'"Obviously, it’s not acceptable, but [we need] more desperation in our game," Skinner said afterward. "I think that’s what we want to get to. We have to stick with it and keep on it. It’s tough. You can talk about it, but you have to go out there to do it. You have to find a way late in games to get big plays."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ third-period meltdown ends with another loss to last-place Panthers
Archives for December 19, 2018
Mike Harrington: If Berglund doesn't want to be here, Sabres should accommodate
'Berglund has put nothing into this rebuild. Forget about the fact he was acquired for Ryan O'Reilly. He was largely a money balancer on the salary cap. That trade was all about getting Tage Thompson and a first-round draft pick, not a 30-year-old who proved inside of a month that he was no longer capable of being a reliable center in the speedier NHL.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: If Berglund doesn’t want to be here, Sabres should accommodate
Phil Housley: Jake McCabe, Lawrence Pilut, could return to Sabres' lineup this weekend
'McCabe, who has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury, joined the Sabres for Tuesday's morning skate and has participated in on-ice workouts with Dennis Miller, the Sabres' rehab and development coach, for eight of the past nine days. Pilut, meanwhile, has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury but did not skate with the team Tuesday.' … [Read more...] about Phil Housley: Jake McCabe, Lawrence Pilut, could return to Sabres’ lineup this weekend
The Wraparound: Panthers 5, Sabres 2
'The Sabres, 20-10-5 with 45 points, led 2-1 after two periods with goals by Jeff Skinner and Ristolainen. However, Barkov scored a power-play goal, Dadonov capitalized on a penalty shot and Vatrano backhanded a shot past Carter Hutton after Marco Scandella lost contain in front of the net. Those three goals were scored 3:44 apart, and Dadonov added an empty netter to cap the … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Panthers 5, Sabres 2
Sabres blow third-period lead, lose to last-place Panthers
'“We have an opportunity to close things out and it didn’t happen,” coach Phil Housley of the scoring opportunities the Sabres couldn’t convert. “So we have to feel comfortable in that position. We don’t have to do anything special, take what the game gives us."' … [Read more...] about Sabres blow third-period lead, lose to last-place Panthers
Sabres notes: Brendan Guhle returns to NHL confident
'“I started playing the way that I know that I can,” Guhle said. “I started playing with a little more confidence and it worked out.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres notes: Brendan Guhle returns to NHL confident
Wednesday's Florida Coverage
Photo gallery (NHL.com) 5 Takeaways: Panthers Explode in 3rd to Blow Past Buffalo (FloridaPanthers.com) Photo gallery (Buffalo News) … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Florida Coverage
Around The Pros: Buffalo Sabres' resurgence could have legs due to local ties
'One of the underrated moves of the summer was Phil Housley hiring ex-London Knight Steve Smith as an assistant coach, obviously to work with the defencemen.' … [Read more...] about Around The Pros: Buffalo Sabres’ resurgence could have legs due to local ties
3rd-period burst leads Panthers to 5-2 win over Sabres
'Sabres veteran Jason Pominville was injured six minutes into the third period after an accidental collision with Ristolainen. Pominville made his way slowly to the locker room and did not return.' … [Read more...] about 3rd-period burst leads Panthers to 5-2 win over Sabres
Panthers ride big 3rd period to 5-2 win over Sabres
'Trailing 2-1 through 40 minutes of play, the Florida Panthers scored four unanswered goals in the final period to beat the Buffalo Sabres at Key Bank Center on Tuesday 5-2. Two of the Florida goals came courtesy of Evgenii Dadonov, one on a penalty shot and the other an empty netter, part of a three-point night for Dadonov. The win marks the Panthers' seventh straight victory … [Read more...] about Panthers ride big 3rd period to 5-2 win over Sabres
The Panthers Luongo steals another one in Buffalo
'Buffalo killed off three Florida power plays and did an excellent job sacrificing the body. After 40 minutes the Sabres had killed off 21 straight penalties, but that ended to start the third.' … [Read more...] about The Panthers Luongo steals another one in Buffalo
From the Locker Room: Sabres-Panthers
'What the difference was in the loss: "Maybe our puck managment wasn't there, but I don't think our desperation was there. Florida was definitely desperate and played well in their own end, and I don't think we out-worked them. Give them credit for having a good third period, because we weren't good enough."' … [Read more...] about From the Locker Room: Sabres-Panthers
Jason Botterill: "You want to have more depth scoring up front"
'Jason Botterill would not get into specifics when further pressed about Berglund. Elliotte Friedman of Sportnet has reported that the root of the problem could be a No-Trade/ No-Movement clause issue Berglund had at the time of the trade that sent him to Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Jason Botterill: “You want to have more depth scoring up front”
Panthers score four straight in third, top Sabres
'"I thought we had a good start, but [we need] just a little more desperation in our game in the third," Skinner said. "I think you just sort of saw it coming as the game went along. [Luongo] made some big saves, and we're sort of looking for that bounce when I think we should've been going after it and trying to sort of create it for ourselves."' … [Read more...] about Panthers score four straight in third, top Sabres
Sabres let 3rd-period lead slip away in loss to Panthers
'"I'll give Florida credit, they kept the game simple," Housley said. "Every time they had an opportunity to get the puck in deep, they did. … They simplified their game. It really drew a lot of energy from us in the defensive zone in the second period."' … [Read more...] about Sabres let 3rd-period lead slip away in loss to Panthers