Buffalo.
Score: Buffalo Sabres 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs 6
Shots: BUF 27 | TOR 29
Buffalo Sabres Goals: JJ Peterka (9), Mattias Samuelsson (2), Owen Power (5)
Toronto Maple Leafs Goals: Bobby McMann (8), Auston Matthews (11), Nick Robertson (5), Max Domi (3), Max Pacioretty (5), William Nylander (21-EN)
Minus 1: From the Start
The Sabres did not start the first or second periods off on the right foot. To start the game, Bobby McMann scores less than 90 seconds in, putting Buffalo down before some fans even had a chance to get to their seats. (Leafs fans, that is, given the large contingent of Toronto fans in the house). To their credit, the Sabres tried to respond, but Alex Tuch’s goal soon after was deleted for a double-minor high-sticking penalty on Jason Zucker. Then, minutes later, it’s a two-goal deficit after Matthews scores.
In a normal game, for a normal team, a 2-0 deficit less than seven minutes in isn’t great, but it doesn’t feel insurmountable. For a team on a streak like the Sabres, however, it feels like you’ve been stabbed once, then had the knife twisted – like the night is over before it’s barely even begun.
Rinse and repeat to start the second period. Less than two minutes in, Robertson made it 3-0. This time, Buffalo did respond, with Peterka finally getting back on the board. But any goodwill that goal may have brought was quickly wiped away when Domi scored 2:05 later.
Plus 1: An Attempt Was Made
Down by four goals and with things really not looking good, the Sabres didn’t give up completely. Mattias Samuelsson’s goal late in the second period started to close the gap, and Power’s tally with about eight minutes and change left in regulation seemed to provide a spark. Power scored again a few minutes later, but the tally was wiped off due to goaltender interference. (What *is* goaltender interference?) Had that goal counted, this was all of a sudden a one-goal game with still a few minutes left, and something good could’ve been possible.
Minus 1: When Will it Stop?
It’s now been 27 days since the Buffalo Sabres won a hockey game.
Nearly a month.
It doesn’t seem as if any major front office shakeup is on the immediate horizon. The NHL is in a roster freeze for the next few days, so no one can be traded, waived or sent down to Rochester. This team is the team, at least for the time being. So what are they going to do about it?
The players sounded incredibly dejected in their postgame locker room interviews. Lindy Ruff didn’t sound inspired or like he had the answer. There’s talk of puck management, playing selfishly, bad puck decisions… not executing, being out-competed… not cashing in on opportunities… (these over the last few games, not just tonight).
A few days ago, Dylan Cozens spoke about how he believes in the group, and how they’ve got the players to win, and it’s about time they go do it. It’s been time, again, and again, and again.
Final Thoughts
A home rink filled with Leafs fans, even moreso than a usual Toronto game in Buffalo. Twelve losses in a row. Chants encouraging them to “sell the team.” Honestly, I’m running out of adjectives to adequately describe what’s happening right now: disappointing, pathetic, pitiful, disgraceful, abhorrent.
Two disallowed goals certainly doesn’t help the matter, but it’s hard for me to feel bad for the team because of that. Those calls aren’t going to always go your way, but especially for a team in this position, you’ve got to find ways around it. Yes, the first disallowed goal was certainly an interesting situation, first deleting what could’ve been the tying goal and then sending the Sabres on a four-minute PK, but there was still so much hockey to be played. The second disallowed goal stings, but at that point in the game, it was either going to make it or break it.
We can talk until we’re blue in the face about disallowed goals, but let’s be real. The problems here run far deeper, and it’s up to the Sabres to get it together and figure something out.
“We’re in the NHL. We don’t have a choice.” – Jason Zucker on how the team can bounce back heading into Saturday’s matchup in Boston
P.S. For those keeping tabs at home, the Rochester Americans defeated the Syracuse Crunch 3-1 on Friday night. Nikita Novikov, Graham Slaggert & Viktor Neuchev scored, while Noah Ostlund returned to the lineup for his first game since October 26. Devon Levi made 22 saves.