Sabres 3, Canucks 2: Missed Chances, Missed Moment
The Vancouver Canucks walked into this one looking for a spark, especially with Thatcher Demko finally back in goal after missing 12 games. Instead, they came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, a result that felt more frustrating than deflating. The Canucks had their moments—some real flashes of push and purpose—but in a game this tight, the margin for error was painfully small.
From the jump, it felt like Vancouver was chasing the rhythm. Rasmus Dahlin’s early goal didn’t help, and Thatcher Demko admitted afterward that the wobbling one-timer fooled him a bit. Still, the Canucks settled in. Kiefer Sherwood’s power-play goal—finally breaking a 0-for-21 drought—gave the building some life. When Max Sasson flew down the ice early in the second and slipped a shot five-hole on Alex Lyon, there was every reason to believe the Canucks were finally tilting the game their way.
But as the night went on, Buffalo played the steadier third period. A couple of breakdowns and a Zach Benson one-timer later, the Canucks were back on their heels, trying to claw their way into a game the Sabres kept shutting down with blocks and smart defensive layers.
Key Point One: Thatcher Demko’s Return Wasn’t the Storybook One.
Thatcher Demko looked steady in moments, but you could see the rust. The timing wasn’t all the way there, and that’s no surprise after 12 games out. He didn’t sink the team by any stretch, but he also didn’t deliver that extra save he often provides—the kind that shifts a game like this.
Key Point Two: Finally, the Canucks’ Power Play Shows a Pulse.
Kiefer Sherwood’s late first-period goal mattered more than just tying the game. It snapped a brutal seven-game slump and briefly gave the Canucks some rhythm. The puck movement looked better, and the confidence seemed to flicker—but it still wasn’t a sustained weapon.
Key Point Three: Max Sasson’s Burst Was a Canucks’ Bright Spot.
If the Canucks needed energy, Max Sasson gave it to them. His breakaway goal was pure instinct and speed, and he was one of the few Vancouver forwards who consistently pushed play north.
Final Thoughts from the Canucks’ Perspective
This wasn’t a poor effort—just an incomplete one. Vancouver generated enough looks to stay in it, but not enough to take it over. The Sabres blocked 26 shots, and that alone tells the story: Buffalo was willing to eat pucks; Vancouver didn’t force them into enough uncomfortable spots.
Quinn Hughes ending his six-game scoring drought is a slight positive. The looming return of Elias Pettersson gives the team another reason to take a breath and look ahead. The road trip starts Sunday, and the Canucks have a chance to quickly reset the tone.
For now, this one ends with a simple truth: Vancouver played well enough to hang around—but not well enough to win.