The Buffalo Sabres improved in a variety of ways in March. However, this beaten and battered hockey team improved in one general area that is not recorded in NHL statistics.
The Buffalo Sabres tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks looked like an ugly outing when they went down 4-0 in the first 22 minutes of the game. During this tumultuous time, Sabres fans everywhere saw flashbacks to blowout losses earlier this season. Even recent blowout losses to the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
Then Victor Olofsson, who had really come on strong in recent outings, scored with assists from Dylan Cozens and the even-keel Henri Jokiharju. Five-and-a-half minutes later, Olofsson found twine again, this time with an assist from Jeff Skinner.
Later, Dylan Cozens and Will Butcher assisted on a Kyle Okposo score, and brought the Sabres to within one goal. Once again, as they’ve done throughout the entire month of March, the Sabres made a game interesting they otherwise would have lost.
The Buffalo Sabres learned how to rise to adversity in March
Rising to adversity does not appear on the NHL stat sheet. But it’s arguably the most important statistic good hockey teams can have. Okay, it’s premature to call the Sabres a good hockey team, but it’s safe to say they’re on the rise.
You don’t upset a gauntlet of playoff contenders following a month in which you finished 2-7-1 without calling yourself a team on the rise. Now, after playing like a bottom-tier AHL team in 22 minutes versus Chicago, the Sabres did the most un-Sabres-like thing when they scored three times and went into their second intermission down by just one goal.
Just under three minutes into the third period, they knotted things up on a Vinnie Hinostroza goal, tying the game at four. So yeah, here come the Kardiac Sabres once again.
The Sabres also showed immense improvement against the Blackhawks after lacking puck aggression in their previous two outings. Through two periods, they logged 23 shots on goal. For the second straight game, they scored on a power play.
While they weren’t as physical as the Blackhawks, they helped out goaltender Dustin Tokarski with 12 blocks. They also logged just three giveaways and nine takeaways in the game’s first 40 minutes.
The Sabres momentum seeped into the third period, where they outscored the Blackhawks 3-1, sealing the deal with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation. The win over Chicago shows further evidence the Sabres were a better team in March and they improved in many ways.
But they never improved more than in the adversity category. This won’t be the last time they will turn a potential blowout into a watchable hockey game.