Sabres win 2-1 in the Shootout against the Arizona Coyotes and they move to 2-0 on the season.

Even though the score was only 2-1 and had to go into a shootout, the game was much more in favor of the Sabres than just the score shows. Sabres led in shots 33-21 and 5-on-5 chances at 23-11.

Coyotes rookie goalie Karel Vejmelka was the main reason the Coyotes were even in the game for most of it as he stopped 32 shots in his NHL debut. He kept them afloat until the shootout in which Tage Thompson and Arttu Ruostalainen, who was in his first game of the year scored the two shootout goals resulting in a Sabres win.

Dahlin set up Buffalo’s lone goal of regulation with a stretch pass through the middle of the ice, sending former Coyote Drake Caggiula over the offensive blue line with a step on two defenders. Caggiula sent a shot off Vejmelka and Eakin pounced on the rebound for his first goal of the season.

Dustin Tokarski who started for the Sabres made 20 saves for the win in his season debut for the Sabres and allowed 1 goal on three attempts in the shootout. He played 13 games with the Sabres last season and won the backup goalie spot over Ukko-Pekka Luukonen.

Sabres move on to hosting the 1-1-1 Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night.

Just a warning, the Sabres have held opponents to less than two goals in each season since 2008-09 so let’s not put too much stock into this team just yet. Either way, they’re 2-0 and tied for first in the division. Let’s go, Sabres.