Lindy Ruff didn’t waste any time after the Buffalo Sabres’ 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. He went straight at the way his team handled the game, and the message was loud and clear.
"I can sum it up this way: we got out-skated, we got out-worked," Ruff said."I haven't gone back and watched the game yet, but we gave up six or seven odd-numbered rushes and a game-winning goal on an odd-numbered rush late. Two breakaways, three on one, three on two, and we had zero odd-numbered rushes."
That was the story of a night that saw Buffalo’s three-game win streak snapped in the final 10 minutes, when Ottawa scored twice to flip the result. The Sabres have built a reputation over the past two seasons for creating those rush chances themselves, but that edge has faded this year.
According to Chad DeMonincis of Expected Buffalo, Buffalo ranked first and second in the league in odd-man rushes over the last two seasons. This season, though, the Sabres are sitting 16th in the category through 11 games.
That drop-off showed up in other parts of the game too. One issue that stood out against Ottawa was Buffalo’s work in the faceoff circle, where the Sabres won just 30.2% of their draws. That kind of number makes it tough to get out of the defensive zone with any speed, and it cuts into the chance to turn possession into a quick strike the other way.
The offensive slowdown has been especially noticeable at home. Through seven home games, Buffalo is averaging only 2.14 goals per game, which is a little more than half a goal fewer than it’s scoring on the road. Over their last five home games, the Sabres have scored one goal or been shut out in four of them.
For Buffalo, the loss stung beyond just the standings. It was at least one point that slipped away, and it came against a division opponent in a crowded Atlantic Division where every point carries weight.
The Sabres get their next shot to answer on Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jacket, with a chance to respond to Ruff’s criticism and give their home crowd more to cheer about.
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Lindy Ruff Just Put A Sabres Leader On Notice
Colten Ellis did enough in net to give Buffalo a chance, turning aside 28 shots in a 2-1 loss to Ottawa, but the Sabres could not make the most of their looks at the other end. The offense again had trouble finishing, and a game that stayed within reach slipped away in the kind of tight contest where one mistake can tilt everything.
Rasmus Dahlin was at the center of that final stretch, and Lindy Ruff did not hide his frustration with the way the Sabres handled some of the late-game choices. For a team trying to tighten up its details and protect leads, the message was clear enough: the margin for error is thin, and the captain's decision-making is now under a brighter spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
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Sabres Made Their Hellebuyck Decision With One Bigger Need In Mind
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The Sabres have been comfortable enough with their current goaltending group to keep moving on that front, especially with Alex Lyon nearing a return from injury and the club expecting to get back to its three-goalie rotation. The bigger pressure point is still up front, where Buffalo is continuing to search for a true No. 1 center to help lift an offense that needs more punch. [Read more 🡒]