BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The fans who hung around until the end of Saturday’s game at KeyBank Center voiced their frustrations with the Sabres’ worsening slump. They chanted for the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams and whereabouts of owner Terry Pegula as Buffalo’s hockey club slunk further from playoff contention.
Buffalo’s 5-2 loss against the Utah Hockey Club was its sixth in a row and fifth on home ice.
Tyson Kozak scored his first NHL goal, with an assist from Dennis Gilbert for the Buffalonian’s first point with his hometown team. Another rookie, Juri Kulich, scored late in the third period to prevent the Sabres from suffering their most lopsided loss of the season, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves.
Utah took command with three goals in a second period in which the Sabres went scoreless for the second game in a row. The Sabres have been outscored by 12 goals in second periods this season.
Buffalo hosts Detroit on Monday before concluding its five-game homestand Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
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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.