Buffalo Sabres must address this issue if they want to make the playoffs

Mar 15, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Jost (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Jost (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

After a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Capitals, the young Buffalo Sabres have another issue they need to address immediately. 

Normally when you have a two goal lead in the NHL, you have a good chance to win the game. If you have two, two goal leads in the NHL then it’s looking pretty good. Having three, two goal leads should be a win. Well, it was looking good and ended up being a disaster for the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres were playing the Washington Capitals last night and it was looking pretty good for Buffalo. Going back to the beginning of this article, the Sabres had THREE two goal leads. They were winning 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2. You think that would be enough to win, right? Yeah, no.

Unfortunately for Buffalo, they only got one point as they would lose in a shootout despite having two goal leads multiple times and still lost the game. I sound like a broken record but it’s frustrating to see them lose a game when they had multiple leads.

Buffalo Sabres must learn to close out games

The issue that the Sabres need to address if they want to make the playoffs is closing out games and not blowing leads. All year long, this has been an issue. Buffalo would start out so well and would either win the game but it would be a closer score or they would find a way to lose the game.

Very rarely have they had a game where they won comfortably. I get it, this team is the youngest team in the NHL, but you think they would find a way to close out games at some point. Tonight was the tipping for me because again, they had three leads where they were winning by two goals and still lost.

If the Sabres want to end this drought and make the postseason, closing out games needs to be a thing. It comes with being a young group but what happened last night cannot happen if you’re a team wanting to make the playoffs.