Buffalo Sabres Lose Despite Hat Trick By Ristolainen

The Buffalo Sabres return home on Friday after a disappointing western road trip where they lost all three games.  Thursday night in Calgary the Sabres twice came back to tie the game only to allow a go-ahead goal by the Flames in the final five minutes to fall 4-3.

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored his first career hat trick - two of them on the power play.  All three goals coming in the third period.  Ristolainen's third goal briefly tied the game at 3-3, but the Flames scored the eventual game winner less than a minute later on a shot goaltender Chad Johnson should have had.

It doesn't get any easier.  The Sabres return home to host the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings Saturday night at First Niagara Center.