Buffalo loses, despite managing 48 shots on goal.
Score: Sabres 1, Stars 2
Shots: BUF: 48 DAL: 30
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Tage Thompson (15)
Dallas Stars Goals: Matt Duchene (18), Sam Steel (6)
Minus 1: Oettinger Looks Like A Star
Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger came into Tuesday night’s game fresh off his first NHL All-Star appearance, and boy, did he look like a star. There is simply no reason why you should outshoot your opponent 48-30 and lose, but sometimes you run into a hot goaltender and it happens. Buffalo outshot Dallas by a ridiculous 16-4 margin in the second period, and by a 16-8 margin in the first period, but none of that mattered in the end. Oettinger turned away nearly everything the Sabres threw at him.
Minus 2: Penalties
Another part of the struggle on Tuesday night can be attributed to the Sabres’ penalty troubles. Buffalo gave Dallas two 5-on-3 opportunities in the third period and it just… well, it sure didn’t help them. You can only control so much, and sometimes the officiating just won’t go your way, but you can’t give up two 5-on-3 opportunities in a single period, when you’re down by one goal, and expect to find success.
Plus 1: At Least Thompson’s Goal Was Nice
If nothing else, one thing we can count on: Tage Thompson knows how to score beautiful goals.
Final Thoughts
Will the Sabres ever string together three wins?
Will they ever stop giving up the first goal?
At what point are the Sabres officially eliminated from playoff contention?
The All-Star Break didn’t seem to help anything, and now the Sabres have three days before hosting St. Louis at home on Saturday afternoon. Lots of home games this month, and the crowds at KeyBank Center will continue to thin out if the team’s on-ice performance doesn’t pick up. Last night’s attendance figure was 13,221, the third-smallest of the season for the Sabres.