BUFFALO – The Sabres will hit the halfway point of another lost season having won just 14 of their first 40 games.
Six weeks ago, after earning their third straight victory and 11th overall, they held one of the Eastern Conference’s wild card spots.
Roaring into a playoff spot in late November seemed to signal the Sabres, who own an NHL-record 13-year postseason drought, had graduated to a new level. Things were starting to click under coach Lindy Ruff. They were maturing.
Sure, they would endure ups and downs over the final five months. Still, it felt like a terrific stretch in which they went 10-5-0, highlighted by three straight wins in California, indicated they would stay in the postseason chase all season.
Not even the biggest cynic would’ve predicted the Sabres would lose their next 13 games (0-10-3) and fall into the Eastern Conference basement.
Following a three-game winning streak, they’ve dropped 16 of their last 19 outings entering tonight’s contest against superstar Alex Ovechkin and the conference-leading Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center.
“I just feel like the main thing in this league, you cannot be satisfied,” Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin told reporters in Vegas following Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights. “When you start being satisfied after a good game, it’s not a good thing. Every day is a new day. We really have to learn that.
“We have to come to the realization that we can’t be a young team anymore. We have to learn these little things that all the vets know about. We have to step up. We can’t do this.”
On Saturday, it felt like the Sabres were getting blown out for the opening 40 minutes despite just a two-goal deficit.
The beginning of that game – Vegas scored at the 4:53 mark and again at 12:23 – felt like it carried over from Thursday’s embarrassing 6-5 overtime loss to a Colorado Avalanche.
“They rolled over us in the first period,” Dahlin said.
The Sabres melted down late for the second time in a month against the Avalanche, blowing a 5-3 lead in the final four minutes. Colorado tied the game with just 6.8 seconds left in regulation.
On Dec. 3, Colorado erased a 4-0 first-period deficit in Buffalo, stunning the Sabres 5-4 in overtime.
That game, coupled with losing Dahlin, their top defenseman, to back spasms, sent the Sabres spiraling.
Perhaps their latest defeat to Colorado is having a similar effect. At least the Sabres have a healthy Dahlin these days.
If they have any hope of joining the playoff chase, they must rattle off some wins. As of Sunday afternoon, they trailed the Ottawa Senators, who held the second wild card spot, by seven points.
They also must pass seven teams – the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins had 40 points, the same total as Ottawa – to reach that final playoff spot.
That second wild card spot might be easier to snag than in past seasons. Washington earned it with just 91 points in 2023-24. Entering Sunday’s schedule, Ottawa was on an 86-point pace.
The Sabres finished with 84 points last season and 91 in 2022-23.
Im just going to give my random thoughts on this season, and Ive seen every single game.
1. This team is Soft & Undersized.
I could argue the Softest & most Undersized team in the league.
This falls on GM Adams.
2. Dahlin should not be Captain.
Tuch should be. Dahlin doesn’t have the needed personality of a Captain. He’s not outgoing enough.
3. Power is Way Overrated. He’s soft. He never hits or moves anyone. He misses plays all the time or is out of position. Trade him already and bring up Ryan Johnson. Power is No Way worth $8.3 mil/year.
4. Trade Cozens. He’s completely invisible out there. Get rid of his $7.1 mil /year contract. Bring up Ostlund.
5. Extend Zucker. He’s been a Stud and does all the dirty work. He’s exceeded All expectations.
6. UPL has been a STUD. Ignore the box scores. The D has let him down COUNTLESS times !!
7. I rwally like Malenstyn’s game. He hits and brings it every night.
8. This team has got to get Bigger & Meaner. (ADAMS, Are you listening ?)
9. I question this team’s conditioning. The Avalanche smoked this team both games in the 3rd. They skated around the Sabres, like they weren’t even there. The Avs & Oilers PP unit’s dont ever come off the ice.
10. We still can’t win a crucial faceoff, still struggle connecting passes, struggle getting in the offensive zone and setting up the PP.
11. The team’s spacing sucks. They dont transition well. And they don’t attack the puck on the PK. A lot of the time I swear they are screening UPL. This is just bad coaching.
I would love to hear from other Sabres fans on my thoughts.
And. I will be Pissed if the trade Byram.
He’s a STUD !!!