(WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres were in control on Tuesday night, holding on to a 3-1 third period lead over the Penguins in Pittsburgh. However, with the way they were turning the puck over, you knew it wouldn’t last.
Mark Pysyk and Will Butcher had a very rough time in this game, and had numerous turnovers and lost numerous battles. I think it’s very evident they can’t play together, and I’ve seen nothing in the preseason that tells me they should even be in the opening night lineup.
With the score 3-1 early in the third, Buffalo committed four horrible turnovers before Drew O’Connor scored. J-J Peterka had two within five seconds, followed by Tage Thompson and Butcher.
Buffalo got outshot 14-4 and looked uptight, because they kept giving the puck away. Don Granato said it’s more than that
“I don’t think they got so uptight that that was the issue," he said following Tuesday's loss. "I think maybe frustration that they weren’t able to execute, and they felt they could, which is a positive sign that it didn’t break their confidence.
“They saw the simple outs; they just didn’t execute. It’s an area that our players are very well aware of, and we can progress in that very rapidly I believe.”
As things were slipping away and the score was tied at 3-3, give Buffalo credit - they got a goal just 2:02 later when John Hayden went to the net and screened Casey DeSmith for Anders Bjork to score from distance. That goal stood up until Kasperi Kapanen was alone in front of the net to pounce on a rebound with 53 seconds left in regulation.
If you want a positive, Buffalo scored four goals because they sent pucks and players to the net.
On the game's first goal, Dylan Cozens intercepted a pass and kept the puck in the Pittsburgh zone. He found Jack Quinn, who put a nice pass to Brett Murray, who was going to the net. The Penguins couldn’t handle Murray at all.
On Buffalo's second goal, Vinnie Hinostroza and Arttu Ruotsalainen went to the crease, as Victor Olofsson was shooting the puck. Hinostroza was rewarded with a big, fat rebound and half the net to shoot at.
Olofsson scored on the power play in the second period, because Peterka sent a puck to the net with Cozens crashing the crease.
If Buffalo has any hope of improving this season, this trend will have to become a habit.
In goal both Dustin Tokarski and Aaron Dell made huge saves.
In 30:15 of playing time, Tokarski continues to be the Sabres' best goalie in the preseason, stopping 13 of 14 shots faced.
Dell also made huge saves in his 34:45 of work making 21 saves on 24 shots faced. His best save came right at the end of overtime, as defenseman Jacob Bryson turned it over to Bryan Rust by himself.
The shootout ended up going nine rounds, with Quinn, Ruotsalainen and Thompson scoring for Buffalo. Meanwhile, Kapanen, Rust, Danton Heinen and Jason Zucker were all successful for Pittsburgh.
I know it’s only preseason, but I need to stop seeing things like Rasmus Dahlin being very weak behind the net and allowing his stick to be lifted, leading to a great scoring chance. I need to stop seeing the goalies get hung out to dry. I need to see players and pucks constantly at the net.
This perimeter, munchkin game I’ve been watching for 10 years needs to end, and it appears it is.
The Sabres have Wednesday off from practice, and will return to the ice on Thursday and Friday.
