Sunrise, Fla. (WGR 550) – The game the Buffalo Sabres played on Saturday night would’ve been a good game a few months ago when it mattered more.
If they went into a building like Florida and played against one of the best teams in the NHL, and had it at 2-2 before losing, 3-2, in overtime, you’d be happy with the point.
On the game-winning goal by former Sabres forward Sam Reinhart, Dylan Cozens did a terrific job of getting back to kill the play. However, as he turned on the wall to go up ice, Aleksander Barkov met him, caused the turnover and set up Reinhart.
In the third period, the referees reviewed a hit by Connor Clifton that caught Nick Cousins in the head. He was assessed a five-minute match penalty and a game misconduct.
The Sabres did a terrific job keeping plays and pucks out of the middle to kill off the five-minute penalty.
Then, with 34.9 seconds left in regulation time, Alex Tuch took a high sticking penalty that the Sabres also killed off. Florida didn’t even get a shot on goal during Tuch’s penalty.
Overall, the Panthers had nine power play shots, but were never really dangerous.
Those were two places where the game could've gotten out of hand for the Sabres, but it didn't.
It was also a game where the Sabres had some Grade-A chances to win the game.
Jeff Skinner went in alone and put a move on Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky that pulled him out of the net. All Skinner had to do was backhand the puck straight into the open net, but instead, his shot curved just a little and went right into Bobrovsky’s pad as he stretched from his belly.
Tuch had a breakaway later on, but lost the puck before he could get in.
Tage Thompson was in his office in the left circle, but Bobrovsky robbed him with a glove save on a power play one-timer.
In overtime, Rasmus Dahlin had a chance to score the game-winning goal on his birthday, but couldn't convert.
Buffalo needed to compete hard to get to the net, and the team did so on their two goals.
Tyson Jost was there to tip in a point shot from Dahlin to open the scoring on Buffalo's first shot of the game.
After giving up a shorthanded breakaway goal to Kevin Stenlund, the Sabres responded just 1:37 later to tie it at 2-2. Jack Quinn converted a big rebound off a Bo Byram shot for a power play goal.
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The Sabres are not even close to the Panthers as a team, but they did compete. If this were still a race, you’d say they did a good job to earn a point against them on the road.
Unfortunately, the last two games are just two wasted efforts by an eliminated team.
What I will say, though, is, at least, they didn’t quit after they got eliminated. They’ve shown some pride and played pretty well.
