The Buffalo Sabres were coming off of two high-powered performances where their offense was humming. However, they still took losses because despite scoring four goals apiece in their past two games, they couldn't get the goaltending they needed to win the game.
On Wednesday night at KeyBank Center, the offense didn't even show up, and the Sabres still couldn't get the goaltending they needed.
Sure, Buffalo opened the scoring; they even opened the game with great pressure on Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, leading to Kyle Okposo's goal.
The Bruins would answer with four-straight goals to end the first period, and that may as well have been that. The Sabres pulled goaltender Aaron Dell, who gave up four goals on the Bruins' 22 first period shots.
From there, the Bruins were able to cruise against Buffalo.
Sabres forward John Hayden got a penalty shot midway through the second period, but that was the most threatening Buffalo would be. Taylor Hall would add a marker later on a major penalty to Zemgus Girgensons, and that would be that for this one.
Let's take a look at three observations from Thursday night's contest:
1.) Goaltending is a problem that's not going to go away
Buffalo got out to a great start against the Bruins, and it came off a great save from Dell. The Sabres netminder made a big save on David Pastrnak after a 2-on-1 with Patrice Bergeron, and it was Rasmus Asplund who picked up the rebound and found Kyle Okposo heading up ice. Okposo did the rest and put Buffalo up 1-0.
Any semblance of decent goaltending would have gotten Buffalo out of the period maybe down a goal, but Buffalo allowed Boston right back into the game with a goal from Bergeron after a scramble around the Buffalo net. Dell had no hope at the second rebound chance.
The next goal from Charlie Coyle is one that Dell would want back. The Bruins forward fired a shot low from the circle, which should be a routine save. It beat Dell high over the shoulder and gave the Bruins the lead, and it didn't get any better from there.
Rasmus Dahlin would go to the penalty box for hooking later, and Pastrnak fired a laser one-timer by Dell - a shot that likely finds the back of the net most of the time, but one you can ask your goalie to make a save.
The Bruins' last goal of the period came on another scramble, where a big rebound came out right on to the stick of defender Mike Reilly, who beat the sprawling Dell after he couldn't see the initial shot.
While the Sabres deserve their share of the blame - they allowed 22 Bruins shots in the first period alone. They have to be able to trust that their goaltender is going to bail them out from time-to-time.
In the last few games, the Sabres haven't been able to get that stability from neither Dell nor Dustin Tokarski, who came in relief to start the second period.
Tokarski performed well in relief, but by the time he entered the game, it might as well have been game over. The Sabres were down three, and the Bruins were able to control the rest of the game.
2.) Bruins control shot share for most of the game
The Sabres came out to a hot start in the game, keeping things close in the shot share, and even getting the early lead. After Okposo scored, the Bruins simply took control and scored four quick goals to take the Sabres out of this one.
Buffalo allowed 22 shots on goal in all situations in the first period, and the Bruins outshot the Sabres for the entirety of the game, 47-25.
Buffalo fought back a bit in the second period, outshooting Boston 11-8, and even drawing a penalty shot for Hayden, who promptly missed his first career opportunity in his 200th NHL game.
Controlling the shots against the Bruins is a lot to ask. They are one of the better possession teams in the NHL, and the Sabres ran into a monster on Wednesday night.
3.) Granato's lineup changes don't provide spark
For the past few games, Sabres head coach Don Granato has made some minor changes to his lines. First, he swapped out defensemen Will Butcher with Henri Jokiharju, who was returning following a 16-game injury spell after suffering an lower-body injury in the first game of the season.
On Wednesday night, Granato shifted Drake Caggiula out of the lineup in favor of Arttu Ruotsalainen. Whatever the Sabres head coach was looking for from the switch, it didn't work.
Ruotsalainen had been a healthy scratch for the past couple of games for the Sabres, and he didn't provide any sort of difference he may have been looking for in the lineup.
With Casey Mittelstadt returning to practice on Wednesday, Granato will have some decisions to make when he's healthy enough to return.
Related
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Buffalo will have Thursday night off from game action, but they will be back in action on Friday night at KeyBank Center, as they host the Montreal Canadiens to close out a three-game homestand.
We'll get things started on WGR with Sabres pregame coverage at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog. Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
