Detroit’s three first-period goals put Buffalo behind the eight-ball in critical loss
In spite of their improved play since early January, the Buffalo Sabres have fallen into a similar pattern of falling behind early in games, which has succeeded in putting the final nail in the coffin of the 2023-24 regular season.
Slow starts were a regular occurrence in the first half, and with Buffalo not being able to score with reckless abandon as they did last season, surrendering early leads served as the ingredients of defeat.
This penchant seemed to subside in the second half, but coming down the stretch, the Sabres have fallen back into old habits at the worst possible time. On March 27, Buffalo allowed four goals in the first nine minutes in a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, and in a do-or-die contest against Detroit on Sunday, the Red Wings scored three times in the first 7:37 on their way to a 3-1 victory at Little Caesar’s Arena.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVfFBJ1b-C4[/embed]
"(Tage)Thompson’s line had a couple of chances and pressure (on the first shift) and the next line out made a simple mistake and (it was in the) back (the) net quick, and (Detroit) capitalized on it." Sabres head coach Don Granato said after the game. "It's unfortunate obviously, simple as that. No one wants that to happen and that happened twice."
Buffalo not being able to earn loser points (Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philadelphia have 11, compared to the Sabres with 5) is the difference between having under a 1% of making the playoffs and being in the second wildcard spot with less than two weeks to go.
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