Alex Lyon returned to the Buffalo Sabres lineup in the past two games, and while they have been more competitive, the end result has been the same. The Sabres lost their last two games, just like they lost the two games prior to his return.
In the last two games with Lyon in net, the Sabres have allowed only two goals in 5v5 situations, compared to nine in the games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights. Again, while the result has been the same, Lyon has been making big saves that have been keeping the Sabres in these games.
After the game against the Stars, Lyon was asked about the Buffalo Sabres' struggles, and he didn't sugarcoat it:
"I mean, can't bull**** the position we are in, to be honest with you, and it kind of feels like we're on a precipice a little bit. Every team goes through these times throughout the course of the season, and good teams, mentally strong teams, find their way through it."
"I think from my experience, the only way forward is everybody has to focus on bringing their best for 60 minutes, whatever that looks like, whatever that takes, and that's the only thing that you can focus on."
Alex Lyon puts pressure on the Sabres offense to deliver
Too many times this season, the Sabres have tried to get back into games or seemingly gained momentum, only for the other team to score a goal and put it out of reach. The Sabres have needed those timely saves from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Colten Ellis that hasn't happened.
Alex Lyon, in his two starts this season, has been able to do that. He has made big saves that can help give the Sabres a boost, but the skaters aren't converting these moments into goals in their favor.
It doesn't feel like Lyon is necessarily calling out his teammates, but explaining that the team finds themselves at a crossroads. There is only so much he can do if they are not generating scoring chances and converting them into goals.
For the Sabres, the schedule is not going to get any easier for them, as they are on the road against the Flyers, followed by road games against the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers are another team that is struggling, and with who they have after them, it feels like a must-win game.
The Sabres have a lot of issues this season, and goaltending has been one of them. Over the past two games, Alex Lyon has helped fix that with his performance. The question is whether the skaters, like Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and Jack Quinn, can start generating more chances and in turn goals.
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