BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Jiri Kulich scored with 6:40 left in the third period, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 at KeyBank Center on Saturday in their home opener. The attendance was 19,070. For Kulich, the goal was his first in nearly a calendar year, coming after the 22-year-old missed the final 70 games of last season because of blood clot issues. Rasmus Dahlin tied the game early in the third period, and Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson also scored for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 12 saves for the Sabres. Chicago dropped to 0-3, while Buffalo improved to 1-1. The Sabres had lost their previous game at Columbus, and the Blackhawks had opened the season with losses at Utah and Vegas.

Chicago opened the scoring at 7:59 of the first period when Ryan Donato scored on a wrist shot, with Alex Vlasic and Nick Lardis assisting. The Blackhawks doubled their lead at 11:24 when Tyler Bertuzzi scored on a wrist shot, with Anton Frondell and Teuvo Teravainen getting assists. Buffalo answered at 16:24 of the first when Jack Quinn scored on a wrist shot, with Zach Metsa assisting. The Sabres trailed 2-1 after the opening period, but they had begun to generate chances after a slow start. The period included early hits from Chicago’s Cole Smith and Buffalo’s Josh Doan, and both goaltenders were tested as the pace picked up. Spencer Knight stopped several Buffalo attempts before Quinn finally broke through. Chicago’s first two goals came from clean looks in the slot, but Buffalo’s response gave the home crowd life.

Buffalo tied the game at 10:41 of the second period when Tage Thompson scored on a tip-in, with Louis Crevier and Josh Norris assisting. The momentum shifted briefly, but Chicago responded late in the second. Oliver Moore scored on a wrist shot with 3:42 left in the period, restoring the Blackhawks’ lead. Frondell picked up his second assist of the game on the play, and Vlasic added his second assist. Chicago carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, but Buffalo kept pressing. The Sabres had several chances earlier in the second, including a Thompson shot that was saved and a Quinn chance that went wide. Buffalo’s penalty kill also survived a hooking call on Josh Doan, and the Blackhawks’ Oliver Moore was later sent off for interference. The middle period ended with Chicago ahead, but Buffalo had momentum.

The Sabres drew even in the third when Dahlin scored on a wrist shot, with Peyton Krebs and Mattias Samuelsson assisting. The game remained tied until Kulich found space and scored on a wrist shot with 6:40 remaining. Owen Power and Thompson assisted on the winning goal. Buffalo’s bench erupted as Kulich celebrated a goal that carried extra meaning after his health battle. Chicago pulled its goaltender late and pressed for an equalizer, but the Sabres held on. Luukkonen made key saves down the stretch, and Buffalo’s defense blocked shots in the final minutes. The Sabres also survived a late Chicago push that included a shot from Kevin Korchinski and a wide attempt from Patrick Kane. Buffalo’s win was its first of the season and gave the home crowd a dramatic finish.

Thompson finished with a goal and an assist, four shots on goal and one hit. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward was Buffalo’s top star and helped tilt the ice in the third period. Frondell had two assists and one shot on goal for Chicago. Kulich had a goal on one shot, while Quinn had a goal, five shots on goal and one hit. Vlasic recorded two assists for the Blackhawks. Luukkonen earned the win with 12 saves on 15 shots. Dahlin scored on one of his three shots. Bertuzzi scored on his only shot for Chicago, and Moore had a goal, one shot and two penalty minutes. Crevier had an assist and one shot for Buffalo. The Sabres also got an assist from Metsa, while Chicago’s Donato finished with a goal.

Chicago also received two assists from Vlasic and a goal from Donato. The Blackhawks had chances in the first period and again in the third, but they could not solve Luukkonen after Buffalo tied the game. Buffalo’s penalty kill handled its opportunities, and the Sabres limited Chicago’s clean looks in the final minutes. The Blackhawks finished with several late shot attempts, but none found the net. Buffalo’s defense blocked shots and cleared rebounds as the clock wound down. Chicago’s best late chance came when Teuvo Teravainen hit the right post earlier in the third, and Jack Quinn hit the left post for Buffalo. Those near misses kept the game tense until Kulich’s winner.

The game featured five penalties. Buffalo’s Josh Doan was called for hooking against Wyatt Kaiser in the second period. Chicago’s Oliver Moore was whistled for interference against Konsta Helenius later in the second. In the third period, Chicago’s Patrick Kane received a high-sticking penalty against Noah Ostlund. Chicago’s Cole Smith was called for tripping against Mattias Samuelsson, and Buffalo’s Zach Benson was called for tripping against Ian Cole. Neither team converted on the power play, and the special teams largely canceled out. The Sabres’ penalty kill was particularly effective in the second period, while Chicago’s unit kept Buffalo from building momentum on its own chances.

Buffalo’s victory came after a road loss at Columbus in its previous game. Chicago remained winless after losses at Utah and Vegas. The Sabres will next host Minnesota, while the Blackhawks will next host St. Louis. The home-opener crowd of 19,070 saw Buffalo erase a two-goal deficit and win in dramatic fashion. The Sabres’ top line helped drive the comeback, and Thompson’s goal and assist were central to the rally. Kulich’s late finish completed the comeback and gave Buffalo its first win of the season. Chicago, meanwhile, remained in search of its first win and will look to regroup at home.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Buffalo 3, Chicago 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Buffalo with a 77.8 percent probability to win. Buffalo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 7 went under the over/under line of 5.5.