With exactly one minute elapsed in the first period Buffalo gave up goal number one. Of course this was a vast improvement based on the 2 goals given up in 87 seconds on Sunday so…kudos? All of the Sabres went behind the net to help a very capable Ehrhoff and the Pominville got hit at an awkward angle and everyone got made and the Brian Little got the puck and scored. It was lame, don’t watch it.
The Sabres went down 2-0 in the second period. The Jets were beneficiaries of some puck luck when a Christian Ehrhoff pass went off the skate of the referee and then directly into Winnipeg control. Nathan Gerbe grabbed the initial rebound and tried to pass it up to Jason Pominville. Gerbe didn’t put enough on the pass and Pommer didn’t move to the puck so Rob Hainsey made a nice play and kept it in for Andrew Ladd to fire the puck over the shoulder of Miller.
Buffalo redeemed themselves just a bit later. With a few seconds left in the second Cody Hodgson made a nice play in his own end (say what!?) to intercept a cross ice pass on the back check. The play created a 3-on-1 which set up a Jason Pominville 1-on-1 with the goalie. Those, of course, aren’t even fair, so it was 2-1.
It was an improved effort in the third period, but way too little, too late. Buffalo spent the last 4 minutes of the game on the powerplay and still couldn’t manage a goal. Weak faceoff ability and a desire for too much of an individual effort cost the Sabres in crunch time and they fell to the Jets who leapfrog Buffalo in the standings with the win.
The Sabres went down 2-0 in the second period. The Jets were beneficiaries of some puck luck when a Christian Ehrhoff pass went off the skate of the referee and then directly into Winnipeg control. Nathan Gerbe grabbed the initial rebound and tried to pass it up to Jason Pominville. Gerbe didn’t put enough on the pass and Pommer didn’t move to the puck so Rob Hainsey made a nice play and kept it in for Andrew Ladd to fire the puck over the shoulder of Miller.
Buffalo redeemed themselves just a bit later. With a few seconds left in the second Cody Hodgson made a nice play in his own end (say what!?) to intercept a cross ice pass on the back check. The play created a 3-on-1 which set up a Jason Pominville 1-on-1 with the goalie. Those, of course, aren’t even fair, so it was 2-1.
It was an improved effort in the third period, but way too little, too late. Buffalo spent the last 4 minutes of the game on the powerplay and still couldn’t manage a goal. Weak faceoff ability and a desire for too much of an individual effort cost the Sabres in crunch time and they fell to the Jets who leapfrog Buffalo in the standings with the win.
- Cody Hodgson had a nice forecheck going all game long.
- T.J. Brennan was very physical down low. Nice change from every other Sabres defenseman.
- John Scott had 2-3 really big hits.
- Tyler Ennis really impressed me with his willingness to go to the front of the net and the skill with which he makes his way there. Little things that you can miss away from the play.
- Jordan Leopold was a healthy scratch. I didn’t miss him.
- I did miss Andrej Sekera. A lot. Not a lot of stability for Buffalo’s defense outside of Christian Ehrhoff and, surprisingly, Alex Sulzer.
- Mike Weber did not look comfortable and had some rough turnovers. I hope he can return to his pre-scratch form soon, because the Sabres could sorely use him.
- Lindy Ruff tried some new lines. They didn’t seem to work and he gave up on them midway through the second period.
- Jim Slater is a player that would look great on the 4th line in Blue & Gold.
- Buffalo was almost entirely incapable of breaking out of their own zone under pressure. It was embarrassing and the Sabres puck possession numbers suffered mightily because of it.
- T.J. Brennan was very physical down low. Nice change from every other Sabres defenseman.
- John Scott had 2-3 really big hits.
- Tyler Ennis really impressed me with his willingness to go to the front of the net and the skill with which he makes his way there. Little things that you can miss away from the play.
- Jordan Leopold was a healthy scratch. I didn’t miss him.
- I did miss Andrej Sekera. A lot. Not a lot of stability for Buffalo’s defense outside of Christian Ehrhoff and, surprisingly, Alex Sulzer.
- Mike Weber did not look comfortable and had some rough turnovers. I hope he can return to his pre-scratch form soon, because the Sabres could sorely use him.
- Lindy Ruff tried some new lines. They didn’t seem to work and he gave up on them midway through the second period.
- Jim Slater is a player that would look great on the 4th line in Blue & Gold.
- Buffalo was almost entirely incapable of breaking out of their own zone under pressure. It was embarrassing and the Sabres puck possession numbers suffered mightily because of it.
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