The Buffalo Sabres losing streak has reached six consecutive games after a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday afternoon. The Sabres got on the board first just 6:10 into the game when Thomas Vanek deflected a wrist shot from Brian Campbell by Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg. The Thrashers tied the score 1-1 just over three minutes later after a terrible giveaway by Dmitri Kalinin. Kalinin had an opportunity to clear the puck but hesitated and allowed Hossa to steal the puck and score on a backhander.
The Sabres were by far the better team in the second period but could not beat Hedberg on 15 shots while the Thrashers scored on an extremely weak goal. Pascal Dupuis had the puck behind the goal line and flipped it toward the net, the puck hit off of Ryan Miller and went into the net allowing the Thrashers a 2-1 lead that they would take into the third period.
The Thrashers quickly turned a 2-1 lead into a 3-1 lead when Colin Stuart split two Sabre defenders and put a backhander by Ryan Miller. It was an outstanding play by Stuart who came in with a lot of speed but the Sabres defense seemed to stand still and watched him go in alone on goal. Marian Hossa added some insurance for the Thrashers with his second goal of the game on a 2-on-1 break. The Sabres cut the lead in half on a goal by Clarke MacArthur, who was just called up from Rochester, but they would never get any closer.
The loss is the sixth consecutive loss for the Sabres who find themselves sinking in the Eastern Conference standings. They are now in 11th place in the conference just one game short of the half way mark. Game number 41 will mark the halfway point and it will take place on Tuesday in Newark against the Devils.