WGR

‘Buffalo got back within striking distance in the waning moments of the middle stanza, when Tobias Rieder beat New York’s Igor Shesterkin to make it a 3-2 contest in MSG.’

‘Buffalo wasn’t able to tie the game up in the 3rd, but they had their chances.’

‘Read that again if you will because there isn’t any other player on that roster that wants to do anything to spark this team. Teams know they’re in for a very easy night when they play the Buffalo Sabres. They know the compete will likely be low and they definitely won’t get hit unless Ristolainen is on the ice. Goalies know they’ll be able to see and handle most shots and in many cases, have their easiest games of the year. That of course unless Cozens is on the ice. On Buffalo’s second goal Tobi Rieder was able to net his fourth of the season from the point because Cozens was in Igor Shesterkin’s lap.’

‘”It is about gritty goals now. We need to get some gritty goals. That, for me, is the way we need to think. The perfect plays and the pretty goals, they happen when you have confidence and when you have flow, when you’re in the groove offensively. We need to look at what everybody knows as ugly goals, the second chances in front of the net. Somebody getting called on an interference on the goalie versus trying to make plays from the wall.”‘

‘If the Sabres can’t make the playoffs in a season where the league actually had 24 of its 31 teams advance and if they can essentially be out of a playoff race one-third of the way into a 56-game schedule, I’m not sure when they will ever play for Lord Stanley’s Cup again.’

‘The Sabres enjoyed an early 5-0 shots on goal advantage to begin the game, but finished the opening period being outshot 13-7 by Philadelphia. Buffalo’s best scoring chance came when Curtis Lazar hit the cross bar midway through the frame.’

‘Buffalo’s ineptness took them from 27th in league scoring to 29th averaging 2.21 goals per game. Only the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Duck are worse. Last season under Krueger the team was 21st in league scoring at 2.80 goals per game.’

‘Buffalo got smothered by the Flyers all weekend, outshot by a total of 77-51. The stat sheet shows that the Sabres faired slightly better in Sunday afternoon’s game, but they got shelled in the first two periods before the Flyers let up in the 3rd period after taking a 3-0 lead.’

‘The Flyers outshot Buffalo in all three periods, totaling a 39-23 advantage in the victory.’

‘Buffalo has lost five straight at home and six out of seven overall. Elliott made 23 saves for the shutout, but it may have been the easiest game he’s ever had in the NHL. The Sabres rarely tested him and were very disconnected in their offensive attack.’