Another night, another shutout for the Buffalo Sabres. But unlike Ted Nolan’s first tenure in Buffalo, the Sabres keep finding themselves on the wrong end of these lopsided games as they lose to the Los Angeles Kings 2-0.
The Sabres have now scored just one goal in their last four games, and a grand total of nine goals in their eight games this season. They have a -19 goal differential, and are on pace to shatter their league-worst differential from last season of -91. Of course, they won’t finish -190 in goal differential, but until their scorers start remembering how to find the net, the Sabres will find themselves firmly entrenched in the league’s basement.
The Kings started pushing the Sabres around right from the get-go, as a Tyler Myers penalty in the first minute led to a quick power pay goal, and a lead that LA would never relinquish. Myers, as well as Stafford, would take out their frustrations later in the game with some fisticuffs, but those were the only highlights for the Sabres as Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter scored the game’s only goals.
If you can stand it, the Sabres play again on Saturday at San Jose.
Three Questions
1. Who will have a bigger impact – former Sabres defensemen, or Nikita Zadorov, making his first appearance of the year?
Considering that Nikita Zadorov only received six minutes of ice time, the fact that he recorded two hits and a shot isn’t too shabby. Unfortunately, there were 54 other minutes that he didn’t play, while McNabb and Regehr got 15 and 20 minutes, respectively, and Regehr was named the game’s third star. #FreeZadorov
2. Which Nolan comes out on top?
Jordan Nolan recorded three shots in twelve minutes against his dad’s team and came out with the win. Here’s what dad had to say, courtesy of Sabres.com:
“It was a bit strange,” Nolan said. “When he was on the ice, you wanted to watch to see how he did, making sure he does OK because when we talk in our family, playing OK is not good enough. You have to be better than OK and tonight, I thought he was better than OK. It was a good game for him.”
3. Goals?
Not for Buffalo.
Comment of the Game
On pace
The Sabres are now on a pace to score fewer goals per game than Wayne Gretzky did in the ‘81-’82 season.
Go us.
by Calvert
Is Wayne still a free agent?