Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche

· National Hockey League

Buffalo Sabres

15-20-4

Final
5 - 6

Colorado Avalanche

23-15-1

Toews scores in overtime, Avalanche overcome 3-goal deficit to beat Sabres 6-5

Zach Benson scores as Scott Wedgewood writhes in pain in crease

After trailing 3-0 in the second period, the Avalanche regrouped and tied it with eight seconds remaining on a shot from Jonathan Drouin. That set the stage for Toews, who stole the puck and scored on a breakaway.

It was the second time this season the Sabres blew a multi-goal lead against Colorado. The Avalanche came back from a 4-0 deficit for a 5-4 victory Dec. 3 in Buffalo.

Cale Makar had two goals, while Ross Colton and Mikko Rantanen also scored.

Jason Zucker scored three times for Buffalo and Bowen Byram added a goal against his former team. Zach Benson knocked in a contentious goal in the third period after being pushed into Scott Wedgewood and landing on the goaltender's right leg. Benson got back up, gained possession of the puck and scored as Wedgewood remained down on the ice. It gave the Sabres a 4-2 lead.

Wedgewood was helped to the bench as tempers flared. Wedgewood was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves.

Takeaways Sabres: Byram scored in his return to Denver. Colorado’s fourth overall pick in 2019, he was traded to Buffalo last March.

Avalanche: The top line was juggled around Valeri Nichushkin sidelined by a lower-body injury. Rantanen took Nichushkin's place next to Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen.

Key moment The Sabres challenged MacKinnon's goal in the second period for offsides. After an official review, the goal was waved off.

Key stat The Avalanche have 12 comeback wins this season.

Up next Both teams are in action Saturday — Colorado hosts Montreal, and Buffalo plays in Vegas.

Regular Season Series

COL wins series 2-0

Scoring Summary

Goal	1st Period 13:17	Jason Zucker Goal (12) Tip-In, assists: Jack Quinn (9), Tage Thompson (13)
Goal	1st Period 17:10	Bowen Byram Goal (5) Backhand, assists: Jason Zucker (16), Dylan Cozens (12)
Goal	2nd Period 11:08	Jason Zucker Goal (13) Tip-In, assists: Tage Thompson (14), Rasmus Dahlin (21)
Goal	2nd Period 14:58	Cale Makar Goal (12) Wrist Shot, assists: Jonathan Drouin (5), Devon Toews (13)
Goal	3rd Period 1:05	Ross Colton Goal (12) Wrist Shot, assists: Samuel Girard (16)
Goal	3rd Period 1:27	Zach Benson Goal (7) Wrap-around, assists: Peyton Krebs (8), JJ Peterka (17)
Goal	3rd Period 4:17	Mikko Rantanen Goal (22) Snap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (48), Casey Mittelstadt (17)
Goal	3rd Period 16:09	Jason Zucker Goal (14) Snap Shot, assists: Tage Thompson (15)
Goal	3rd Period 17:34	Cale Makar Goal (13) Slap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (49), Devon Toews (14)
Goal	3rd Period 19:52	Jonathan Drouin Goal (3) Snap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (50), Mikko Rantanen (34)
Goal	4th Period 0:48	Devon Toews Goal (3) Wrist Shot, assists: none

Statistics

BUF		COL
9	Blocked Shots	9
27	Hits	31
4	Takeaways	9
21	Shots	29
2	Power Play Goals	1
3	Power Play Opportunities	3
66.7	Power Play Percentage	33.3
0	Short Handed Goals	0
0	Shootout Goals	0
37	Faceoffs Won	30
55.2	Faceoff Win Percent	44.8
7	Giveaways	5
4	Total Penalties	4
8	Penalty Minutes	8

Colorado Avalanche Injuries

NAME, POS	STATUS	DATE
Martin Necas, C	Day-To-Day	Feb 5
Gabriel Landeskog, LW	Day-To-Day	Feb 5

Buffalo Sabres Injuries

NAME, POS	STATUS	DATE
Jordan Greenway, LW	Out	Feb 5
Zach Benson, LW	Out	Feb 5
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G	Injured Reserve	Feb 3
Josh Norris, C	Injured Reserve	Feb 2
Justin Danforth, RW	Injured Reserve	Jan 26