattias Samuelsson, who recorded four hits apiece. Special teams proved to be the difference-maker; the Sabres went 1-for-3 on the power play—highlighted by Dahlin’s milestone marker—while the penalty kill remained a perfect 4-for-4 against a dangerous Seattle man-advantage. Despite committing 18 giveaways and facing 17 blocked shots from a disciplined Kraken defense, Buffalo’s stars stepped up when it mattered most. Tage Thompson led the offensive charge with five shots on goal, but it was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s 32-save performance that anchored the victory.

The Sabres will look to build on this momentum as they wrap up their current homestand against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, March 31. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. at KeyBank Center.

Three Stars of the Game