BUF
3–2
VGK
Final · W
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 36-19-6
3–2
FinalW
Vegas Golden Knights
VGK · 28-19-14
1ST2ND3RDT
BUF
11121205328
VGK
0721606229
goals · shots on goal
First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0
BUF 36-19-6 · VGK 28-19-14 · First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0
Sabres beat the Golden Knights
The Sabres were outchanced (4.0 to 3.3 expected goals) but won 3–2 anyway. Alex Lyon stopped 1.7 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Who had the better chances
Expected goals (xG) score every shot by how often shots like it go in: distance, angle, type, rebound, rush. Adding them up shows who created the better chances, whatever the scoreboard says.
The Golden Knights created the better chances: 4.0 expected goals to 3.3, on 29 and 28 shots on goal.
BUF 3.3 xG · 28 shots
VGK 4.0 xG · 29 shots
0
1
2
3
4
1st
0.9 · 0.9
2nd
1.8 · 2.4
3rd
0.6 · 0.6
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
1
Jason Zucker · 1st 04:02 · 1–0 · snap shot, a good chance (19%)
2
Owen Power · 2nd 00:46 · 2–0 · wrist shot, a low-percentage shot (2%) that found a way in
3
Tage Thompson · 2nd 05:44 · 3–0 · wrist shot, a good chance (23%)
4
Ivan Barbashev · 2nd 06:50 · 3–1 · wrap around shot on a rebound, a great chance (81%)
5
Pavel Dorofeyev · 2nd 08:27 · 3–2 · wrist shot, a good chance (15%)
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Sabres win 41.
BUF 41%VGK 59%
Goals and penalties
5 goals · 2 penalties← Sabres shoot this way
Golden Knights shoot this way →
On net
Missed
Bigger = better chance
1Goal, numbered to the list
1
Jason Zucker · 1st 04:02 · 1–0
Snap shot, a good chance (19%)
2
Owen Power · 2nd 00:46 · 2–0
Wrist shot, a low-percentage shot (2%) that found a way in
3
Tage Thompson · 2nd 05:44 · GWG · 3–0
Wrist shot, a good chance (23%)
4
Ivan Barbashev · 2nd 06:50 · 3–1
Wrap around shot on a rebound, a great chance (81%)
5
Pavel Dorofeyev · 2nd 08:27 · 3–2
Wrist shot, a good chance (15%)
1st period
PEN
2 min
Minor
07:39
Alex Tuch· Tripping
Alex Tuch· Tripping
Killed
Minor
2nd period
3rd period
PEN
2 min
Minor
12:50
Rasmus Andersson· Delaying game puck over glass
Rasmus Andersson· Delaying game puck over glass
Killed
Minor
Goaltending
27/29 saves · 2 GA · 3.7 xGA
Stopped 1.7 more goals than an average goalie would have.
25/28 saves · 3 GA · 2.8 xGA
Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
The Sabres went 0-for-1 on the power play and killed all 1 Golden Knights power play.