Summary
On Thursday night a Buffalo team in white completely crapped the bed visiting a team in eye-watering green. Saturday night seemed to be an all-too-familiar case of deja vu as the Buffalo Sabres were pulled apart horrendously in the first period by an otherwise average Dallas Stars, finishing the game 5-1 and once again leaving the fans with more questions and frustration than anything else.
Robin Lehner got the nod to start in goal, and though the Sabres were decent to start the game, he immediately made Phil Housley regret that decision. The Sabres’ defensive corps is severely depleted and that didn’t help any matters either. Lehner had no one to blame but himself for the opening two goals, the first off a terrible turnover by him and the second a juicy rebound. By the time the Stars scored their third with the defense hanging Lehner out to dry, the goalie had made only four saves on seven shots and his evening in Dallas was over.
Chad Johnson stepped in and was beaten on the penalty kill as the Stars pretty much ended the game leading 4-0 after the first period. The Sabres showed some resolve in the second, getting a goal back from Ryan O’Reilly and putting pressure on the hosts but the damage was already done. The Stars scored again late in the second period to end any hopes of a comeback.
The third period was an exercise in futility as both teams recorded nine shots on goal, with Buffalo outshooting the hosts 28-22 on the night.
Three Stars
- Gemel Smith – 14:28 TOI, 0G, 2A, 1SOG, +2
- Stephen Johns – 24:21 TOI, 1G, 0A, 4SOG, +2
- Radek Faksa – 10:03 TOI, 1G, 1A, 2SOG, +2
What to Watch
1. Can the Sabres start their first winning streak of the season?
Hahahahahahahahaha.
2. Pouliot – O’Reilly – Okposo line heating up
ROR scored in the second period, but that line was also on the ice for the first three Dallas goals as well, so that counted for little unfortunately.
3. Another injury
There were no more injuries following this debacle, unless Jack Eichel hurt something breaking every single stick over his knee after this game.
Comment of the Game
Yikes
I know this sounds crazy…but how can Housley survive the season…..is the talent level really this bad?
by rexachs on Nov 4, 2017 | 9:38 PM
Have to say I agree with this. Unless something changes in personnel or tactics, Housley is being made to look very bad with the meager talent level he’s working with.