Buffalo Sabres need to figure things out fast after loss to Blue Jackets
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres are in such a tight playoff race that it’s pivotal to win games against teams they’re supposed to beat. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
The Buffalo Sabres were in a prime situation. Win, and you’re back in the second wild card spot. Better yet: Beat the worst team in the NHL, and you’re back in that spot, and you found a way to lose the game.
Honestly, this was the Sabres worst performance all season. Not getting shutout earlier in the year by the Philadelphia Flyers. Not falling into a 4-0 hole against Toronto after their fans invaded KeyBank Arena. This, right here, allowing the worst team in hockey to skate into your home arena and notch five goals on you was Buffalo’s worst performance of the year.
Buffalo Sabres let a golden opportunity slip away from them
Too often during the contest, the Sabres took predictable shots, they left the middle of the ice open for Columbus, and had a tough time controlling the puck in the second frame. Oh, and once again, one terrible period put them into a three-goal hole, something they have yet to figure out how to prevent.
They weren’t physical (again). They were out of position one too many times (again). And they were beyond sloppy with the puck until Jack Quinn knocked them out of their slump. But by then, it was too late.
Sure, it was great to see J.J. Peterka score on the power play, and he nearly had another on the subsequent power play, which would have knotted the game up at four. But against this team, a group that’s vying for the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, the game never should’ve gone into desperation mode, and it did.
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Overall, the Sabres better figure out what happened tonight and they better figure it out fast. They got yet another gauntlet coming up, and it starts with a roadie against the Boston Bruins. If they play like they did tonight against their Atlantic Division rival, they’re going to be out of this playoff race before they know what happened.
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