The Buffalo Sabres’ netminder needs to worry more about righting the ship, and less on whining about officiating.
When your team manages to blow a one-goal lead not once, not twice, but three times in a game – which is exactly what the Buffalo Sabres did Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames – it’s easy to be frustrated.
And when the game-winning goal comes about a blatant on-call during overtime, it’s easy to lash out at the officials, which is precisely what Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner did after his team’s 4-3 OT loss:
Lehner: "There has to be a call there. He hits him from behind. It's fairly clear. ... it was a terrible ref performance today." #Sabres
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) October 19, 2016
But unless you played a flawless game, it’s probably best to know your role, and shut your mouth.
So, would Robin Lehner consider allowing this Matthew Tkachuk goal part of his “flawless game” repertoire?
Boy, I sure hope not. That shot never should have scored, folks. It was a bad angle and Lehner saw it all the way, so there’s no excuse for letting Tkachuk score five-hole with that.
So no: Robin Lehner did not play a flawless game. Depending on who you read on Twitter, and in the blogosphere, Lehner is either the victim of shaky defense (definitely true in the Sabres’ first game) or is a glorified backup goalie who GM Tim Murray severely overpaid for . . . but none of that matters to me.
All I care about is the mindset of the Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender. Contrast Lehner’s response to how Ryan O’Reilly discussed the game (courtesy of wgr550.com):
"I thought our game was pathetic. We were too loose, we didn’t compete. We just wanted an easy game. That’s just embarrassing.It’s got to start with myself. I had tons of chances, tons of opportunities to create and I didn’t."
O’Reilly points the finger inward, at his teammates and most importantly at himself. Lehner, who has yet to prove that he is the goaltender who can lead this team to the playoffs, gripes about the officials, which frankly won’t win the Sabres any favors with refs moving ahead. Moreover, it doesn’t fill me with confidence in Lehner’s mental toughness. Do I want a guy who is willing to stand up for his teammates? Sure. But for a guy who keeps letting soft goals that kill his team’s momentum, I’d rather see Lehner accept blame for the loss and dedicate himself to making the fix.
Clearly, there is a time and place to criticize the officiating, but following a game your team should have won, and let slip away of its own accord? Nope. If the Buffalo Sabres want to continue to climb their way up the standings, they need to find a way to get Robin Lehner focused on improving his game, instead of lashing out at the refs.
Next: Buffalo Sabres: Who Is Hot, And Who Is Not, After Three Games?
What did you think about Robin Lehner’s complaints – justified? Or sour grapes following a disappointing performance? Sound off below!