Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 4-1 deficit in Columbus last Tuesday to win their preseason opener over the Blue Jackets. Less than a week later on Monday, Buffalo stood around and watched the score get up to 5-1 and it was too late.
The problem, in my mind, is the six defensemen dressed for Buffalo's 5-3 loss on home ice could very well be the group dressing on opening night and they were atrocious.
Every time Columbus scored a goal, the Sabres were caught standing around watching and not reacting. The turnovers were plentiful and nobody was moving their feet.
“We talked about not being assertive enough, so it’s something we discussed in-between periods and even after the game," Sabres head coach Don Granato said following the loss. "We were not quick to close out anybody, so where we got in trouble tonight was hesitation and it killed us.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hung out to dry with guys standing by themselves in front of him scoring easy goals. Now, there are times you want him to come up with the big save to bail his teammates out. That finally came in the third period as the Sabres scored twice to try to get back into it.
Granato kept Luukkonen in, because he wanted to see him battle through it, which he did.
While Granato noticed his players standing around and not helping out their young goaltender, he also saw fear in his team.
“We were afraid to make a mistake, and when you’re afraid to make a mistake, you give your opponents lots of opportunities," Granato said.
The Sabres have now dropped three-straight preseason games after winning their first one against Columbus last Tuesday. Although his team has lost three-straight, Granato believes the group will continue to improve.
“We’re going to get better quick based on what I watched today, because there’s a lot of easy stuff that once the players see it, they can correct it right away," Granato said. "It’s not a situation where they have to develop.”
Midway through the second period, the Sabres started moving their feet and it began with a good quick breakout that started with Jeff Skinner and ended with him getting a great scoring chance. After that, we saw speed coming through the neutral zone and much better entries.
It led to goals from J-J Peterka, who used his speed to get around the defense, and Casey Mittelstadt, who came through the right circle and went far side for his second goal of the night.
This team can keep up when they’re playing like they did in the third period, but the horrendous starts they have on a nightly basis just can’t be overcome.
Granato wasn’t sure when his newest player would arrive, but if Axel Jonsson-Fjallby shows up in time on Tuesday, he’ll make the trip to Pittsburgh and will play the Penguins.
***Photo: Michelina Michaelina (@MiMiV4682)
