Buffalo’s woeful form and offensive impotence continues with the absence of Dahlin
Score: Buffalo Sabres 2-5 Utah Hockey Club
Shots: BUF 25-28 UHC
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Kozak (1), Kulich (3)
Colorado Avalanche Goals: Kesselring (4), Sergachev (7), Schmaltz (4), McBain (9), Stenlund (2)
Plus 1: Kozak’s first
The Sabres were mostly outplayed in the first period, but got what matters the most – a goal. That went to fourth-liner Tyler Kozak, playing in his second start for Buffalo since getting called up from the Amerks.
First NHL goal for Tyson Kozak! 🙌#NHLStats: https://t.co/oKRP496agP pic.twitter.com/NyI66bVFw2
— NHL (@NHL) December 7, 2024
The 7th round draft pick had actually gotten a goal in his debut against the Jets, but his family then had to watch that get chalked off for goalie interference, but there was no way this one was coming back.
Minus 1: Second Period Flop
Both teams have been awful in the second period, but the Sabres – with the long change at home – took it to another (lower) level again, giving up three goals.
Utah did well to limit the Sabres scoring chances in this game, much like they have all season long, but Buffalo didn’t help their own cause here. The top six forwards were missing for most of this matinee – Zucker, Thompson and Tuch had two shots between them, while Benson, Cozens and Peterka had one at the second intermission.
It would be one thing if we didn’t score in the second, but we also gave up three goals, and all of them were preventable. The first was a poor clearance by Owen Power. The second came from Dennis Gilbert driving his man into Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who went down and Utah scored in the empty net. The third was from a spell of extended possession resulting in an open man at the back door.
The loud boos that rung out throughout KBC at the intermission were certainly well deserved.
Minus 2: Shoot emm-effers
We’ve seen this again and again. Buffalo’s skill players trying so hard to make that perfect pass and walk the puck into the goal instead of shooting and crashing the net to get those ‘dirty’ goals. Today was no different. After the second period the Sabres only had 12 shots on goal, including just five in that period as Utah scored thrice.
And then we watched a sequence of play early in the third that pretty much encapsulated the Sabres woes. Cozens was bearing down on goal with the puck on his stick, and then inexplicably chose to pass backwards to a player that was not open. As the crowd groaned, Utah quickly converted that turnover into a goal at the other end to make it 4-1, game over.
It’s one thing if you don’t shoot because you are great at passing and have players open often, but the Sabres are not that either.
The Yetis duly got their fifth of the game with about eight minutes left to play by just doing the basics – get a man in front of the goalie, and put the puck on goal.
Final Thoughts
After that capitulation against the Avalanche, coach Lindy Ruff said “It’s my job not to let it snowball.” Oddly ironic choice of words because since then it has not only snowballed into an avalanche, but Buffalo are even getting stomped by Yetis.
"It's my job not to let it snowball."
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 4, 2024
Watch coach Lindy Ruff's postgame interview → https://t.co/n50i3LwDqH
The Sabres have now lost six on the bounce, and after sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner sitting in a playoff berth, they have now settled back to their fourteen-year level of basement dwellers again, just two points off last spot in the Eastern Conference.
Your move Ruff and Adams, what are you going to do now?
Comment of the Game: Chester14 is headed to being loaded enough to buy the Sabres, except it’s his wife who’s paying him.
As we watch the game, my wife say’s to me, “do you know how rich you’d be if I gave you a dollar bill every time you yell this team sucks”!!!
Buffalo are back in action (unfortunately) on Monday as they host the Detroit Red Wings in game four of the five-game homestand.