The Buffalo Sabres suffered back-to-back overtime losses for the first time since the end of October when they lost three straight games in overtime. However, with how well they have played as of late, these two losses feel much more surprising, especially in the fashion in which they have lost them.
In each of the past two games, the Sabres would come back in the third period to take the lead, subsequently give up that lead, and then lose in overtime. After the Bruins game on Wednesday night, Lindy Ruff was asked about his thoughts on the game and didn't hold back.
"Those first two periods were probably our poorest periods of the last three months," Ruff said. He was asked what specifically he saw that made him come to the observation.
"Puck decisions weren't very good. You are playing a team that's battling as hard as they can to stay in the playoff picture. They won more battles, and I don't think that has anything to do with being sluggish. It has to do with willpower."
With as bad as the first two periods were, the Sabres were able to bounce back and were able to really turn the game around. It started with Zach Benson scoring the goal, and then Jason Zucker added a power play goal shortly after that.
Unfortunately, it was a bad bounce that cost them the lead as Casey Mittlestadt was able to control a puck right in front of the net off a shot that took a big bounce off the back wall. However, if they don't have the first two periods the Sabres did, this game might not be as close and a goal like that doesn't matter as much.
Buffalo Sabres have shown an ability to bounce back in these moments
While it has been almost five months since the Sabres lost consecutive overtime games, they did lose back-to-back games in February right before the Olympic break. This team was able to respond by winning eight straight games.
As the regular season comes to a close, these games are going to get tougher as teams like the Bruins get more desperate. The Sabres are going to need to match that level of intensity and do so over a full three periods.
They have that chance on Friday night against another team who is desperate for a win in the Detroit Red Wings. The Sabres have beaten the Red Wings in their first two meetings but that was back in the first weeks of the regular season.
Entering the game on Friday, Detroit will be coming off back-to-back losses as well and will be just outside the playoffs. It will be interesting if the Sabres are going to be able to battle the way Lindy Ruff wants them to; otherwise, they could be looking at their first three-game losing streak since the first week of December.