Nazar scores twice, Blackhawks finally get it done with a 3-2 overtime win over the Sabres

The Chicago Blackhawks came off a four day break on Thursday, Nov. 12, to host the Buffalo Sabres for the second time this season. The first contest was a 4-3 loss on Oct. 3, just the third game of the Hawks' 2026-27 campaign. But things look a little different now for both teams.

The Blackhawks headed into this contest in a huge rut, with a 4-13-1 record through the first 18 games. Things were so bad general manager Kyle Davidson met with the press to explain a path moving forward to a disgruntled fanbase. The Hawks badly needed some redemption.

The Sabres were a little better off, with a respectable 8-7-3 record. However, they had just been throttled 8-3 by the Tampa Bay Lightning the night before for their third loss in the last four games. They were also looking for some redemption. So, who would prevail?

It turns out it was the Blackhawks, coming away with a feel-good 3-2 overtime win. Here's the game details, game reaction and postgame quotes.

Blackhawks lineup & special teams

Kantserov-Bedard-Bertuzzi

Mangiapane-Frondell-Donato

Moore-Nazar-Kane

Smith-Greene-Greenway

Vlasic-Cole

Del Mastro-Levshunov

Kaiser-Rinzel

Korchinski/Byram (Wed)

Knight/Commesso

Extras: Teravainen, Boucher, Korchinski, Bowen Byram (upper body)

Patrick Kane was activated off of injured reserve for this contest. He had missed the last 3 games with an upper-body injury. He slotted onto the second line with Andrew Mangiapane and Anton Frondell. Teuvo Teravainen and Dillon Boucher were the healthy scratches at forward.

On defense, things were a little switched up in that Ethan Del Mastro was paired with Artyom Levshunov while Wyatt Kaiser moved down to play with Sam Rinzel on the third pairing. Spencer Knight got the start in net, with newly recalled Drew Commesso as his backup.

Power play units

PP1: Nazar, Bedard-Kantserov-Kane, Rinzel

PP2: Bertuzzi, Moore-Donato-Frondell, Levshunov

Penalty kill contributors

Vlasic, Cole, Nazar, Smith, Greenway, Frondell, Greene, Kaiser, Levshunov

Blackhawks game notes

• It was an eventful first period. The Sabres struck first with defenseman Owen Power being left wide open in the right circle. The Blackhawks avoided an odd-man rush, but were left chasing the puck and they paid. Assists were credited to Josh Norris and Jack Quinn.

• However, the Blackhawks answered a few minutes later on the power play. Frank Nazar got a greasy goal in front of the net to tie the game 1-1. Assists were attributed to Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov.

• But they Sabres took the lead with a power play goal of their own later in the period. Tage Thompson got a rifle of a shot past Blackhawks' netminder Spencer Knight. The helpers were given to Quinn and Rasmus Dahlin. At the end of the first, the Sabres led 2-1 in goals 14-13 in shot attempts. The shots on goal were even at 8 a piece.

• There were no goals scored in the second period, despite some Grade-A chances from Nazar and Ryan Greene. However, the shots were 10-6 in favor of Buffalo. They also led a whopping 21-9 in shot attempts. Advantage Sabres in that respect.

• At the 8:22 mark of the third period, Nazar tied things up 2-2 with his second goal of the night. Once again, he was at the net. This time he deflected a shot by Sam Rinzel, and Oliver Moore was credited with the secondary assist. It was Nazar's seventh goal of the season.

• The Blackhawks ended regulation on the power play, but they weren't able to convert and the game headed to overtime.

• Chicago finally came out on the winning side, with an overtime goal by Ryan Donato. It was his third tally of the season.

• He was assisted by Anton Frondell and Rinzel. It was a great win, and hopefully the start of many more.

Notable stats and quotable quotes

With his helper on Nazar's power play goal, Kantersov extended his point streak to nine games. This includes six goals and three assists.

Besides Nazar scoring two goals on the night, Rinzel was credited with two assists. Ironically, the only other time he registered two assists in his young career was against these same Sabres in a 9-3 loss on Nov. 21, 2025.

The Blackhawks won 54% of their faceoffs on this night. Frondell and Greene both won 6-of-10 draws for a 60% success rate. Kantserov won 4-of-7 (57%), Bedard 6-of-11 (55%) and Nazar 7-of-16 (44%).

Apparently Donato was feeling sick, despite scoring the OT winning goal. “I had some like… I don't know if I had a virus come in like the last like second. Just like felt terrible, and you know, said a couple extra prayers to get those bounces, and just bear down, and got one tonight. So, it felt good.”

Said Patrick Kane of the win, "Hopefully this is the start of something."

Coach Blashill was happy with his team's effort. "As we kind of talked through the week, if you check well, you put yourself at least in position to have a goal like Frankie had. And now you're in a tie game, and you find a way to win it in overtime. We just got to continue to do that.”

The Blackhawks will continue their four-game homestand, hosting the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 14 for a 2:30 p.m. Saturday matinee. On Tuesday (Nov. 17) they'll face the Toronto Maple Leafs to celebrate their Centennial game, commemorating the Blackhawk's inaugural NHL game on Nov. 17, 1926 (also against the Maple Leafs). They'll conclude their homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Nov. 19.

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