Observations: Sabres fall to Islanders on controversial goal in third period

The Sabres suffered a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders in UBS Arena when former Buffalo forward Hudson Fasching was credited with his first goal in 15 games with 12:23 left to play.

Fasching, standing to the right of Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, lifted his left skate and extended his leg in what appeared to be a distinct kicking motion to redirect a puck deflected by teammate Josh Bailey. The puck hit Fasching just below the left knee, and not the skate, and went into the net past a startled Luukkonen, who immediately signaled it should be waved off. Referee Chris Rooney agreed and the call was no goal.

But the play went to review in Toronto and the Sabres were stunned that the call was overturned and Fasching was given the goal because the puck did not hit his skate.

"It's shocking. I don't know how to explain it, I didn't get an explanation," said Buffalo coach Don Granato. "So I don't have an explanation for it. I've not seen that happen."

"It happens fast in the game. But, for sure, to me it looks like a kicking motion," Luukkonen said. "But in the end, I can't say without the replay and all that. It looked like it shouldn't be a goal but in the end the ref makes the call and we have to trust it's the right one. It just kind of (stinks) that it was the winning goal."

CALL OVERTURNED. 📹After video review, Hudson Fasching gets his fourth of the season to put the Islanders up in the third period. pic.twitter.com/ULvpGDgLcE

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2023

The Situation Room, in its emails after all reviews, initially said simply the puck had deflected off Fasching "in legal fashion."

However, NHL Rule 78.5 seemed to indicate otherwise by stating, "When the puck has been directed, batted or thrown into the net by an attacking player other than with a stick ... if it is deemed to be done deliberately, then the decision shall be NO GOAL. A goal cannot be scored when the puck has been deliberately batted with any part of the attacking player’s body into the net."

In response to an inquiry from The Buffalo News about why 78.5 did not apply in this situation, the Situation Room responded: "It was ruled a deflection off Hudson Fasching’s shin pad and, therefore, it was determined there was no distinct kicking motion."

"I knew it could go either way," said Sabres captain Kyle Okposo shortly after the game and before the league issued its clarification. "It is what it is. It's not our call. It's not the ref's call. It's Toronto's and I haven't got too many looks at it so they felt it was a goal."

The loss was particularly deflating to Buffalo because the Sabres were outshot in the second period, 17-7, and gave up a Bailey goal at 1:51 of the third to fall behind, 2-1. The stress of a back-to-back with travel was apparent. So was other frustrating with the officiating, as Okposo and Tage Thompson were both struck by high sticks in the game and didn't get calls.

Then the Sabres tied the game at 4:59 of the third on Okposo's long shot near the blue line that got help from a Jordan Greenway screen.

"That was a big goal," Granato said. "Greenway provided a nice screen net front and a little bit of swing, and then that happens. Frustrating. Not much to say."

Here are more observations on the game:

1. The playoff race

Shortly after Fasching's goal, the night got even worse for Buffalo as the Florida Panthers wrapped up a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins got an overtime goal from Sidney Crosby to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 – in a game the Blue Jackets led 4-0 midway through the second period.

The Islanders now have 74 points, and Pittsburgh improved to 73 with its victory, as those two teams hold the Eastern Conference wild-card slots. Florida moved up to 70, two points ahead of Buffalo and Ottawa (68). The Sabres still have three games in hand on New York and two on Florida but are even in games with Pittsburgh.

"While it wasn't going to be easy, it got more difficult now," Okposo acknowledged. "But there's still time and we still have to take care of business. We know what we have to do. We know we have to go on a run but it's gonna be one game at a time."

The next two games are in KeyBank Center, Thursday vs. Dallas and Saturday vs. the New York Rangers in the first visit by South Buffalo native Patrick Kane as a member of the Blueshirts. 

2. A tough test

With the Sabres on the second night of a back to back, the Islanders outshot Buffalo, 39-24, including 31-16 over the final two periods. Luukkonen made 36 saves but took a hard-luck loss. 

The Sabres broke on top at 5:00 of the second period as Dylan Cozens burned Ilya Sorokin on a snapshot from the right circle for his 25th goal of the season, accelerating into open ice down the middle. 

The Islanders tied it at 12:38 as Casey Cizikas jammed in a puck ahead of Cozens from the edge of the crease off a pass from Fasching. 

3. Jost gets back in

Tyson Jost, who sat out the Edmonton game with an undisclosed injury, was back in Tuesday and centered Zemgus Girgensons and Victor Olofsson. Rookie JJ Peterka, with one goal in his last 31 games, sat out.

Defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Riley Stillman (both upper body) did not make the trip but Granato said they skated in Buffalo and remain day to day. 

4. Granato on brother's dismissal

Granato gave it up to his brother, longtime NHL forward Tony Granato, in the wake of his older sibling's dismissal Monday as coach at the University of Wisconsin after seven seasons. The Badgers went 13-23 this year.

"He's three years older than me and I've benefited. I wouldn't have half the opportunities in life if I didn't have him as a mentor," Granato said. "He was in a great position, loved his time at the University of Wisconsin. This business, you move on. It happens in our business, and I think he'll look forward to his next adventure and a few less headaches. ... College hockey for all coaches is an immensely challenging job now."