Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames: Reactions

As much as I would like to go on a scathing rampage against the dismal play of the Buffalo Sabres, what is the point? It would be about as fruitful as kicking a dead horse.

Buffalo began their road trip tonight with a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. They are still winless in the year 2015. Did anyone reading this expect a different result?

You will never convince me of any reason why we are watching Matt Ellis, yes, Matt freaking Ellis, play as a fill-in on this roster, instead of ANYONE aged 25 or under on the Rochester Americans. Sure, I get the whole “keeping them away from a losing culture” thing, but what exactly is the Amerks record this season? We really cannot give Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko, Phil Varone, insert-player-name-here some NHL ice time over Matt Ellis right now?

Next, we will move on to the “mess” that calls himself Andrej Meszaros. He was about as useful as Andre Benoit, who happened to be sitting in the press box. Meszaros was about as useful as my elderly grandmother, who has never seen a hockey game in her life. Meszaros was as useful as Jimmy Hoffa. A traffic cone would have done a better job, if planted in front of the Sabres net all night. What is wrong with this guy? Some of you may remember the moment that you realized Christian Ehrhoff was no longer trying last year – do any of you remember a moment when Meszaros HAS been trying at all this season?

Next, we will move on to the Sabres top line of Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, and Zemgus Girgensons. One of these players was an All-Star, and has a song dedicated to him. This line combined for 4 shots on goal. FOUR. That is not going to win many hockey games, folks.

Let’s talk about penalties. Briefly. Every single penalty committed by the team tonight was pointless. Torrey Mitchell holding on Johnny Gaudreau a minute after the Sabres took a 1-0 lead (yes, Buffalo had a lead at one point). Brian Flynn and Mike Weber both shooting pucks over the glass. Ennis with an extremely lazy hook on TJ Brodie. Where is the leadership? The captain of the team, Brian Gionta, was skating on a line with two of these players.

This is the worst Sabres team that I have ever watched in my life. Cody Hodgson actually seemed alive for a little while, but continuously shot the puck 10-15 feet wide of the net. Drew Stafford actually had quite a few scoring chances, but instead bumbled and bobbled around with the puck. The Flames have a somewhat mediocre lineup, but are getting the best out of the players that they have. Calgary is on the small side, and Buffalo could have used their size advantage to lean on them a little bit and gain an advantage, but instead, the Sabres provided them with room all night. Conversely, the Flames gave Buffalo plenty of time and space in front of Jonas Hiller, which the Sabres had no clue how to take advantage of. It is/was maddening, to say the least.

There may be tons of hockey left in this season, but Buffalo and their players have obviously mailed it in. Just remember that anytime you see the name “Ellis” penciled into the starting lineup.