(WGR 550) – I haven’t had to talk about the Buffalo Sabres being unaware of the open men in the defensive zone and spinning like tops, while those open men scored since Rasmus Ristolainen left.
It all came rushing back on Sunday, as the Sabres got crushed in Tampa Bay by the Lightning, 5-0.
You knew the Lightning would be ready to play, because they hadn’t lost five games in-a-row in eight years. Buffalo turned the puck over, tried to force plays that weren’t there, and had absolutely no communication throughout the game.
A couple of youngsters were taken to school by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, as Mattias Samuelsson was on the ice for four goals against and Casey Fitzgerald was on for three.
Buffalo actually got off to a nice start, as Rasmus Asplund had a wide-open net for a one-timer, but noted Sabres killer Brian Elliott read the play perfectly to come across the crease and absolutely rob Asplund. Elliott earned his fifth shutout in 25 games against the Sabres, stopping 28 pucks.
Anders Bjork had to play for the first time in 18 games thanks to an injury to Cody Eakin, and he showed a lot of rust. He helped Tampa Bay get rolling when he turned the puck over, and then was weak on Corey Perry’s stick. Just 17 seconds later, Fitzgerald tried to stickhandle through two players in the neutral zone and Tampa Bay turned that into a 3-on-1 goal by Ondrej Palat.
The second period just got worse, and it only came 1:12 into the frame. Buffalo got two defensemen stuck behind the net and two forwards spinning in front of the net, allowing Brandon Hagel to be wide-open for a backhand into an empty net.
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Later, Nikita Kucherov did what he always does, get in behind the defense off the post, and there wasn’t a Sabres player on the ice that had a clue that he was there. Kucherov now has 16 goals in 28 games against the Sabres.
After the game became 4-0, the Lightning settled into cruise control.
Buffalo did have some chances in the second half of the period. Elliott made a huge mistake with the puck handing it right to Alex Tuch, but Elliott stopped his open chance and Thompson on the rebound.
When Ross Colton scored Tampa Bay’s fifth goal in the third period, the Lightning had players open all over the ice, and there was no recognition or communication.
I do know teams that have 5 p.m. ET games, never have morning skates, but many players did hit the ice Sunday morning, along with Owen Power, because the team had to have a day off on Saturday. Players don’t want to go into a Sunday game having the last time they were on the ice being Friday night.
That might explain why mistakes that haven’t been happening all season cropped up in this game.
Now the team heads to Toronto and Power will get his first regular practice with his team on Monday and then will be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Maple Leafs.
