Coming into Wednesday’s sport towards the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres have been beginning to really feel good. Beating the defending Stanley Cup champions 5-2 may have that impact. Going into Pittsburgh and grabbing two factors would do an terrible lot towards undoing the 0-3 begin to the season.
As a substitute, we have been handled to one of many wildest video games of the younger season. The Sabres have been thrilling however inconsistent, dropping the sport 6-5 in additional time. Whereas it was good getting a degree, it feels just like the Sabres positively ought to have walked away with another. Listed here are three issues price noting from the crew’s disappointing 6-5 additional time loss.
The Offense Is Lastly Waking Up
Placing up 5 extra targets within the wake of a five-goal effort towards the Panthers is good. On condition that this group managed a cumulative three targets in three video games earlier than that, it’s positively one thing price being pleased about.
The Sabres dominated the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 10 however nonetheless misplaced, and there have been flashes of that right here. They managed the sport early, collapsed within the second, got here again, then finally couldn’t maintain on. Tage Thompson has been one of many most noticeable Sabres thus far and J.J. Peterka was excellent offensively.
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There was a stretch the place it felt like Pittsburgh’s backup was going to Superman them to a win – and that was in all probability a contributing issue. It will be good if they might hit the online extra, although. They presently lead the league in missed photographs and that’s positively not a stat you wish to be on the high of the listing for.
The Inconsistent Effort Is Nonetheless There
One of many issues that jumped out in regards to the Sabres a season in the past was the inconsistency of their effort. They’d have one nice interval, fully disappear the following, then battle to remain in it. That’s mainly what occurred right here.
The Sabres dominated the primary interval, getting out to an early 3-1 lead. It was all Penguins within the second interval and the Sabres didn’t actually begin displaying life till the center of the third when it was 4-3 Pittsburgh.
It’d sound like a cliché however there actually must be a full 60-minute effort out of this crew. They stopped skating within the second interval and once more on the finish of regulation. The penalty to Thompson in additional time sealed it however simply underscored how inconsistent the Sabres have been over the course of the evening.
Matt Ellis Must Be Fired Half II
This may increasingly must be an ongoing takeaway. The Sabres at the moment are certainly one of simply three groups who’ve but to attain an influence play objective in 2024-25. They’re 0-for-15 on the season and have had only a few probabilities that regarded like they could truly be a menace to attain.
Matt Ellis had his fingerprints on the facility play a season in the past and it was one of many worst models in the complete league. He could not have 100% autonomy over the unit this season, however he’s nonetheless the widespread denominator. There is just too a lot expertise on this group to be as dangerous as it’s.
The Sabres aren’t going to catch fireplace if they’ll’t rating with a person up. In no world ought to they rating 5 targets at even energy and nonetheless lose, but right here we’re. The facility play is turning into an albatross, however there’s nonetheless time to make things better.
There Are Positives to Be Had
The primary three video games of the season have been massively disappointing for various causes. The crew has regarded alive the previous two video games, particularly on the offensive finish. There’s lots of season left forward however every loss simply makes the margin for error lots smaller.
We’re starting to see contributions from all through the lineup, an necessary piece of the puzzle for the Sabres. Getting proper towards the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight is a should or issues might begin to spiral within the fallacious course.
