The Buffalo Sabres had been playing some of the best hockey in the NHL, but seemed to stumble heading into the Olympic break. They had been very busy leading up to this point and had four games over six nights, going 1-2-1 over that stretch.
There is no question that their last game was arguably the worst that they have looked in weeks. Fans did not expect this game to play out the way it did as they scored the opening goal two minutes after a beautiful shot by Jason Zucker. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to cheer about after that, as they would be out-scored 5-1 from that point by the Penguins.
After the game, Lyon tried to put the game into context with a somewhat optimistic message for the Sabres heading into the break. "I think tonight was maybe the best blessing in disguise that could have happened," Lyon said.
"It is going to put a bitter taste in my mouth, and I hope it puts a bitter taste in everybody's mouth because the last 25 games are going to be a dog fight all the way down to the wire."
While Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are set to head to Milan to play in the Olympics, a majority of the team won't be able to get back on the ice for a game until February 25th. To Lyon's point, sometimes it is a good thing to sit with this type of disappointment. It gives time for reflection, but it is something that has to motivate and not necessarily create doubt.
Buffalo Sabres are going to be tested almost right away coming out of the break
As the Sabres' goalie noted, it is going to be somewhat of a sprint to the finish, and the Buffalo Sabres are going to be tested if they want to hold onto their playoff spot. Coming out of the break, they go on the road for three straight games, starting with the New Jersey Devils.
They will once again be facing a back-to-back in Florida after that, with the Florida Panthers on Friday, February 27th, and then the Lightning the next night. The Sabres were able to take three of four earlier this week in a similar situation, but it easily could have been two wins as the Lightning scored with less than 30 seconds in the third period and then again in overtime to hand the Sabres the overtime loss.
No one will really know until after the season whether this recent adversity is a blessing in disguise, as Lyon describes, until probably after the season. While they are somewhat limping into the break, they are still very much in a great position to end their playoff drought as they currently have one of the Wild Card spots, and the focus now is just taking care of business and winning to remain in that spot.