The Buffalo Sabres were hoping that their success this season on the road would provide a magic tonic after regulation losses to Ottawa, Vegas, and Tampa Bay on their four-game homestand, but in spite of playing a more disciplined game against the club with league’s second worst record and worst goal differential, the Sabres lost 3-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime at the United Center on Thursday.
The loss is the Sabres third in a row and fourth in the last five games, and in those defeats, they are averaging less than two goals a game.
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Owen Power and Tage Thompson scored for Buffalo, but Frank Nazar scored his second of the game midway through the third period to tie the game and should have been penalized in overtime after what Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff considered an obvious interference penalty. Ryan Donato scored at 3:12 of overtime to snap the Hawks six-game losing skid.
“It’s a penalty in any league. It’s a call you’ve got to get. It’s a call that has to be made. The guy turns and sticks his ass out and dumps our guy. Make the call.” Ruff said. “You can’t interfere with the guy, just basic interference, the call’s right there in front of them.”
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Buffalo has earned points in eight of their nine road games (4-1-4), but their under .500 record at KeyBank Center has them falling behind in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Currently, the Sabres are eight points behind Tampa Bay and Montreal, and seven points in back of Boston for the top three spots in the Atlantic, and six points in back of Ottawa and four points behind both Florida in the race for the two wildcard spots.
“We’ve got to start winning games for sure.” Ruff said. “Getting a point is OK, but we have to start winning games.”
GM Jarmo Kekalainen reportedly is looking to add some offensive help, but only a few clubs are expected to be willing to make trades at the quarter poll of the season. The club’s current struggles are symptomatic of Kekalainen’s inability or unwillingness to bring in offensive help after the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram last summer, and an overreliance on the club’s youngsters being able to step up.
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