Buffalo Sabres Drop Shootout Despite Top Line

In a game worth nothing more than rivalry bragging rights, the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs skated for 65 minutes before needing a shootout to end the night.

There is nothing better than watching two great hockey teams play one hell of a battle before ending the game in overtime or a shootout.  You know what ranks a close second, watching two bad teams play a game that just gives you some sloppy-fun hockey.

That is exactly what you got from the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

3. 12. Final. 4. 116

And only in Toronto would not only the maintenance crew, but also the referee’s try and give the Toronto Maple Leafs any sort of advantage by delaying the shootout for any number of reasons.

ANDERS LINDBACK. 3rd. Lindback is still looking for his first win as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, after coming over in a trade between the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars before the trade deadline.. G. Buffalo Sabres

Anders Lindback didn’t play a horrible game, if you take a look at his complete body of work.  Tonight he made some outstanding saves when tested, despite letting in three goals, and then ultimately coming apart in the shootout.

Lindback saved 31 of the 34 shots that the Toronto Maple Leafs threw at him tonight, but couldn’t hold his own in the shootout, letting both Tyler Bozak and Peter Holland putting their shots behind him.  None of the Buffalo Sabres could score in the shootout to bail their goalie out.

TYLER ENNIS. 2nd. In the second star you could have really swapped out Ennis for Matt Moulson.. F. Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres top line tonight carried the team, and a lot of that had to do with the Buffalo Sabres playmaking center, who gets our first star honors.  The two guys that benefited from the upgraded presence of Johan Larsson on the top line were the guys on either side of him, Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson.

Do we have a new named line for the Buffalo Sabres?  Can teams start to worry about the Nightmare on ELM when the Buffalo Sabres top line is on the ice?

Buffalo Sabres. JOHAN LARSSON. 1st. It has taken Johan Larsson a long time to get to the top line on an NHL team, despite the fact that on any other team in the league he might not be the top line center.. C

Johan Larsson is making his presence known for the Buffalo Sabres.  He now had goals in his last two games, and points in three of his last five games.

He has a small sampling of games remaining this season, but is making a case for the Buffalo Sabres to give him another chance when he hits the free agent market this off-season.  Larsson will be a restricted free agent.

Next: Ted Nolan's Time Ticking?

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