Sabres takeaways: What happened in Vegas needs to stay there in wake of dreary loss
The Sabres were outshot, 26-10, in the first 40 minutes of this one − and had the same number of missed shots in that span. It didn't matter they finally
If you were curious to see what kind of reaction the Buffalo Sabres would have to Thursday's calamity in Colorado, you probably should have known better.
One loss seems to carry over to the next and to the next for the streaky Sabres, who did virtually nothing in the first 40 minutes of their 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night in rollicking T-Mobile Arena.
The Sabres are back in a rut at 0-2-1 after their fourth three-game winning streak of the season. So that's four skids of at least three games − with one, of course, lasting 13 − and an 0-4 record when trying to forge a winning streak of four games for the first time in two years.
Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone skates with the puck through Sabres right wing JJ Peterka, left, Jason Zucker, middle,
and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Saturday's game in Las Vegas. Lucas Peltier, Associated Press
The Sabres were outshot, 26-10, in the first 40 minutes of this one − and had the same number of missed shots in that span. It didn't matter they finally showed some spunk with 14 shots on goal in the third period to close the final count to 33-24.
By then, the issue was decided as old friend Jack Eichel led Vegas with a goal and an assist.
"Started too late. It just cannot happen in this league. You have to ready the first whistle," said an exasperated captain Rasmus Dahlin. "They rolled over us first period and then we started playing good again. Too late. We have to be better. This is not acceptable."
Dahlin said the Sabres simply aren't learning from the err of their ways and become too satisfied when they put a couple of wins together. Which is pretty amazing when you consider they remain last in the Eastern Conference.
"Every day is a new day and we really have to learn that," Dahlin said. "We have to come to the realization that we can't be a young team anymore. We have to learn these little things all the vets know about and we have to step up. We can't do this."
From a technical standpoint, head coach Lindy Ruff was furious about poor puck management and for his defense leaving the middle of the ice open on first-period goals by Tanner Laczynski and Mark Stone. Peyton Krebs' turnover created the first goal and Stone beat Nicolas Aube-Kubel to the net and tapped home an Eichel pass.
"I just thought they were quicker. They were faster," Ruff said of Vegas, which improved to 27-9-3 overall and took over first place in the NHL's overall standing. "I thought our passing to start out with between our 'D' and forwards was poor. I thought theirs was spot-on and you end up chasing them around."
Here's a look at some other takeaways from the game:
1. Eichel's revenge tour
Eichel had a game-high seven shots on goal in his fourth career matchup against the Sabres since he was traded to Vegas on Nov. 4, 2021. He has five goals and seven points in those games, highlighted by his hat trick in KeyBank Center on Nov. 10, 2022. Eichel has 11 goals and 41 assists this season and is second in the NHL in helpers."There's always an emotional aspect," Eichel admitted about his matchups with the Sabres. "I think any guy who has played somewhere and moved on to another situation, I think when you play against your former team, you want to have a good game."
Golden Knights center Jack Eichel celebrates with teammate Noah Hanifin after scoring during the third period against the Sabres on Saturday. Steve Marcus, Las Vegas Sun via AP
"He's got that ability where he doesn't look like he's going fast, but he's going fast," Ruff said. "And he's extremely strong when he gets a step. If he gets the middle of the ice, you known how dangerous he can be. And when he's coming off the flank, if he's got room to shoot it, he's got one of the best shots in the league."
Reimer gets the call
Veteran James Reimer's fifth start in goal for the Sabres in place of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was a good one. Reimer stopped 30 of 33 shots, with the save total one off his season high with Buffalo."The more pucks, you see, the bigger the puck is. Overall, I was happy with my game," Reimer said. "When I look at it, I wish I could have made three more saves but I thought I had a pretty good body of work."
Ruff said he was pondering Reimer in Vegas regardless of what happened in Colorado because the Sabres have a long flight home Sunday before meeting Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Monday in KeyBank Center.
"The plan was always to play him today," Ruff said of Reimer. "There was never any indecision on playing him. ... The thinking is there's been a lot of games. We do have travel, we've had a couple late nights and UPL needs some rest too."
"I've played a while in this league and you kind of get a feel for the schedule and what games you might possibly play," Reimer said. "Obviously, it's always up to the coaches and you never know what they're thinking or what their thought process is. I just practiced, tried to stay ready and had an idea this might be the one."
Luukkonen had a shutout through 35 minutes Thursday in Denver − then gave up six goals in the final 26 minutes, including one in overtime.
"A little bit of misfortune through that. He'd probably like to have a couple of them back," Ruff admitted. "That's just been part of the way some of our games have unfolded. He's given us really good hockey and we've pushed him to the limit in a lot of stretches."
Numbers games
86: The current points pace for the Ottawa Senators, who entered Sunday holding the second wild card in the East. Under the current format that dates to 2013, the lowest total to qualify in the East was 91 points.68: The Sabres' points pace, which would be their lowest total since the 2017-18 season and the worst in the five seasons under general manager Kevyn Adams
5 for 9: The Sabres' power play success on the road trip. Jason Zucker's goal with 2:18 left Saturday was his 15th of the season and eighth on the power play. Zucker has a goal in four straight games overall for the first time since 2023. The Sabres are 7 for 16 on the power play the last seven games.
5: Zucker's goal streak in road games, the longest run away from Buffalo by a Sabres skater since Jason Pominville scored in seven straight in 2006.