‘6-24-2 – Record vs. East playoff teams Pittsburgh, Washington, Boston and the New York Islanders.’
The Sabres Report - May 10, 2021
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has offseason filled with critical decisions ★
‘Adams’ short list for this offseason includes hiring a coach, trying to re-sign his No. 1 goalie and top scorer and making sure his captain and best player, Jack Eichel, is happy.’
Sabres’ high expectations unravel with last-place finish ★
‘Management again over-estimated how close the franchise was to becoming a contender, attempting quick fixes with headline-grabbing signings.’
Hamilton: How the Sabres should approach the head coaching search ★
‘Now that the season is over, I don’t think Adams should just hand the job to Granato. I definitely think he should be the front-runner, but I’ve said this from the start, they absolutely can’t get this coach wrong, so every single coach on Adams’ list needs to be interviewed. College coaches, AHL coaches, assistant coaches, former NHL coaches, everybody.’
The Sabres Report - May 9, 2021
Inside the Sabres: Coaching hire to kick-start a busy offseason for GM Kevyn Adams ★
‘Under Granato’s watch, the Sabres posted a 9-16-3 record, including a mark of 9-11-2 since their franchise-record 18-game winless streak. He padded his résumé by implementing an effective, up-tempo system that prioritized puck possession and suited the talent on the roster.’
The Wraparound: Michael Houser magnificent, but Sabres drop season finale ★
‘Buffalo was shut out for the ninth time this season, but this wasn’t a flat performance. The Sabres finished with 29 shots on goal, as the Penguins (37-16-3) received a remarkable performance from third-string goalie Maxime Lagace, a 28-year-old with only 17 games of NHL experience.’
Many Sabres thrived with Don Granato: ‘I owe Donnie a huge thank you’ ★
‘“A lot of guys, including myself, owe Donnie quite a bit,” Mittelstadt said on a Zoom call following Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season finale. “He challenged me when he took over and pushed me to become a better player. I think it’s that simple.”‘
Sunday's Pittsburgh Coverage ★
Maxime Lagace shuts out Buffalo, Penguins clinch East Division title (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Penguins looking forward to loosened COVID-19 protocols in the NHL playoffs (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Goaltender Maxime Lagace records shutout in Penguins debut (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 1, Sabres 0 (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Photo gallery (NHL.com)
Lagace Steps In and Posts Shutout in Pens Debut (PittsburghPenguins.com)
Carter, Lagace help Penguins beat Sabres, clinch 1st in East ★
‘“I think our guys advanced,” Sabres interim coach Don Granato said. “They have a taste of confidence. They should have had no confidence after giving up eight goals the other day. They came in from the drop of the puck and had confidence, and that’s progress.”’
Sabres blanked in season finale against Penguins ★
‘Buffalo trailed on the scoreboard through 40 minutes of play, despite owning a 24-9 shot advantage over Pittsburgh.’