Score: Buffalo Sabres 4 | Nashville Predators 6
Shots: BUF 29 | NSH 23
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Bowen Byram (7), Rasmus Dahlin (7), Alex Tuch (19), Dylan Cozens (11)
Nashville Predators Goals: Tommy Novak (11), Brady Skjei (6,7), Filip Forsberg (20,21), Jonathan Marchessault (17-EN)
Minus 1: Down Early
The Sabres found themselves down pretty early, as the Predators took a 2-0 lead less than halfway through the first period. Tommy Novak opened the scoring before Brady Skjei doubled it less than three minutes later. The Predators are 14-7-5 when scoring first, while the Sabres are 5-15-0 when their opponent scores first, so you knew from there it was going to be an uphill battle.
Plus 1: A Quick Comeback
To their credit, the Sabres did a good job of rallying back, tying the game at two before the first period was over. That’s the kind of response you need, and nice to see some defensive scoring from Byram and Dahlin. This essentially started things with a clean sheet to start the second period, but unfortunately, things didn’t get better for Buffalo from there. They just could never quite get there, as Nashville regained the two-goal lead and the Sabres had to keep battling back.
Minus 1: Should’ve Been a Win
Heading into this one, it’s a game the Sabres absolutely should’ve won. These were two teams on very different trajectories; the Sabres on a four-game winning streak, the Predators on a six-game downward spiral. So, naturally, Buffalo lost.
It’s hard to be too mad, because obviously that four-game streak for the Sabres was a good one, but it’s understandably frustrating when things are going well and then that happens against a team who was seemingly falling off the cliff. Also, you let Ryan O’Reilly get a four-point night. Luukkonen made 17 saves on 22 shots faced, while Justus Annunen had 25 saves on 29 shots faced. Dahlin was named third star, but there’s not a whole lot of pride in that after a loss like this.
Final Thoughts
Well… now we get a break. I suppose if the team had made it five wins in a row, we’d be saying that the break comes at a bad time. Today, it just seems… fine. No big deal. A few of the guys will head to Four Nations to represent their countries, and the rest will get a bit of vacation time. The Sabres return to action on Saturday, February 22 against the New York Rangers. Something to keep an eye on as we approach that game will be the injured Igor Shesterkin, who could return just in time for that game.