Buffalo Sabres: Don Granato needs to have a conversation with the team

Dear Mr. Rosen and Mr. Kulich – you two now know what to expect. But you and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres lineup have no excuses.

Well, the Buffalo Sabres played one outstanding period last night vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, came back, and won, and that momentum was something they will have taken with them to New Jersey, right? Right? Less than 24 hours later, we found out that wasn’t the case, as the Blue and Gold followed up one of their best 20-minute frames with arguably their worst 20-minute frame.

By the end of the first period, it was all over, with the Sabres trailing 4-0 and having been outshot 18-3. The New Jersey Devils did whatever they wanted to the Blue and Gold for 60 minutes unless they were trying to kill penalties – which was the only thing that went right for Buffalo. 

And listen, we know the Sabres made a couple of recalls today, and rightfully so, as Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich deserved their chances. But did the rest of the team forget how to play the sport they’re supposed to excel at a world-class level? It’s time for head coach Don Granato to sit these guys down and just give them a reality check, because clearly, what’s been going on since October 12th hasn’t been working.

Buffalo Sabres head coach needs to be real with the team following blowout loss

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff was straightforward about how poorly his team played following arguably their worst loss of the season three days ago. And it’s time for Granato to do the same, as it was clear Ruff’s Devils got the message tonight and they looked like a different hockey team following their shutout loss and subsequent loss to Columbus. Check out what Lindy said below:

“They were a step ahead of us all game. They outskated us and outcompeted us. They wanted it a lot more than we did. By the end of the night, we got exactly what we deserved.”

Source: Alex Lyon makes 16 saves for his 2nd NHL shutout, Red Wings beat Devils 4-0 by AP, via ESPN.com

Until Granato gets real with his team, this stagnant season isn’t changing. Right now, the Buffalo Sabres are 9-10-2 (20 points), in a poor start that nobody saw coming. No, it’s not time to panic just yet, as we’re just over 40 calendar days into the team’s season. But a sense of urgency is necessary, it’s long overdue, and it starts with the coach.

Granato also needs to have a personal discussion with every player who took the ice tonight, even the newcomers. Perhaps it will motivate the Blue and Gold to turn the page quickly on this disaster of a game and give us a redemption story come Monday.

(Statistics provided by NHL.com)