BUFFALO, N.Y.: A week in the past, after the Sabres dropped consecutive 3-1 losses popping out of their bye week break, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin refused to contemplate his group’s season-long inconsistencies by insisting Buffalo nonetheless had time to climb into the playoff image.
“In my head, I can’t be thinking like you guys,” Dahlin mentioned, referring to reporters, whereas noting there have been nonetheless 31 video games left within the season. “We can’t look at the big picture. I know the outside world is doing it. But in here, if we start doing that, it’s no good.”
A week later, the playoff image seems even gloomier after the Sabres (24-27-4) break up their previous 4 video games following a 4-3 loss to Anaheim on Monday. In dropping 12 factors out of rivalry, Buffalo is all however mathematically out of the race and extra possible destined to increase its NHL-record playoff drought to a thirteenth season.
Only a faint glimmer stays of the excessive aspirations the Sabres had in September when basic supervisor Kevyn Adams declared his group’s playoff window as being open.
The younger, resurgent group that mounted a late-season playoff push solely to fall two factors brief final April has as an alternative muddled by a season wherein Buffalo has gained consecutive video games simply 4 occasions, and has but to win three in a row.
The maddening run of inconsistency is clear from recreation to recreation. Last week, Buffalo adopted a 7-0 shutout win over Los Angeles with a 4-0 loss to Florida. In December, the Sabres had been blown out 9-4 by Columbus, and two nights later celebrated a 9-3 win over Toronto.
Buffalo significantly struggles at residence, in going 12-16-1 general, and 1-5 in its previous six. Slow begins are a difficulty, with the Sabres holding a lead after one interval simply 11 occasions, tied for the second-fewest within the NHL.
Injuries have performed an element, however can’t be solely blamed on a group whose gamers acknowledge at occasions they lack id and are struggling enjoying beneath the load of upper expectations.
“We were able to play more free and loose,” ahead Dylan Cozens mentioned of final season. “Now we come into this season with only one expectation that is the playoffs. And when we’re not meeting that expectation — which we’re not — obviously the mood does change a bit and we start getting more frustrated.”
Cozens memorably javelined the shaft of his damaged stick down the Sabres’ tunnel after one latest irritating shift. On Monday, Dahlin whirled his stick excessive into the air after teammate Casey Mittelstadt was penalized for tripping with 1:38 remaining, negating Buffalo’s likelihood to get pleasure from a 6-on-5 benefit to push for a tying purpose.
And but, blame can be directed at administration for failing to supply assist by maybe overvaluing its roster. Adams has basically stood pat this season in making only one commerce in buying fourth-line ahead Eric Robinson from Columbus for a conditional seventh-round decide.
While he added two defensemen in free company final summer season, Adams failed to supply offensive assist, particularly when understanding promising rookie ahead Jack Quinn would miss the primary few months of the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in June.
The Sabres additionally misjudged their goaltending scenario in dashing rookie Devon Levi right into a beginning position earlier than lastly demoting him to the minors after going 9-7-2 with a .891 save share.
Adams dismissed the doubters to begin the season in backing Levi by saying: “We would not have put him in a situation we didn’t think he could handle and learn and grow from.”
The focus of consideration can be on coach Don Granato and whether or not his skill to develop kids has plateaued in his third full season.
A yr in the past, each Granato and Adams made the case for a way Sabres gamers would profit from having the expertise of being within the thick of a playoff race. On Monday, Granato acknowledged his gamers nonetheless have extra to be taught.
“This entire season is new territory for lots of guys with different expectations and different pressures and dealing with not being tight,” Granato mentioned, earlier than noting indicators of development, with the Sabres enjoying higher defensively and getting higher goaltending with the group lastly deciding on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as its starter in late December.
What’s not improved is Buffalo’s win complete a yr after the Sabres’ 42 victories had been their most since final making the playoffs in 2010-11.
“We can state the obvious. It’s all about winning at the end of the day,” Granato mentioned. “It’s all going to come back at some point, and the foundation is going to be stronger.”
The solely query is when, with Granato saying that is a part of a lengthier course of.
And but, there have been hints of a seeming disconnect between Granato and his group, as occurred final week when the coach insisted his gamers’ confidence was at its highest of the season. The Sabres then proceeded to lose 3-1 to St. Louis after which Jeff Skinner acknowledged confidence was a difficulty.
“Sooner or later, we’ll get out of it and have more confidence, and the guys will feel good about themselves and things will start to click,” Skinner mentioned. “It’s just a matter of right now trying to find that, and get out of it quick.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
