Buffalo kept it close against a good team, but a loss is a loss.
Score: Buffalo Sabres 2 | Washington Capitals 4
Shots: BUF 21 | WSH 31
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Jason Zucker (8), Jiri Kulich (4)
Washington Capitals Goals: Tom Wilson (12,13), Dylan Strome (10), Jakob Chychrun (9-EN)
Plus 1: Greenway’s Return
Jordan Greenway has been an underrated part of this Sabres team. He returned to the lineup on Saturday and made an almost immediate impact, getting to the front of the net and helping to tip in Buffalo’s first goal. Greenway was awarded the primary assist, as it was determined the puck finally went in off Jason Zucker’s skate after the initial shot by Ryan McLeod and the redirect. Greenway has been a nice addition and his absence was certainly noted.
Plus 1: Kept it Close
Alright, look. I’m not going to try to make this feel good. A nine-game losing streak should not feel good for anyone. But if I’m trying to find any sort of silver lining, *any* sort of bright spot, it’s that this game could’ve been much further apart. The Capitals are the best team in the Eastern Conference, 21-6-2 on the season, 8-1-1 in their last ten games and 9-4-2 on home ice. The Sabres are nowhere near their level. This could’ve been a blowout, but Buffalo did manage to keep it respectable.
Minus 1: Extended Losing Strek
But, at the end of the night, it’s still a loss and now a nine-game losing streak for the Sabres. There is no excuse. Fans aren’t happy, and players aren’t either. But what’s being done about it? Will we wake up on Sunday and find the team has made any sort of moves? Nine in a row is completely unacceptable, period.
Final Thoughts
At this point, it’s hard to think about what could make me feel better about this team. Realistically, they’re going to break the losing streak at some point. (Yes, at some point.) But even one win… what will that feel like? Will it really provide any sense of relief? What if it’s two wins in a row, will that make things better? What if they pull off some kind of magical trade to ship out Dylan Cozens, who teams are reportedly interested in? Will that change anything?
Hey, at least the Amerks crushed it tonight, with an 8-2 win over the Belleville Senators. Notably, Devon Levi was a scratch – could he get the recall to give him a well-deserved chance tomorrow in Toronto with the NHL club? At any rate, Isak Rosén had three points, while Viktor Neuchev & Brett Murray each had two goals. Fourteen Amerks had at least a point, and Felix Sandström had 29 saves.
