Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - I wish I had some answers for you, but the players don’t know what to say other than they have to be better after an 0-3-0 start. In two games in Buffalo the Sabres have scored one goal and it came in the first period from Tage Thompson.
I thought the start was good. Tyson Kozak started with Beck Malenstyn and Josh Dunne and Lindy Ruff got exactly what was missing Saturday in Boston. A hard forecheck with players and pucks to the net. Scott Wedgewood had to stop a tip in front from Malenstyn right off the bat. It was obvious those three players got the memo and it was contagious.
Thompson went back to center between Alex Tuch and Josh Doan and that line also attacked the net with vigor.
Buffalo got two power plays in the period and both Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin missed the net with great chances. The Sabres went 0-for-3 with the extra man in situations that could’ve helped them take their first lead of the season. Yes, you read that correctly, Buffalo has not had a lead all season.
All that went away in the last 40 minutes as Wedgewood really wasn’t tested and had an easy time of it the rest of the way. In the third period where Lindy Ruff said his team was fatigued, they got outshot, 15-4.
With two goals Nate MacKinnon has now scored 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 19 games against the Sabres.
How can the Sabres be fatigued three games in without a back-to-back and having Sunday off? They flew home from Boston Saturday night, not Vancouver.
Colorado had a home game on Saturday that went to overtime and then had to fly from Denver to Buffalo on Sunday and they didn’t have any trouble with the third period. They’ve also played one more game than Buffalo.
This team does have key injuries to Josh Norris, Michael Kesselring, Zach Benson, Ukko-Pekka Luukkanen, Mattias Samuelsson and Jordan Greenway, but being out worked like they were in Boston has nothing to do with injuries.
Monday was as loud as I’ve heard the “Fire Adams” chant. Between that and the team getting booed off the ice, it’s only the third game.
The Sabres way has been "be patient, things take time." Moves aren’t made, it’s better just to do nothing and hope things work themselves out. Last season 0-10-3 and nothing was done. They didn’t even put someone on waivers and call somebody up from the Rochester Americans. Terry Pegula must be fine with what he’s seeing, because there’s been nothing from him either.
The Ottawa Senators come to town on Wednesday.