BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Jason Zucker had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and Dylan Cozens broke his early season scoring drought, but it wasn't enough for the Sabres in a 4-3 loss against the New York Islanders on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
Losing their second game in a row to conclude a four-game homestand, the Sabres dropped to 4-6-1 going into Saturday night's game in Detroit.
Zucker scored in his third consecutive game when he tipped a point shot from Tage Thompson with 14:32 remaining in the third period. That came less than 30 seconds after Zucker was stopped on a penalty shot by Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (32 saves).
Cozens got his first goal of the season thanks to Zucker's slick no-look pass in front of the net on a power play that gave Buffalo the lead nine minutes into the first period.
The lead was brief as Bo Horvat tied it up for the Islanders just 40 seconds later. And after the visitors scored twice more in a 7-minute span of the second period, Zucker made an attempt to energize the Sabres following his fight with Oliver Wahlstrom.
Taking down Wahlstrom to end the back-and-forth tussle, Zucker attempted to help his combatant off the ice, then let out a passionate profanity while skating toward Buffalo's bench with blood dripping from the bridge of his nose.
Devon Levi started in goal for the Sabres for the first time in 15 days, and finished with 32 saves.
Owen Power jammed in his third of the season to get the Sabres within a goal with 1:01 left in regulation but Buffalo was unable to get the tying score.
Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly was helped off the ice in the second period after he took a big hit from Sabres forward Jordan Greenway and appeared to hit his head on the ice.
Greenway was initially given a five-minute penalty, but it was rescinded following video review.
Reilly was on the ice for several minutes before he was helped to the locker room by his teammates.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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