Tonights loss was the microcosm of the 2023-2024 Sabres season

To start Week 24 of their season, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Ottawa Senators to kick off a five-game homestand. After going 3-2 on their recent road trip, the Sabres were hoping to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against a struggling Senators team.

After taking some time to process what happened tonight, I was reading through some replies on social media. It was one of those games where I didn't want to write an article because it was so bad. However, there is one takeaway from the game that stood out to me.

In this disheartening loss to the Senators, this game was the microcosm of the 2023-2024 Buffalo Sabres season. What do I mean by this? The start of the game was just like the start of the season. After having some hope at the end of the season last year, Buffalo did not start this year well.

The score was 4-0 Ottawa and it wasn't even the 10-minute mark of the first period. It would be 5-0 as the Senators scored late in the period and the fans let Buffalo have it with boos, which were deserved. After the fourth goal was scored, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got pulled and Devon Levi took over.

While this game was not Luukkonen's fault, he definitely should've stopped one or two of the Senator's goals. In the second period, Buffalo showed some signs of life with two straight goals from JJ Peterka and Connor Clifton.

Just like this game, the Sabres started playing well and got themselves back into playoff contention. As crazy as it sounds, they were three points out of the second wild-card spot at one point. The third period was their last chance and like the final month of the season, they couldn't finish the job.

They had chances but couldn't capitalize. Much like the last month or so, Buffalo had a chance to get themselves back into the thick of things. But when it mattered the most, they failed. So there you have it, that's why this game was the perfect representation of the season.