Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – This is going to be short and sweet, because there’s no point in going into a deep dive of the Buffalo Sabres' 5-3 loss on Tuesday to the Detroit Red Wings.
It’s simple: Buffalo got off to a horrific start once again, were behind 1-0 just 3:40 into the game, were behind 2-0 8:25 in, and were behind 4-0 by the time the game was 33:55 old.
As usual, once they’re down, they kick their game in and made this one interesting, scoring three-straight goals. The Sabres even had a 6-on-4 to try to tie the game at 4-4, but couldn’t get it done.
I will say one very positive thing: Isak Rosen was excellent in this game. He had numerous scoring chances, and had five shots on goal in just 7:54 of playing time.
It would’ve been nice to see him get rewarded with more ice-time since he was playing so well.
After the game, captain Kyle Okposo said he didn’t like this game at all for his team. I couldn’t agree more.
Sabres head coach Don Granato said he has players that hold themselves accountable, but I don’t see how. They make the same mistakes over-and-over again.
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I have heard from general manager Kevyn Adams, Granato, Dylan Cozens and Tage Thompson that these players don’t compete hard enough. That’s been the case all season.
So when you have players that don’t compete, how is that holding yourself accountable?
Granato has been talking about how they have to learn about playing under pressure. This team had the pressure last year of being in a playoff race for the first time in most of their careers. They had to deal with pressure every night until the end.
This team is now 108 games into two different seasons. I have covered this league for a long time, and I have asked men who have played in this league. I feel if you haven't figured out how to deal with pressure after 108 games, you likely are never going to figure it out.
In my mind, that’s not the kind of player you want to move forward with. This is a team that’s broken, and it needs to be fixed.
Adams has to identify the players that don’t compete on a regular basis, can’t play under pressure, and move on from them. Those are players that don't help you win Stanley Cups.
There’s no question there are good people in that locker room, but the Sabres are back in the same spot they were at this time last year. They need to leapfrog six different teams to get into the playoffs.
Last season, they made it past four teams and were tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were the fifth team in the conference.
The Sabres don’t need to trade everybody. There are some very good and talented players in that room, but this group, as it is, is broken.
They are capable of playing the way Granato wants them to, but rarely do it.
