Things have been bad lately for the Buffalo Sabres and they didn't get much better tonight at the HSBC Arena.  I didn't see the game but by all indications the Sabres played a much better game but just failed to convert their opportunities.  It's a step in the right direction for a struggling team but they need to start finishing.

Buffalo has now lost four in a row and have looked mostly bad in the process.  Tonight was different story, they fired 40 shots at ex-Sabre goalie Martin Biron but he turned them all away.  If you counted all the missed open nets and the three goal posts the shots would be close to 50.

Buffalo called up Mark Mancari and playued Nathan Paetsch tonight but they were unable to make a difference as the Sabres losing streak continues.  Mancari had 14:50 of ice time and registered five shots on goal, although none of them beat Biron.  In his first action in quite some time Nathan Paetsch had 15:21 of ice time, blocked three shots and had an even rating.

Sabres Captain Craig Rivet has not seemed to be the same since returning from knee injury.  It was the third consecutive game that he registered a minus rating and he was a minus three in the game.  I don't think Rivet is the next one into the press box but so often you here the saying "as the Captain goes, the team goes"  They have both been on the minus side recently.

The Sabres have an opportunity to get right back at it tomorrow night when the New York Islanders invade the HSBC Arena.  Face-off on Saturday night is set for 7:05 and will be the second game on a four game home stand for Buffalo.