With a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres find themselves still four points back of a playoff spot and not making any ground on making the playoffs. The Sabres found themselves down after giving up three goals in the second period but managed to make the score respectable with their own goal in the third period. The Jets finished the game off with an empty netter. Kyle Wellwood, Eric Gagnon, Andrew Ladd, and Blake Wheeler were the goal scorers for the Jets while Kevin Porter scored the lone goal for the Sabres.
Thomas Vanek Makes His Return
Thomas Vanek last played on March 26th against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vanek missed five games with a lower body injury but made his valiant return against the Winnipeg Jets. Vanek played on a line with Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis and finished the game with 19:19 in ice time, 2 shots on goal, one hit, two giveaways, and a blocked shot. That line was also on the ice for all four of the Winnipeg goals.
Shots On Goal Still Mystifies The Sabres At Times
At the halfway point of the game, the Buffalo Sabres had 10 shots on goal. It took six minutes for the Sabres to register their first shot on goal. In the meantime, the Winnipeg Jets had already registered seven shots on goal. The Sabres offense hasn’t been very good at creating shots on goal while the Sabres defense has been just as bad at trying to limit the opposing defense in taking those shots. Coming into tonight’s game, the Sabres defense had allowed a league worst 33.0 shots/game. The team was outshot 23-16 through the first two periods before turning on the offense in the third, outshooting Winnipeg 14-7.
Sabres Still Futile Against The Southeast Division
One of the major sticking points for the Sabres this season has been their play against the Southeast Division. With this loss to the Jets, the Sabres are now 2-9-2 against the Southeast, a division that only has one team making the playoffs if they were to start today. The Sabres in the Eastern Conference that isn’t in the Southeast Division with a losing record against the Southeast.
The Sabres will take tomorrow off before they get back on the ice against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.