BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Peyton Krebs and Ryan McLeod scored on consecutive shots 83 seconds apart in the second period, and the Buffalo Sabres hung on for a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars after allowing two goals in the final 4:36 on Tuesday night.
Tage Thompson's goal put Buffalo up 3-0 at the 4:17 mark of the third period. Alex Tuch added an empty-netter with 11 second left. Defenseman Owen Power matched a career high with three assists and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 30 saves.
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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) shoots the puck wide past Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Dallas Stars center Sam Steel and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) carries the puck into the zone during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looks for the puck in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots in losing his first start of the season. Thomas Harley spoiled Luukkonen's shutout bid on a shot that tipped off the stick of Buffalo forward Jason Zucker, and Tyler Seguin scored with 2:11 left with Oettinger pulled for an extra attacker.
Stars: Dallas was, perhaps, riding too high coming off a 4-1 over the Oilers, who eliminated the Stars in the Western Conference finals last spring. Oettinger was sharp, while the team in front of him had too many breakdowns.
Sabres: By improving to 3-1-1 in its past five, this is the type of victory that begins validating the message and structure coach Lindy Ruff has preached since arriving for his second stint in Buffalo.
Luukkonen squaring up at the top of his crease to stop Miro Heiskanen’s blast from the top of the left circle, and then getting across to his left to prevent Jason Robertson from jamming in the rebound to preserve a 2-0 lead 1:35 into the third period.
2 of 43 — The teams’ combined power-play production this season. Buffalo went 0 for 1 to drop to 0 of 22, while Dallas went 0 for 3 to drop to 2 of 21.
The Stars close a two-game swing at Boston on Thursday. The Sabres continue four-game homestand hosting Detroit on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) shoots the puck wide past Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Dallas Stars center Sam Steel and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) carries the puck into the zone during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looks for the puck in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — On the day the Los Angeles Rams got wide receiver Puka Nacua back on the practice field, chatter about potentially trading Cooper Kupp went public.
Kupp did not confirm whether the Rams have reached out to the Super Bowl MVP or his representation after multiple outlets reported Tuesday that trade conversations have taken place.
“It is that time of the year, there’s going to be rumors. I let that stuff, as much as I can, be in the background,” Kupp said.
Kupp, the Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro in 2021 as he helped the Rams to a Super Bowl title, said his focus is on returning to the field after missing four games because of an ankle injury he sustained at Arizona in Week 2.
“I have a job to do here, and I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building in being able to step on the field knowing I have prepared the best I can,” he said. “And for 7 1/2 years, I’ve been an LA Ram, and I have taken that approach every single day. Whatever happens outside of that, I got to control what I can control. Right now, that means being the best LA Ram I can be.”
When healthy, Kupp has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers and a focal point of coach Sean McVay’s offense. But those instances have been fewer and further between in recent years for the 31-year-old, who has played in 23 of a possible 40 games over the past two-plus seasons because of ankle and hamstring injuries.
Kupp, who also tore his ACL in 2018, has 18 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown in two games this season.
The Rams (2-4) are preparing for Thursday night home game against Minnesota that could decide their chances of staying in the playoff race, so the time to talk about moving Kupp would be now.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he wasn’t bothered by the speculation.
“Obviously, I’m a fan of the league, so you hear those things,” Stafford said. “But to be honest, we’re pro athletes, professional football players who have kind of dealt with this stuff before, understand it comes with the territory. Don’t put much into it because that’s a disservice to what we got going on here. We’ve got a short week and a really good opponent to try to prepare for, so that’s our full focus. I know that’s where he stays too, so (we) don’t worry too much about that stuff.”
Kupp is ready to handle a full workload against the Vikings, though he understands that will be up to McVay, wide receivers coach Eric Yarber and the Rams’ medical staff. Kupp was able to return to practice last week and prepared as if he would be able to play until he was declared inactive for Sunday's 20-15 win over Las Vegas.
With a short week to prepare for the Vikings and no formal practices in the buildup, Kupp used the extra time to start ramping up for game action.
“I thought he was looking pretty good,” Stafford said. “I kind of lean on him when it comes to that stuff, ‘Hey, how do you feel,’ because he always looks pretty good to me.”
Nacua started his process to return from injured reserve when the Rams activated his 21-day window to practice on Tuesday. He was a limited participant in the walkthrough, his first on-field work since aggravating a knee injury from training camp in the season opener at Detroit on Sept. 8.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was pleased to have Nacua out there but didn’t want to speculate about the likelihood the second-year receiver might be able to play against Minnesota.
“Way to be determined right now,” LaFleur said. “He hasn’t done anything full speed in forever so, you know, we’ll have to determine that.”
Nacua had four receptions for 35 yards against the Lions. He set NFL rookie records with 105 catches and 1,486 yards last season, taking advantage of a hamstring injury to Kupp in training camp to show he could be the Rams’ top passing game weapon and potentially make the veteran expendable.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE -Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
