Buffalo Sabres Sing The Blues After Loss To St. Louis
The Buffalo Sabres drop to 8-9-2 with a shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues, and it was an exciting game that went back and forth. With the timely return of star forward Evander Kane to the Sabres lineup, the team seemed to have a good jump in their step (at least as far as the offense was concerned. They were tough on the puck, and once again, Ryan O’Reilly stole the show with his relentless play and finishing ability.
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As the Buffalo Sabres continue to move forward in their season, losses like this are an inevitability, but there is a bigger picture to be seen. The forwards were pressuring the puck very well, and the top two lines contributed the offense. On top of that, the top goalie prospect in the Sabres system is sitting with a 4-3-1 record, and I am completely ok with that.
There were a number of positives to take from this game, but there is one thing that I want to point out first.
Tyler Ennis seemed very out of sorts tonight. He had trouble hitting the net with a number of his shots, and also failed to score on the power play, despite numerous chances. I’m not sure if him being a part of the shootout was Bylsma’s way of showing his continued confidence in him, but I don’t think it was the right move. Ennis was not on top of his game tonight, which was not a familiar sight to see at all. Hopefully, it was just for one game, and we get the dynamic Tyler Ennis that we all know and love back.
Back to a lighter note, once again, Ryan O’Reilly stole the show tonight and was an absolute superstar for the Buffalo Sabres. He tied the game up at 2-2 on a great pass from Brian Gionta, and he even had a couple of quality scoring chances while the Sabres were shorthanded.
The high level of play that he operates at in every situation is incredible to watch.
Sam Reinhart was robbed of a goal a couple of nights ago against the Stars, but he was a hound on the puck all night and eventually was rewarded with a tap in goal on a rebound shot. He decided to be sure it went in by winding up and taking a slap shot at it; a bold statement that he truly deserved that goal.
All night, Sam Reinhart was showing off his elite hockey sense. He was all over the ice, chipping in with all the little things, and eventually was rewarded with a goal by being in the right place at the right time.
Next: Sabres Outshone By Dallas Stars
Over the past few games, the overall results are much better than what the scoresheets and final scores are showing. This team is improving, and they are doing it fast. Do not fear Buffalo Sabres fans, this team is something special, and the guys that need to step up are doing so.