Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It is utterly amazing that I’m sitting here talking again about the Buffalo Sabres blowing a two-goal lead and losing a game.
In Florida back on Dec. 2, they blew a 4-1 lead to the Panthers and lost, 7-4. Monday afternoon was the second time this season they’ve blown a two-goal lead to the Detroit Red Wings.
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On Nov. 6, the Sabres had a 3-1 lead over the Red Wings on home ice with 6:40 left in regulation time. The Sabres ended up losing that contest in overtime, 4-3.
Jeff Skinner scored at 9:21 of the third period on Monday to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead. Jeff Blashill foolishly challenged the goal for goaltender interference, and took a delay of game penalty thanks to the goal standing.
Instead of using the momentum of a great shift by the Tage Thompson line to take a 2-0 lead, they promptly, using head coach Don Granato's words complicated a play that was simple and gave up a shorthanded goal.
From that point on, panic set in, and a pair of Dylan Larkin goals beat them in overtime again.
By the way, Detroit is 4-0-0 against Buffalo this season with three overtime wins.
The Sabres had plenty of opportunities to add to their lead, but Victor Olofsson and Alex Tuch missed breakaways.
It is mind blowing to me that the Sabres have gone into the third period leading 15 times this season and have lost seven of them. I have never seen that stat be that bad. A really good team will lose one game, at most, when leading after two.
Tuch talked about this being a young team and having to learn to play with a lead. Granato also hit on this being a young team that gets tight when protecting a lead.
They are absolutely right, but this young team isn’t even coming close to figuring it out. If these good young players have it in them to panic when the going gets rough, will they ever shake it?
They should’ve learned how to be better with leads long ago, not still blowing two-goal leads on Jan. 17 and losing for the seventh time in 15 games when leading after two!
I think Dylan Cozens has the opportunity to be a top player in this league. I love much of what he brings to the table, but he just can’t get easily knocked off the puck by Robby Fabbri for the game-tying goal. He has to be the guy making plays when it matters.
Aaron Dell made many great saves in the game. However, thanks to two horrific errors, it took Detroit 3:07 to score two goals when in the first 50:21, they had scored none.
I really think this blowing two- and three-goal leads is a huge problem, and it’s showing no signs of getting any better.
OK, enough of that. Do you want some positives?
How about Mattias Samuelsson playing in his first game for the Sabres this season after Jacob Bryson and Colin Miller were injured?
In 18:32 of work, he was extremely solid. He makes the plays he needs to make, and he has an edge to him. I thought he would make the team out of training camp, but Bryson did due to Samuelsson getting hurt.
In my mind, this 21-year-old is ready for the NHL right now.
After the game, it was announced that Sabres assistant coach Jason Christie has entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. The Sabres say he was not at the game on Monday.
The Sabres travel to Ottawa for a game against the Senators on Tuesday.
