To say things are looking bad for the Buffalo Sabers would be an understatement. By losing 5 to 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, Lindy Ruff’s players recorded their 10th defeat in a row.
And by his own admission, the Sabers head coach doesn’t know what to say anymore.
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“I almost have no more words,” he admitted after the meeting in comments relayed by the National Hockey League (NHL) website.
“It’s up to me to solve this problem,” Ruff continued. It’s the toughest situation I’ve ever been in, but it’s up to me to put these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. Nobody else. Just me.”
Against the Maple Leafs, everything started well for the Sabres, who led 3 to 1 midway through the second period. But in the space of 2:31, the team completely collapsed and allowed three unanswered goals.
«[Tôt dans le match] we managed to put the puck on net,” explained forward Alex Tuch. We were tough on their defense, all five guys put pressure and forced turnovers, and we moved the puck quickly.
“The forwards got open for the defense, and the defense moved the puck for the forwards,” he said. Four guys on offense, then it didn’t work anymore.”
During this terrible sequence, the Sabers only amassed three points out of 20 available, while allowing 38 goals, the worst total in the entire NHL. They are 11-16-4, good for seventh place in the Atlantic Division.
The Buffalo-based club will have the opportunity to return to winning ways against the Canadian in Montreal on Tuesday.
