The same old Buffalo Sabres pose no match for Dallas

Feb 27, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Tage Thompson (72) celebrates and left wing Jeff Skinner (53) and right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates a goal scored by Thompson against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Tage Thompson (72) celebrates and left wing Jeff Skinner (53) and right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates a goal scored by Thompson against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres are reaching a new low as their losing streak extends to six games. 

The Buffalo Sabres looked great despite their 5-3 loss on Friday night to the St. Louis Blues. Here we are, less than 48 hours later, and we saw basically the same team the Montreal Canadiens throttled on Wednesday.

Just how bad were the Sabres against the Dallas Stars? The team looked as though they have yet to learn from their mistakes. Once again, lack of aggression cost this team and if you’re an angry Sabres fan, then you’re a true, passionate, and loyal fan.

Buffalo Sabres reach a new low after an uninspiring loss to Dallas

Just how bad were the Sabres? Here are a few issues they just can’t seem to fix:

  • The penalty kill unit struggled (again).
  • Their aggression with the puck stagnated (again), with the Stars outshooting them 18 to 6 in the first period.
  • The couldn’t win face-offs (again).
  • And they gave goaltender Craig Anderson no help (again), posting just five blocks compared to the Stars 18.

Is anyone else finding this team’s performance migraine inducing? Especially following the Blues game. No, the Sabres didn’t beat the Blues. They’re a young hockey team in transition. They weren’t going to beat the Blues. But they at least gave them a game! They at least gave their fans a reason to watch, or check their phone for an update.

Now, it’s back to Square One. On Sunday, the team showed no emotion, no aggression, and they played like they had sand in their skates. Yeah, when you’re a bad hockey team, it’s okay to suffer blow outs. And while their loss to the Stars comprised the same point differential against the Blues, they were two entirely different hockey games.

This team has proven time and again this season they can play. They weren’t red-hot after the All-Star break, but they were watchable. Now, the team is teetering. Buffalo fans will find other things to do than tune into a Sunday matinee if the Sabres keep this up.

Hey, Sabre fans are loyal. And the Sabres themselves are one of the NHL’s best-looking teams with their iconic logo and royal blue and gold uniforms. But at the end of the day, fans want to see improvement. They don’t need wins during transitional seasons. At least not all the time. But they need to see more effort than this. Especially from a team more than capable of doing so.