The Buffalo Sabres have now lost eight of their last nine games, falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in the first game of a home and home. Sad!
Five observations from Friday's loss:
Peak Sabres defense
Alt angle on Jenner's potential game-winner. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WGrdmQHgVX
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 11, 2017
Just watch this play and tell me this doesn't perfectly describe the Sabres season? They're tied with a very good team late in the third period and all of a sudden a mishandled puck is in the back of their net and they're down 4-3.
That play summed up the 2016-2017 Buffalo Sabres
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) March 11, 2017
The Sabres defense has been a problem all year, but this is just indescribably bad. Usually, a faceoff win in the defensive zone is a good thing, but not this time. Maybe the puck bounced or took a weird hop, but Cody Franson has to make a better play. Even just firing it down the ice would work.
On Twitter dot com the Robin Lehner haters were out in full force, but I don't think he deserves much blame. He was left out to dry on three of Columbus' four goals.
Three should've been enough
buffalo slugs one in the net
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 11, 2017
Before Friday, Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky hadn't allowed a goal in his last three games. That's absolutely incredible.
When was the last time a Sabres goaltender had three straight shutouts? That's a serious question, if you know send me the answer!
With a goaltender playing that well you had to imagine the Sabres would've like their chances if they scored three goals. Instead, some sloppy defensive play cost the Sabres big time. Sure, the Sabres didn't generate much offense from the guys you would expect, but three goals against Bobrovsky should've been enough.
Penalties, man
Statistically, the Sabres have a better power play than the Blue Jackets this season, but on Saturday the man advantage proved to be the difference. When everything was said and done Columbus scored on two of their three power-play opportunities, while the Sabres failed to find the back of the net on their lone chance.
Hey, wha' happened?
Josh Gorges scored a goal and Nicolas Deslauriers added an assist in Friday's game against the Blue Jackets.
JOSH GORGES SCORED A GOAL pic.twitter.com/hohSsWHiJn
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) March 11, 2017
The goal is Josh Gorges first of the season [1G, 3A, 51GP]. Deslauriers' assist is his first point in 35 games played this year.
Wha happened?!?!
11
All good things must come to an end. On Saturday Jack Eichel failed to record a point, snapping his career and league best 11-game point streak. Had he scored or added an assist, Eichel would've tied Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund for the longest point streak this season [12-games].
He may not have continued his streak, but Eichel certainly made his presence felt. On Buffalo's second goal of the evening, Eichel sent a gorgeous pass to Cody Franson, but the Sabres defender couldn't get the shot off. A few seconds later the puck went back to the point and Eichel's screen allowed Gorges shot to surprise Bobrovsky.
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