Buffalo Sabres: The most frustrating losses from 2022-23
As every team does during the course of the regular season, they have frustrating losses. Here’s a look at some of those L’s for the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about my favorite wins from the Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 regular season. Well, it’s time for the most frustrating losses from the regular season. Unlike the wins, there will be no rankings.
I will just recall the losses that sat with me the most and give a brief description why the loss was annoying. From revenge games to playoff scenarios, all of it will be included in this article. Enough talk, let’s get started.
Most frustrating losses for the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres
November 10th vs. Vegas
This one was frustrating for me. It was the home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Obviously Jack Eichel was the headline in this matchup with him returning to Buffalo for the second time. Spoiler alert, it was the opposite of the first meeting.
Eichel would get a hat trick in a 7-4 Golden Knights victory. While it was annoying, I guess it’s fair since Buffalo won the first meeting during the 2021-2022 season. But it was a bad time as the Sabres were on a losing streak.
November 28th vs. Tampa Bay
Blowing leads was a theme for Buffalo this season and that’s what happened in this one. The Sabres were taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa. Despite having a 5-3 lead with a few minutes remaining in the third, Buffalo would let the Lightning score two unanswered goals, forcing the game to overtime.
Steven Stamkos would score the game winning goal as the Sabres would lose 6-5. It was a very frustrating loss since Buffalo held a two goal lead late and it would evaporate.
December 9th vs. Pittsburgh
In the month of December, Buffalo had a back to back against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first game is what I want to talk about. Trailing 3-2 in the dying minutes, Kyle Okposo would score to even the game up and forced overtime.
However, Jeff Skinner took an absolutely terrible penalty and gave the Penguins a power play in overtime. Pittsburgh would score and it was frustrating because of the boneheaded move by Jeff and the Sabres were able to tie it up late.
January 17th at Chicago
This one was really frustrating. The Sabres were in the Windy City for a meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks. Buffalo had a 3-1 lead going into the third. After scoring their second goal of the game, Chicago would tie the game up with one minute left in the third period.
Unfortunately, Buffalo would lose in overtime. Once again, another loss due to a blown lead and it was against a rebuilding team.
March 7th at New York Islanders
We have three more games left and all of them had playoff implications. Two of them were in March but let’s start with what happened in Long Island. Buffalo had a crucial game against the New York Islanders. With the game being 1-1 after the second period, a huge third period was next.
After the Islanders took the lead early, the Buffalo Sabres would respond a couple of minutes later. Well, former Sabre Hudson Fasching would “kick it” to his old team as he would score the what would be controversial game winning goal. It was a frustrating loss in what was a pivotal game for both teams.
March 15th at Washington
Just a week later, the Sabres were visiting the Washington Capitals. Yet again, this loss features another game where Buffalo blew a lead. But here’s the worst part, they blew not one, not two, but three, two goal leads.
The Sabres had a 2-0 lead, 3-1 lead and a 4-2 lead….they still lost the game in a shootout. With the team in contention for a playoff spot, this was a incredibly frustrating loss.
Related Story. Sabres: Zach’s Top 10 wins from the 2022-23 season. light
April 4th at Florida
For the final loss, the season series final matchup against the Florida Panthers. This game could have ultimately had the Buffalo Sabres in the postseason. But the Blue and Gold lost the game 2-1 but it could have went overtime if Alex Tuch would have stayed onsides back in the first period. Who knows what would have happened but it definitely was a gut punch for the Sabres.
(Historical information provided by Hockey-Reference)