Playing from behind for the majority of the game, the Canucks would have been happy to of at least pick up a point in a game that the Sabres almost lost on their own, but it was just not meant to be.
Rasmus Ristolainen scored twice, including a goal with 16.8 seconds left in the third period that gave the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 win against Ryan Miller and the Vancouver Canucks at First Niagara Center on Saturday.
The return to Buffalo was especially of significance to Ryan Miller, who played the majority of his career there.
After a scoreless first period, the Sabres opened up the scoring at the 2:18 mark of the second period when Jamie McGinn scored his third of the year giving the Sabres the 1-0 lead.
They would double up that lead when Rasmus Ristolainen gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead 8:10 into the second period. After Canucks forward Jake Virtanen was penalized for elbowing, Ristolainen received a pass from Jack Eichel and took a slap shot that went through Miller’s five-hole.
Before the second period ended, Henrik Sedin got his third goal of the year at the 13:33 mark of the second period.
Canucks forward Chris Higgins tied the game with 9:45 left in the third period with his first goal of the season. Higgins skated around Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Jake McCabe and slipped the puck through goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Higgins had missed the early portion of the season suffering an injury in the preseason, and with the addition of him in the line up the Canucks hope to give the younger players a bit more of a veteran presence as they still learn the ups, and downs of an NHL season.
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Next up: The Canucks do not have much time to think about this lose as they play Cory Schneider and the New Jersey Devils Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.
Written by: Hamed Amiri
Image via Buffalo Sabres
