Score: Buffalo Sabres 1 | Detroit Red Wings 4
Shots: BUF 26 | DET 26
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Tage Thompson (20)
Detroit Red Wings Goals: Christian Fischer (3), Patrick Kane (14), Daniel Sprong (17), Lucas Raymond (20-EN)
Plus 1: The First Goal
For the third straight game, the Sabres opened the scoring, as Tage Thompson found the back of the net 11:22 into the first period. Thompson’s goal was his 20th of the season and came on the power play on a blast of a shot from just outside the circle to the right of Red Wings goaltender James Reimer. Thompson now has four points (2-2) in his last four games.
Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Sabres would find.
Minus 1: A Loss in a Must-Win
Saturday’s game was the biggest one of the season to this point for the Sabres, and it’s one they needed to win. Coming in on a three-game streak, to face a team on a seven-game losing skid? And against a team you’re battling with in the wild card race? It’s a game you’ve got to have, and Buffalo didn’t. A miserable second-period effort dragged them down, and once Detroit went ahead, the Sabres couldn’t recover.
Things can change quickly in the playoff race, and that’s both a good and bad thing. With the win, the Red Wings are now five points ahead of Buffalo in the wild card race. In other games, the Islanders lost, but in overtime, so that point gives them a four-point lead on Buffalo. The Capitals, who face the Canucks on Saturday night, are two points up, while the Devils are one point behind the Sabres as of writing (but also currently in action.)
This loss isn’t the end of the world for the Sabres, but it is a big hit to their playoff hopes on what is already going to be an uphill battle.
Final Thoughts
This loss is a bummer. Depending on who you are, you either still believe the Sabres have a chance, or you’ve completely given up on the team after this one. Personally, I know there’s still a chance, but a slim one. It’s hard not to get your hopes up, especially given the last few games, but this one is enough to knock you down a rung or two on the ladder. As badly as Buffalo wanted to win this one, Detroit wanted to end their losing streak more. There’s a lot to take from this one, things that need to be done differently, and now, the Sabres continue their journey west as their road trip continues.
Get ready for some #SabresAfterDark action, with 10 pm games in Seattle (Monday) and Vancouver (Tuesday) and a 9 pm tilt in Edmonton (Thursday) and Calgary (next Sunday). Devon Levi has been recalled from the AHL’s Rochester Americans to join the team, and is expected to play one of the back-to-back games coming up.