Shots: BUF 22 | SJS 28
Buffalo Sabres Goals:
- Peterka (Dahlin, Quinn) (PPG)
- Thompson (Peterka, Clifton)
San Jose Sharks Goals:
- Liljegren (Eklund, Walman)
- Sturm (Graf, Kostin)
- Eklund (Toffoli, Mukhamadullin)
- Celebrini (Mukhamadullin, Smith)
- Smith (Zetterlund)
- Toffoli (Walman, Liljegren) (EN)
Minus 1: Listless Loss
There is no excuse for how badly the Sabres played at home. Both teams were playing their third game in four nights, but only one of them showed up for this one. The Sabres were lacking anything resembling a consistent effort. They didn’t record a shot for the first 6 minutes of the game and looked completely lost in the third while getting outscored 4-1 in the final frame. The Sabres were called out by their coach in his postgame remarks when Ruff commented that too many players took the game off. He’s not wrong.
Plus 1: Multi-Point Peterka
There was at least on positive from this brutal game. JJ Peterka has extended his point streak to 6 games. This was also his second straight multi point game. Through 58 games, he is now one point away from tying his career high of 50 points set last year in 82 games. He was one of the only forwards who seemed to generate any scoring chances with any level of consistency.
Minus 2: Fan Frustration
Nights like this are a tough pill to swallow for any fanbase but put it into the context of a soon to be 14-year playoff drought and you have a powder keg of resentment. This was supposed to be a fun night for the fans. It was Bills night against a last place Sharks team. What could go wrong? The Sabres metaphorically said, “hold my beer” and turned in one of their worst performances of the season. The boos at the end of the game came through the broadcast crystal clear and the team earned them. This was a crushing loss for a team that needs a miracle to claw their way back to relevance. It’s also another painful memory for a fanbase struggling to remember what its like to watch a good team.
Final Thoughts
This was a complete an utter embarrassment. The Sharks are the worst team in the league and outplayed Buffalo the entire game. The young Sharks team played hard, were hungry and earned the win. The Sabres laid an egg on what should have been a fun night for the fans. The frustration is mounting in Buffalo, and it can’t be long until serious changes are forced upon the franchise once again.