Buffalo Sabres, Game Recap, utah-mammoth

Rattling the Sabres

Your Favorite Hockey Guy in Utah

November 5, 2025

^{Stellar goaltending and more clutch overtime play gives Utah 2 points in Buffalo}

Utah was in northern New York tonight, facing the hosting Buffalo Sabres. The Mammoth were getting their first look at old friends Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan, as they were looking to turn around a two game losing streak, Buffalo, however, has not been the pushover of a team they have been. The Sabres brought a 6 game point streak (with 4 consecutive overtime games); after a terrible start, Buffalo was looking to continue their ascent in the Atlantic and bury old expectations.

Buffalo and Utah feature solid defenses, though their strengths lie in different facets of the game. Utah suppresses shots, trying to limit chances to opponents as much as possible. Buffalo features the best PK in the league, along with solid goaltending and high shot volume, but from low danger areas.

This was going to likely be a low scoring game; no hat tricks in the first 8 minutes expected today.

FIRST PERIOD:
Utah came out with energy, hungry to change the direction of their past two games. Despite Buffalo’s strong defense, the Mammoth were pushing and had some decent offensive zone time. Unfortunately for Utah, little was generated from the zone time. Fortunately for Utah, the Sabres saw the same results on their first few attempts to push the zone. Both teams looked to be testing each other, to see where they could utilize their strengths or to find mistakes to capitalize on.

For the first 8 minutes, there weren’t many mistakes, and of the ones made, most had little impact on the game. This would change, however, at the 12 minute mark. Buffalo took a turnover deep in their zone, and broke out on a 4 on 2. Tage Thompson, my dream trade target for Utah, took the puck all alone in front of Vejmelka. Thompson went wide, Veggie went wider, and Thompson ended up catching the post. Despite the golden, scary, opportunity for Buffalo, the game remained scoreless.

Buffalo continued to press Utah for the next few minutes, culminating in a wide open Kesselring being absolutely robbed by Veggie. Tracking the cross-ice pass, Veggie anticipated an open player by the crease, and reached across with his left pad, making a spectacular save and frustrating his former defenseman.

I’ve said a couple of times this year that Vejmelka has been decent to start. He hasn’t stolen us a game, but he hasn’t really lost us one either. Well, here’s Veggie working to steal us another game, less than 2 minutes after the last spectacular save. In a span of 4 minutes, Vejmelka had 3 highlight saves. Without those, Utah would have certainly been down 2 or 3 goals.

Not to be outdone, Alex Lyon made a great glove save against Barret Hayton moments later, Utah’s best chance of the period so far. He made a second and third great save against Kevin Stenlund, keeping Utah off the board.

Brandon Tanev had the first time out of the game, taking an ill-advised cross-check in the offensive zone. Buffalo’s power play has been OK this year, but you would not have known that the PK unit for Utah struggling with just a 75% successful kill rate. Utah stifled the Buffalo power play, with multiple clears, blocked lanes, and at one point, tried to convert their first shorthanded goal of the season. That attempt failed, but so did the entire Buffalo power play, and score remained tied at 0.

Michael Carcone was so encouraged by the penalty kill, he thought he would help them try and improve on that 75% success rate, by taking a penalty with about 3 minutes to play. Utah continued to pressure and block all of the Sabres attempts, and the one good look Thompson had, he ended up whiffing on. The remainder of the PK went perfectly, taking us neatly to the second period with no score.

SECOND PERIOD:
Oh. Oh no. The dreaded 2nd period, where falling behind against a stingy Buffalo defense could prove fatal. Waiting with bated breath, we were going to find out how bad the 2nd would be.

Start of the second looked pretty good, with Clayton Keller and Hayton having a few chances in the first minute. However, Lyon was dialed in, making routine saves from distance.

Buffalo started to bring physicality to the game in their forecheck, forcing another few high danger saves in the Utah zone. The Czech wall was indomitable, turning aside shot after shot. Not to be outdone, however, Lyon stopped a few mid-range chances and a crash attempt by the 3rd line.

The Mammoth got a chance to test the top tier Buffalo PK about 6 minutes in, and early in the unit looked really good. Fast puck movement led to a shot, then a stuff attempt by Cooley in front, but Lyon wouldn’t budge. Utah bombarded the Sabres in their end, with double digit shot attempts – but none of them hit paydirt. Buffalo nearly scored on a Mammoth redirection of a shot on Veggie, but the puck went just wide.

Wide open play continued, with the Sabres a fraction of an inch from taking the lead. Buffalo fans were celebrating as a shot that Vejmelka just barely grazed with his glove was altered just enough that it hit the inside of the post. The rebound sailed across the mouth of the crease, thankfully to the boards and out of danger.

Utah pressed play in the Buffalo half of the ice for several minutes, however the Sabres defense kept most of the Mammoth chances out high or to the perimeter. They did, however, get a breakaway with about 6 minutes to play. Jack Quinn, the least Quinn of the brothers, had another breakaway and open chance. Veggie, again, stoned Quinn’s attempt, flashing the blocker for another of several highlight reel saves against Quinn and the Sabres to that point.

Though Utah pressure still didn’t result in a goal, John Marino drew a late period penalty. The power play unit gave Buffalo another massive test, as they kept possession in the zone after an initial clear. Cooley was robbed on a one-timer, Keller missed high, and despite keeping Buffalo on their heels for the early part of the PK, the unit was stifled for the second half and failed to convert.

Third line was really good again tonight, and they almost opened the scoring for the second game in a row on a tight redirect by Lawson Crouse, but Lyon was unbeatable. That was the last push for either team; both teams still posted goose-eggs through 40 minutes – not for a lack of shot quantity or quality.

Utah pushed with a sense of urgency and desperation that has been lacking in the middle frame all year long. They threw everything at Lyon, forcing 15 saves and at least 10 shots that missed the net… but not by much. On the other end, despite giving up just 5 shots, Utah gave up a few high-quality chances that Veggie was able to secure. His play was the reason the habitual second period let down didn’t show tonight.

Enjoy these rare words: Utah did not allow a goal in the second period. Still scoreless heading into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD:
The Mammoth started the third period out like they thought it was the second. Within the first 30 seconds, the Sabres had a 3 on 1 break. Fortunately for Utah, the shot by Alex Tuch went wide, and Utah dodged yet another massive bullet.

The Mammoth seemed to take that chance seriously, and controlled the majority of play for the next few minutes. A fantastic play by Marino in the neutral zone saw the defender enter the Buffalo zone. A drop pass back to Keller was perfectly placed cross-ice to Nick Schmaltz, who snapped a wrister past Lyon. Finally, a red light and a number other than 0. 1-0 Utah

Suddenly down, Buffalo tried to mount an effective counter after the drop. They had a little pressure to start, but Utah’s shot-suppressive defense was up to the task. Disrupted passes and shot lanes taken away forced Buffalo out of the zone multiple times, all while taking the opportunity to counterattack or dump to relieve pressure over the next few minutes.

Buffalo, however, was not deterred, and pushed for the equalizer with a ferocious effort. Sliding Mammoth players prevented a high-quality chance, deflected pucks sailed harmlessly to the boards, and solid defense kept Buffalo at bay.

The Sabres would tie the game, though, off a terribly unlucky bounce for the Mammoth. Noah Ostlund shot the puck high over Vejmelka. The rebound, above the crossbar but behind the net, was redirected by Isak Rosen. Veggie had tracked the puck and knew where the rebound should have gone, but there was no way he could have seen the puck directed from behind his head to a waiting Ostlund to his right. Ostlund got his first goal off that bounce and not-at-all-high-sticked-puck, tying the game up at 1. 1-1 Tied

Facing such an annoying goal against, Utah was fueled through the rest of the period and were dead set on getting the point. Spoiler alert – Utah gave up no shots on goal in the final 12 minutes. The best way to guarantee at least one point in this game is to shut everything down. Unfortunately, despite Utah’s best efforts, Lyon had the exact same idea for the Mammoth.

Lawson Crouse scored for Utah, but the goal was waved off by the referees, who suddenly knew how to wave off a goal. Puck was covered, but no whistle, when Crouse poked it in. It’s not like he played the puck with his stick above his shoulder or anything. Correct call, making the refs 50% accurate in the last 30 seconds.

The Mammoth tested the Buffalo defense repeatedly through the rest of the game. The defense kept the Mammoth to the outside, not allowing many quality chances. When they failed at their job, Lyon succeeded at his. Try as they might, Utah could not get the winner and the horn sounded.

12 minutes of offensive pressure, but Buffalo held firm. Both teams got the point and they go for the second.

OVERTIME:
The beautiful thing about regular season overtime is that if you’ve got a great defense, it doesn’t matter. 3 on 3 gives so much open space that defense is stretched thin at best, or non-existent at worst. Guenther found out that stretched thin doesn’t mean not there, as he was stripped of the puck right after the face off. Buffalo had an amazing opportunity to win, as a pass went through the slot to Alex Tuch. Veggie, with the windmill glove save, wisely dropped the puck for Utah to take up the ice.

Clayton Keller had an amazing individual effort in the zone; he looked to be circling out of the zone, but deftly circled in quickly, went through the three Buffalo players on the ice, sliding the puck between the legs of Lyon. Goal. Game. 2 points. 2-1 Utah

3 GOALS (THE GOOD):

Clayton Keller has returned. Arguably his best game of the year, the captain had 11 shot attempts – his most this year, and most since February – had really solid passing, got a gorgeous assist for the opening goal, and of course got the GWG.

His offensive and defensive possessions were clean today, his decision making was on point, and he looked to be the 90 point player he was last year. Great job by #9 all around.

Karel Vejmelka stole this game. Period. That first period could have easily seen 2+ goals against. Facing a breakaway, 2 wide open players standing in front of him, and several other high danger rushes, Veggie didn’t flinch. The past few games were rough for him, his play hasn’t been as steady as 2024, but tonight even though he didn’t face the same number of shots as Lyon, his chances against were far worse.

Aside from that weird misplay in the corner, no fault with any part of his game today. The one goal against was a fluky bounce (and an uncalled play stoppage), and there’s just no way that’s on him at all.

Karel didn’t get a star from the game today, but he sure as hell deserved one.

Team Defense (the last 50 minutes) the game saw the Mammoth defense off to a really shaky start. Giving up the kind of chances they gave up halfway through the first are nearly unforgivable. Had they not been bailed out, going up against Buffalo’s defense with a multi-goal deficit is a monumental task.

When it mattered, though, they stepped up. They took control partway through the first, and suppressed shots and scoring chances against for the majority of the game. Aside from a single breakaway from a bad decision, each player bought in as usual. Hopefully Buffalo fans can eat some crow watching Peterka play defense tonight.

3 CHIRPS (THE BAD):
Buffalo sucks as a city, and their fans were trashy tonight. There was way too much hate directed at Peterka. From being booed incessantly, cheered when hit, or signs flashing around the arena, you’d think he really screwed the team.

As an Islander fan coming to this fan base, I can tell you stories about hatred for John Tavares. He lied to his teammates. He lied to the ownership. He lied to the fans. He could have been honest, asked for a trade, and gotten assets back in return – assets that would have helped enormously. However, his selfishness (or cowardice?) screwed the Islanders organization out of a potential return they could have desperately used.

Peterka was traded by Buffalo. He was traded for an excellent defender and a winger. Doan, mind you, is on a pace slightly less than Peterka’s at this point in the season. Effectively, it was almost an even swap. Then you toss in Kesselring, and Buffalo has a very, very good return for what they gave up.

Tonight made me glad that city is where sports hopes go to die. May they not see any championships anywhere for as long as Peterka has a career.

Offensive Numbers took a beating today, as Lyon was fantastic in net for the Sabres. Utah had several chances – good chances – that Lyon could not be beaten for.

The PP units had amazing looks against the top defense in the league. The 5 on 5 play was dominated by Utah. Shot attempts were through the roof, and Utah nearly doubled up on total shots. Facing another team tonight, with the effort put forth, Utah would have likely had 4+ goals. Sucks that a tough defensive game’s gonna put a knock on the 2nd line’s point totals.

But, Schmaltz continued his red-hot start, and Keller got going finally, so that’s great to see.

Awful Scheduling puts Utah behind the 8 ball tomorrow. Buffalo hits, and hits hard. The guys took a beating, taking multiple big hits all night long. They were played hard physically. And now, tomorrow, they get to face a fast and talented – though significantly less talented – Mitch Marnerless Toronto Maple Leaf team.

The Maple Leafs have won 4 of their last 5, including a win yesterday against the vastly overachieving Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve dropped some winnable games, so they’re beatable, but on the latter half of the back-to-back, coupled with another back-to-back series in just 2 days, the schedule is just rough right now. I don’t believe in “scheduled losses” but the NHL sure seems to, and wanted to get some for us this month.