Lesson learned (again)?
Lindy Ruff said it simply. The Sabres figured they were just going to come out and beat the Montreal Canadiens. They learned (maybe? for maybe the 10th time?) if they don't work, they aren't going to win. The 6-2 whooping by the Habs showed that.
"Maybe that comes on the heels of an 8-4 game, where all of sudden you think, 'We can get another eight,'" the Sabres coach said. "You're not going to get eight against them. You're not going to get eight against many people. I think we got caught in the jet wash of what looked like an easy game."
The 8-4 win over Nashville on Wednesday is already ancient history. This clunker replaced it.
The Sabres are clearly upset with their penalty kill, which has given up goals on six of the last 14 chances over three games. Those are numbers that will keep a team out of the playoffs. The breakdown is understandable. Jochen Hecht is out. Brian Campbell is gone. Tim Connolly can't practice because then he's too sore to play.
Expect some changes in either personnel or practice habits before Sunday's game against Detroit.
"I don't know if the way it's set up right now is going to work," Ruff said.
The Sabres also need to beat the teams in their division. They fell to 10-10-3 against the Northeast, and they play nine of their final 17 games within the division.
"It's a tough division, and I think we've got to do better," center Derek Roy said. "Those are huge points, and if we want to climb up the standings we've got to beat some good teams."
---John Vogl
I hope the Sabres watched the Montreal - New Jersey game yesterday. With out a doubt this was the best game of the season. Both teams skated for a full 60 minutes with a very high energy level. If the Sabres were to play like that they would be unbeatable.
Posted by: Rich | March 02, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I'm so tired of hearing how we outworked the team that beat us.
Guess what?
If you were BEATEN, you ultimately were OUTWORKED, OUTPLAYED, OUTSCORED, etc.
Get over it.
Posted by: Jay | March 01, 2008 at 09:15 PM
The Obvious isn't so obvious to most Sabres fans. The defense was horrible last night with so many odd man rushes and turnovers. They looked horrible in their own zone and worse on the powerplay.
I hope they can pick up a decent defenseman in the off season or next year will be another dissapointment.
Posted by: SMB | March 01, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Well Detroit is ripe for the picking as they are having their own problems right now. We need to come out storming. I cant remember the last time Montreal really "beat us". Sure they won a couple by a goal or in OT or a shootout but we almost always outplayed them. Last night is a wake up call. Hello Sabres! Wake UP!
Posted by: Rick Baker | March 01, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I gotta agree Don. Losing to Philly, Rangers and Montreal really hurts right now. We lost badly to all three. There is no more time for excuses. These are the teams we gotta beat. Beating up on Toronto and Tampa is all well and good, but we gottta go at least .500 agianst playoff teams.
Posted by: Dominic S | March 01, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Incidently, have not heard from Jerry Sullivan in several days. Could the NEWS have a trade in process?
Posted by: Don H | March 01, 2008 at 09:39 AM
It's difficult to be optimistic about the playoff chances of a team that blows a 3 goal lead against the Flyers and gets blown away by the Rangers and Montreal, all at home, in 3 of the last 4 games.
Posted by: Don H | March 01, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Remember, Nashville was no more ready to play than the Sabres when they went into the Garden against the Rangers. Nashville wasn't a contest. Here, Montreal outclassed the Sabres, line to line, defense to defense.
Goalie on out, the way it's meant to be played this time of season. With Campbell gone, the D played scary.
Latest chapter in the Regier saga. Home losses are tough to make up now.
Posted by: David, Amherst | February 29, 2008 at 11:58 PM