The Sabres continue to struggle against teams that are close to them in the standings. It is frustrating to watch this team manhandle the Boston Bruins and drop a 2-1 decision just three days later. The stats are listed below...if you dare.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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The Buffalo Sabres played a great game and they were rewarded with a 3-2 shootout win against the Dallas Stars. It was one of those games when you felt like they were going to come out on the short end despite playing a really good hockey game.

Buffalo trailed 2-0 in the third period against a team that doesn't give up the lead very often. Thomas Vanek deflected a beautiful pass from Jason Pominville to get Buffalo on the board on a rare power play opportunity. Dallas looked like they were going to run out the clock, but Derek Roy punched in a rebound after a nice faceoff win by Paul Gaustad with under a minute left in regulation.

Buffalo looked like they were going to win in overtime but Kari Lehtonen made a miraculous save with one second left. After the near miss in overtime there was a feeling it wasn't meant to be for the Sabres but they eventually came through in the shootout to finish off a big win.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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The Buffalo Sabres deserve a lot of credit for the way they have played since the all-star break. It would have been really easy to pack it in and get ready for next year. This team has not done that, in fact, they are playing their best hockey of the season. The 1-0 shootout loss to the Rangers was a hard fought game and last night was the icing on the cake. The second period was the most impressive part of the entire game.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers (These are ugly and usually are in a blowout)

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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The Buffalo Sabres are showing some signs of revival in their last few games, picking up seven of the eight points available. The offense remains moribund and it looks like only a trade or two will resuscitate the Sabres scoring fortunes. What has been a positive is that the defense has been playing better, and Ryan Miller has played much better too in the lead up to taking the mantle as Buffalo's winning-est goalie with 235, passing six-time Vezina winner and legendary Sabre Dominik Hasek.

With 52 games gone (just past the 3/5th mark), here's how the projections stand for the end of the season. For reference, here are how the projections looked after the 1/5th and 2/5th points.

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It feels good to do a post on scoring chances again. It feels even better, to do it after a Buffalo Sabres victory. Winning has not been easy for the Sabres this season but I believe they are on a two game winning streak at the present moment. Unfortunately the high powered New York Rangers come to town this evening.

I thought this was a good game for the Sabres. It is even more impressive when you realize they played most of the game without their best player. Thomas Vanek was hit with an impressive open ice check that sent him to the trainers room and he did not return.

I was especially impressed with a couple of the Sabres players that have been struggling this season (Ville Leino, Derek Roy and Drew Stafford). Maybe the all-star break allowed these players an opportunity to refill the tank and they will pick up their putrid offensive numbers in the second half of the season.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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Another game...Another loss. I have nothing more to say.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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Tonight was the first time all season that it looked like the team quit. I don't know if this means they no longer want to play for Lindy Ruff or if it was a result of the score. Either way, it was ugly.

Just two nights after a 5-0 loss at Detroit, the Sabres suffered a similar fate in a 6-2 thumping by the Chicago Blackhawks. Buffalo actually had a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jason Pominville but Chicago took advantage of a couple of power play opportunities and took the lead for good.

It will be interesting to see if the team can find a way to bounce back on Thursday at Winnipeg. It has the makings of a blowout and therefore will probably be a close game.

Let's take one last look at last night before we get ready for the game this evening.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

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I am embarrassed to say that I forgot to do this post after the 5-0 loss to the Red Wings. I was so aggravated after the game that...I put it off until tomorrow. Tomorrow came and I completely forgot about it. I think I went into Sabres shutdown mode. Anyway, the game tonight against Chicago, reminded me to do the post.

The numbers aren't as bad as you would think in a 5-0 loss. The truth is, the Sabres didn't play a terrible hockey game. They made some terrible mistakes and they paid for it. At the other end, they had some chances and couldn't find the net. Sometimes these things happen.

The Stats

Shift Charts

Head-to-Head Ice Time

Corsi/Fenwick Numbers

Scoring Chances - after the jump

Continue reading this post »