BY JEFF NEIBURG
Nov. 28, 2021
Observations: In finale of grueling week, Sabres are clipped by Red Wings in OT
The Sabres will be happy to put the week that just finished in the past and not have to think about it again. Five games in seven nights is a difficult stretch, even for athletes as conditioned as NHL players.
The compressed schedule in an Olympic year is to blame, but no one is going to feel sorry for the Sabres after they finished the stretch 1-3-1 to move to 8-10-3 for the season.
But the Sabres can take some solace in their effort Saturday night in Detroit, where Dustin Tokarski played in back-to-back games in net for the first time all season and his teammates didn't give up. Jeff Skinner scored the tying goal with 1:37 left and Tokarski on the bench for an extra attacker.
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Detroit, however, scored just 26 seconds into overtime to grab a second point and send the Sabres home with another defeat.
The Red Wings hadn't played since Wednesday night.
"You play a team that's fresh, they know it," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "It's like they smell blood in the water. You've got to manage it a little bit and find the time to push."
At times, the Sabres did that.
Here are Mike Harrington's observations from the latest loss.
MORE SABRES & NHL NEWS
Power rankings: The top six teams stayed the same, while the Pittsburgh Penguins made a big jump, the Flyers took a step back and the Sabres continued their slide in Mike Harrington's latest NHL power rankings. Read more
Sabres need help in net: In case you missed it the other night, Dustin Tokarski bounced back in Friday night's win over a bad Montreal team. But, as Mike Harrington wrote, the Sabres still need some help in net with Craig Anderson out. Read more
Islanders games postponed: The NHL has postponed two more games for coronavirus-related reasons, making it five so far this season. Read more
No record for Florida: The Seattle Kraken's 4-1 win in Florida denied the Panthers what would have been a record-setting 12th consecutive home win to start the season. Read more
Mellanby resigns: Scott Mellanby resigned as the assistant general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. "The move could be the first of a number of changes to the Canadiens front office, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during the 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada." Read more
Panarin fined: Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has been fined $5,000 for throwing one of his gloves at Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand. Read more
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