‘The Sabres, equipped with superstar talents Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall, have scored the fewest 5-on-5 goals in the National Hockey League. With only 15 points in 21 games, Buffalo sits last in the league standings.’
The Sabres Report - March 5, 2021
The Wraparound: Another slow start, another ugly loss for last-place Sabres ★
‘Another ugly start doomed the Sabres, who have scored first only seven times in 21 games. Dobson and Matt Martin scored less than six minutes apart in the first period for the Islanders. Buffalo has a negative-10 goal differential in the first period this season. The Sabres have led at the first intermission only four times.’
Sabres notebook: Taylor Hall 'open' to returning to Buffalo next season ★
‘“Yeah, I’m open to anything,” said Hall, who signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres in October. “It’s not like I’ve had an amazing statistical year by any means so far this year. Just in saying that, I think I’ve enjoyed my time here. I really like the guys, the coaching staff, the way we’re treated as players and like we said from the start, my agent and myself, we’re open to anything. I was never treating this as a one-year thing. I was always coming into it open-minded and we’ll have to see what happens here, if there’s interest on their side. But yeah, of course I have interest.”’
Sabres unravel against Islanders, lose fifth straight: ‘It’s a dangerous spiral’ ★
‘The Sabres have become the NHL’s laughingstock again. Right now, it feels like they will never win another game.’
Despite slow start, Sabres’ Taylor Hall open to contract extension with Buffalo ★
‘“I’m open to anything,” Hall said on a Zoom call Thursday afternoon from Nassau Coliseum. “It’s not like I’ve had an amazing statistical year by any means so far this year. So just in saying that, I’ve enjoyed my time here, I’ve really liked the guys, the coaching staff, the way we’re treated as players.”‘
NHL debate: Should struggling Buffalo Sabres trade franchise cornerstone Jack Eichel? ★
‘Sabres fans had to deal with a lot of losing in 2015 to finish last overall but lost a shot at Connor McDavid when the Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery. Eichel was a good consolation prize, and though he hasn’t matched McDavid’s production (and he wasn’t supposed to), he has not been a problem in Buffalo. The Sabres could get assets for pending unrestricted free agents Taylor Hall and Eric Staal (if they waive no-trade clauses). They could buy out Skinner in the summer and again try to build around Eichel. This remains a long-term rebuild.’
Friday's New York Coverage ★
Martin scores twice as Islanders beat Buffalo (Newsday)
Isles’ Beauvillier scores in his 300th NHL game (Newsday)
Photo gallery (NHL.com)
5 Takeaways: ‘Islander’ Hockey Powers 5-2 Win over Buffalo (NewYorkIslanders.com)
Martin scores 2 to help Islanders beat Sabres 5-2 ★
‘“It was a very bad game,” Ristolainen said. “I feel like every time we were kind of getting back at it, getting the momentum in their zone, and getting some good shifts then we made a mistake. I made unfortunately a lot of mistakes today that cost us the game.”’
What a trade for Sabres' Jack Eichel could reasonably look like ★
‘Would Boston fork over four first-rounders to bring that scenario to life? Given how good Eichel is and the fact he’s only 24, the B’s would have to think about it. The reality, though, is those picks just don’t have the same appeal for the Sabres because they’re not likely to be high selections and — even if they are — an 18-year-old drafted in 2024 isn’t going to help your team until the back half of this decade. How do you sell that to a fanbase that hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2011?’
Islanders never trail in first game against Sabres ★
‘Another rebound opportunity helps create a goal for the Sabres in the third period to bring the team back within two goals, 4-2. Ristolainen scored on what was a delayed penalty situation, and Buffalo having an extra skater on the ice. The defenseman’s third goal of the year was unassisted.’