Buffalo Has No Answers, No Goals
Score: Buffalo Sabres 0-3 St. Louis Blues
Shots: BUF 27-17 STL
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Zip (Nada, Zilch)
St. Louis Blues Goals: Joseph 2nd (unassisted) Bjugstad 4th (Faulk , Joseph) Faulk 3rd (Joseph)
Minus 1: Short Handed Sigh
The only blue and golds on the ice tonight were the visitors, as the Sabres wore their black and red Goatheads in this one. Buffalo got the first 3 shots, with Rasmus Dahlin’s nifty move on net being the best chance. St. Louis netminder Joel Hofer was there to make the stop. The Blues then had a few chances, with the puck just floating over Sabres’ starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the crossbar on a close call. UPL then stopped a partial breakaway soon after. The tempo turned up even higher after a spirited fight between Josh Dunne and Tyler Tucker.
Another close call for Buffalo happened when Michael Kesselring’s skate blade came off after blocking a shot. The defender had to scoot to the bench on one knee as the Blues applied good pressure. The Sabres survived it until a replacement made it back into the play. A little later, Buffalo got their first power play after Josh Doan was hooked down by Cam Fowler on a good chance for the Sabres. How would that dreaded man advantage shake out, you ask? Well, one good chance by Josh Doan with a great glove save by Hofer. Jack Quinn with a sweet pass on the play. Then, disaster strikes. Later in the power play, Buffalo’s zone entry looks like a comedy clip as the puck is lost going the other way. Mathieu Joseph was able to break free and skate in on UPL, (with Dahlin hounding him) where he buried it for a short handed goal. If you are NOT going to score 5 on 4 gentlemen, at least don’t give one up please.
The Sabres controlled much of the play in the first period but that miscue was costly. Buffalo outshot the Blues 8-4 but found themself down 1-0. It’s always something with this team. The team’s passing wasn’t as crisp as you would like in the period but the energy was there. And it always feels like just that one mistake ends up in our net.
Minus 2: UPL Needed to Stop That
St. Louis had a 2 on 1 early in the 2nd and UPL made a good save. But not long after, the Blues moved the puck up ice and Nick Bjugstad let a shot go as he skated over the line. It inexplicably beat Luukkonen. The puck might have dipped a bit on the way in but the Buffalo goalie should have had that one. It was a demoralizing moment that dictated the rest of the game. The Sabres had to kill a penalty right after to keep it at only 2-0.
Halfway through the period, Alex Tuch had a glorious chance about ten feet out but Hofer did his Patrick Roy impersonation to rob him. Moments later, Dahlin hit the post. Just your average Buffalo Sabres frustration on display as usual. (reminder, no Benson, Kulich, Zucker and of course Norris in this game)
The Sabres then got another power play but looked completely inept. That continued for the rest of the period, not many chances either way. Buffalo looked discontented and sadly, uninterested. No leader stepped up to motivate them, no hero to save them. It was 2-0 Blues after two.
Minus 3: Shutout Stinker
The Sabres came out showing a little life with some pressure on the Blues early. Around five minutes in, St. Louis looked to have scored goal number 3 to all but end the game. But replays easily showed the puck was kicked in by Jimmy Snuggerud.
Buffalo battled on, showing some fortitude but St. Louis went into protection mode. They were playing tight coverage and blocking shots. When the Sabres did get shots through, Joel Hofer was there again and again. Calm, cool and collected.
UPL looked to intentionally trip Dylan Holloway late, who dangerously went into the boards. It looked like a frustration penalty on his part. The crowd followed suite as they made their way to the exits. Buffalo pulled UPL after the kill and the sloppy Sabres just turned it over for the empty netter. This was a head shaker of a game, the Sabres just couldn’t get anything going. 3-0 is the final as Buffalo is blanked. Final shots were 27-17 in favor of the Sabres.
Final Thoughts:
The Sabres have been getting some pretty good crowds this year, all things considered. But they need to start stringing some wins together if they want to keep them. Just five victories in 14 games is not going to cut it. Injuries (and illness) are certainly not helping but they need to buckle down and put things together soon. Tage, Tuch and Dahlin in particular need to elevate their game.
Joel Hofer was the story tonight but the Sabres lack of high danger chances was too. They were really down some firepower for the second straight game. Mathieu Joseph was a beast in this one, collecting a goal and two assists on the night.
Buffalo next plays in Carolina on Saturday at 7pm, where they have not won since 2016.