A lengthy scrum ensued, followed by an even lengthier argument from Colorado coach Jared Bednar, who believed the play should have been blown dead with Wedgewood injured. Bednar then challenged unsuccessfully for goaltender interference.
The failed challenge gave the Sabres, suddenly up 4-2, a chance to extend their lead on the power play.
5. The Avalanche managed to flip the script while on the penalty kill. Logan O’Connor drew a hooking call against Alex Tuch on a shorthanded breakaway, then Makar drew a tripping call against Dylan Cozens to turn what had been a 5-on-4 advantage for the Sabres into a 5-on-3 power play for the Avalanche.
Mikko Rantanen buried a one-timer with the two-man advantage, cutting the Sabres’ lead to 4-3 with 15:43 still left to play.
“We knew that would give them life,” Ruff said. “We talked about discipline. Our discipline was good. That 5-on-3 was just a killer. That gave the building life, it gave them life.”
6. The Sabres were determined not to sit back the way they had in their previous meeting with the Avalanche, a 5-4 loss in Buffalo on Dec. 3. The Sabres led that game 4-1 to open the third period but lost in regulation.
“We spent a lot of time trying to make sure the same thing didn’t happen,” Ruff said. “We were gonna have push, we were gonna try to play in the offensive zone, we weren’t gonna back off.”
Buffalo allowed just one shot in the 10-plus minutes that followed Rantanen’s goal. Zucker complete his hat trick with 3:51 remaining, yet another goal scored from the blue paint.
“They’re a great team,” Zucker said. “We knew they were gonna have a push. I like that we answered back. I think it would have been nice to be a little bit more detailed in our 6-on-5 and not lose so many pucks. I thought that definitely hurt us.”
7. Colorado scored twice with goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood pulled for an extra attacker, beginning when Makar buried a one-timer with 2:26 remaining.
Still, the Sabres came within seconds of sealing the victory. Beck Malenstyn blocked a shot by Rantanen, but the Avalanche regained possession and set up a one-timer for Drouin to tie the game with 6.8 seconds on the clock.
“You play winning hockey the whole game,” Ruff said. “Just a little bit of composure at the end is all you needed.”
