Montreal, QC (WGR) - Despite taking 6-of-8 points in four consecutive Atlantic Division games, the players and Lindy Ruff couldn't help but think that on Saturday, they left a point on the table in Montreal against the Canadiens.
Buffalo got behind 3-1 in the second period, but before the period ended, Zach Benson hit a flying Jack Quinn down the slot for his fifth goal of the season to go into intermission at 3-2. Halfway through the third, Tage Thompson went undetected as he camped out on the far post and Josh Doan found him for an open net layup.
Buffalo had opportunities to push the puck past Jacob Fowler, but failed. With 2:17 left in regulation Juraj Slofkovsky went to the penalty box. The Sabres moved the puck well, won puck battles got players to the net and did everything except score the game winning goal. In overtime Thompson sent Josh Norris in alone off a 3-on-1 and he didn't even make Fowler make a save as he missed the net. Norris and his $7.95 million cap hit were brought here to enhance the top six forwards and the offense. This year he has two goals and one assist for three points in nine games and overall since the trade with the Ottawa Senators for Dylan Cozens he has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 56 games. That's not remotely good enough. In 112 games with Ottawa, Cozens has 33 goals and 44 assists for 77 points.
Not only did Norris miss the net, that's something that you just can't do in 3-on-3 hockey because the puck rims around the wall and the other team usually gets an outnumbered chance going the other way. In this game it was one of the best goal scorers in the NHL in Cole Caufield who got the breakaway. The Sabres didn't get a big save from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Caufield now has 11 goals in his last 10 games against Buffalo. Lindy Ruff knew his team left a point on the table,
"Yes, it feels like that, I thought the Ostlund line set us up for that game-tying goal with the shift they had just before, a great pick by 'Norrie' in overtime, it's just failed execution. I thought we left quite a few plays out there, we didn't execute, I didn't think our passing was near as sharp tonight and you get that chance on the late power play where we controlled it pretty good, missed a couple of opportunities, you get the great opportunity in overtime, we could've made them pay, but instead it goes the other way and made us pay."
Ruff of course is happy going .750 in four divisional games, especially with players like Rasmus Dahlin, Jason Zucker and Alex Lyon out of the lineup,
"We're dealing with some adversity, your captain's out of the lineup and we've had other players that have been in and out, and you've got to find ways to get points. I think the important part is we have, six out of eight points with some personnel missing, but how I look at it is good, but I still think there's a better game still out there that we've got in our pocket."
Buffalo has been getting off to poor starts, but in this one, Norris converted his own rebound after being set up by Konsta Helenius to make it 1-0. The Sabres held Montreal to no shots until Zach Bolduc tipped in a power play goal at 11:45. Ruff said that is deceiving,
"I can say, 'Well that is awesome' but we gave them two great looks where they missed the net (Caufield had both), we gave them a full ice 2-on-1 and I'll just call it what it is, I didn't like those two plays. Did they get a shot? No, but we gave them one hack of a look."
The Sabres are four points in back of the first place Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo gets some rest as their only game until Saturday in Washington is home Wednesday vs the Philadelphia Flyers.
Buffalo has come from two goals down to get points in five of their nine games
Buffalo has come from two goals down to get points in five of their nine games
