When will the Buffalo Sabres learn to close out games?

The Buffalo Sabres lost a heartbreaker on Thursday night to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In a frustrating performance, the Buffalo Sabres allowed a 3-1 to slip away last night against Columbus. Since topping the Philadelphia Flyers last month, the Sabres have since dropped four out of five, defeating only the Arizona Coyotes in a game that saw the return of goaltender Craig Anderson.

Want more fun? The Sabres managed to find a way to allow three goals within 20 minutes after Alex Tuch put them up by two points just 12 seconds into the third period. At the 4:48 mark in the third, Brendan Gaunce inched the Blue Jackets to within a goal. Then Oliver Bjorkstrand scored at 14:25.

At this point, an all-too-familiar feeling sunk in with the Sabres faithful filling the KeyBank Center. And just 16 seconds into overtime, Columbus completed the comeback.

The Buffalo Sabres will close games when Don Granato takes accountability

It seems like the Sabres are finding new ways to lose, so what kind of steps does head coach Don Granato need to implement to keep this team from blowing two-goal leads? Following the loss to the Blue Jackets, the Sabres are now 10-3-6 in games when leading after two periods, leaving 12 total points hanging. And we’ve just hit the season’s second half.

Granato had little to say about the ordeal.

“It’s aggravating, it’s frustrating. But we need to make sure our belief system is strong so our passion and energy show on every shift.” – Don Granato, following the loss to Columbus.

That tells me he’s letting the players put it in cruise control. You could see it on the Blue Jackets’ game-winning goal, when they basically cleared a path for Jakub Voracek to score. The Sabres got lazy, and it showed in the 16-second overtime period. The blame falls squarely on Granato’s shoulders for failing to keep the team motivated.

So, let’s stop using the Royal We, Mr. Granato, and start taking accountability. Sure, the team needs to be held accountable, but Granato’s the fearless leader. He should’ve said, “I need to make sure our belief system is strong.” He didn’t, so when Granato learns to hold himself accountable is when the Sabres will stop letting games slip.

And while I’m a fan of Granato, let me point out that he doesn’t even sound like he’s willing to take ownership for the heartbreaking loss. The buck stops with him and ultimately, he’s responsible for keeping this team energized when they take a two-goal lead in the third period.

Until Granato figures out how to hold himself accountable and take responsibility for the team’s latest meltdown, expect more of the same from the Sabres throughout the season’s second half. The Sabres return to the ice this Sunday in Montreal.