Red Wings let third-period lead slip away, watch Sabres win 5-4 in OT

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Nov 15, 2025

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings earned a point Saturday in the standings but they should have had two.

The Wings blew a three-goal third period lead and watched Buffalo's Mattias Samuelsson score the game-winner at 1 minute 5 seconds of overtime, the Sabres rallying for a 5-4 victory.

Buffalo's Tage Thompson shoved Alex DeBrincat away from the puck and backhanded a pass to Samuelsson in the slot, Samuelsson's third goal of the season.

The Wings (10-7-1) had a late power play, at 17:27 of the third period, after Buffalo (6-8-4) was called too many men on the ice but failed to capitalize.

Ryan McLeod's shorthanded breakaway goal at 9:28 tied the game 4-4. Buffalo's Tage Thompson drove down the ice, got around the Wings' defense, and tucked his eighth goal behind goaltender John Gibson at 4:25, slicing the Wings' lead to 4-3.

Alex DeBrincat scored two goals (one a power play) and Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin scored Wings goals. Lucas Raymond had three assists.

The Wings scored three goals in a span of 4:58 in the second period, turning a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 Wings lead.

DeBrincat began the surge with his first goal of the game, at 3:52, putting in his own rebound after Raymond dove to get DeBrincat the puck in the slot.

Larkin extended the lead to 3-1 with his 11th goal, at 5:56, with the team skating four players each. Larkin got open in the slot and converted a nice give-and-go with Raymond.

DeBrincat made it 4-1 with his eighth goal, on the power play, at 8:50. DeBrincat's centering pass bounced off Samuelsson's skate and past goaltender Colten Ellis.

The Sabres cut the lead to 4-2 on Josh Doan's goal at 17:58, Doan scoring his fifth goal, deflecting a shot from Rasmus Dahlin from the high slot.

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