Final Score: Islanders 1 | Sabres 0
Shots on Goal: Sabres 27 | Islanders 21
Sabres Goal Scorers: None
Islanders Goal Scorers: Derick Brassard (5)
Minus 1: A Fluky Goal
It’s bad enough when a team allows a fluky goal like the one Brassard scored on Saturday night, but it’s even worse when that’s the game-winning goal and the only goal in the game as a whole. Brassard, from behind the net, banked the puck in off netminder Carter Hutton.
Brassard puts the #isles up after banking one in off of Hutton 1-0 #sabres50 pic.twitter.com/OPqA6ilt1F
— Buffalo Hockey moments (@SabresPlays) November 2, 2019
Minus 2: Can’t Buy Me Love (or Goals)
The Sabres couldn’t buy a goal on Saturday night. Their puck movement wasn’t at the level it needed to be, they couldn’t generate many quality chances against a tough Islanders team – who’s now won nine straight games – and although the end result wasn’t as ugly as Friday’s loss in Washington, it was just a rough game overall. The Islanders played a smothering game and it was hard for the Sabres to really get much going, and it showed.
Even with three power-play opportunities, the Sabres were held scoreless.
The Sabres have now lost three straight games heading into their upcoming trip to Sweden.
Plus 1: Dahlin Looked Better
After a few rough games, Rasmus Dahlin looked better in Saturday’s game. He finished the game with 19:57 ice time, including 4:23 on the power play. He also helped generate some offense.
End of game player charts. Idk they’ve lost three in a row now. Two they were outplayed and one was stupid hockey.
Shot quality continues to stay down but it’s the Islander so idk. Also I would have liked to see Dahlin get more 5v5 ice time with how well he played. pic.twitter.com/EWRA4MFIpQ
— Chad DeDominicis (@CMDeDominicis) November 3, 2019
Final Thoughts
Sigh. What else can you say after a game like this?
Saturday marked the first time this season that the Sabres lost in regulation at home. They’re now on a three-game skid, and head to Sweden on Sunday in preparation for games next Friday and Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Realistically, you know that no team will ever win all 82 games. You know that teams will lose one, two, three games in a row at some point. It happens to everyone.
But there are other things to keep in mind, too.
As of writing, the Sabres are tied for fourth in the NHL – oddly enough, with the Islanders. A couple of seasons ago, it took Buffalo until December 10th to hit the 20-point mark… and it’s a long season. Although the past three games have not had the ideal results, there’s still a lot of hockey to be played, and a huge part of that will be seeing how the Sabres respond to games like Friday and Saturday’s losses, and how they can make small adjustments to get them closer to where they should be.