WGR

'Buffalo wasn't able to tie the game up in the 3rd, but they had their chances.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Three Observations: Sabres finally break through but can’t beat Rangers

'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 … [Read more...] about Opinion: The Sabres have found their new leader

'"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 … [Read more...] about Krueger: ‘We need to get some gritty goals’

'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.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Another year, another tire fire

'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.' … [Read more...] about Sabres shut out by Philadelphia for second straight day

'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.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: The Sabres embarrass themselves scoring no goals in two weekend games

'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.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Three Observations: Answers unclear as Sabres are blanked again

'The Flyers outshot Buffalo in all three periods, totaling a 39-23 advantage in the victory.' … [Read more...] about Sabres blanked by Philadelphia

'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.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: The Sabres were listless in a 3-0 loss to Philadelphia

'Buffalo has struggled for the past few seasons to generate offense away from their captain. The line of Taylor Hall, Eric Staal and Dylan Cozens has emerged as the Sabres' best chance at generating offense without Eichel on the ice, but even with a decent showing on Saturday, nothing would go in for anyone.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Three observations: Sabres fall flat in matinee with Flyers

'The 27-year-old netminder was starting to put together a nice stretch of games leading up to the injury, going 2-3-0 in six games coming out of the team's COVID-19 break earlier in the month of February. In his six games, Ullmark posted a .924 save percentage, as well as a 2.29 goals-against average.' … [Read more...] about Linus Ullmark out a month with lower-body injury

'“The best way to cope with this, I take it a day at a time. For me, I’d like to be out there battling with my teammates, but today is a new day and you try to move forward and keep getting better.”' … [Read more...] about Skinner may return to Sabres lineup on Saturday

'The Sabres had an answer in the waning minutes of the third, as, yet again, the blue and gold capitalized on a power play against the Devils. The man advantage is a place Buffalo had terrorized New Jersey this season, and the latest abuser was Sam Reinhart, as he tapped in a pass off the stick of Taylor Hall.' … [Read more...] about Devils thwart Sabres in overtime

'Trailing 3-2 in the third Krueger did insert Mittelstadt in that spot and I didn’t hate it, but once Buffalo tied the game, it was back to Sheahan. To me that’s coaching scared. Buffalo needs wins and it needs wins in regulation. Krueger was clearing coaching not to lose and trying to preserve one point instead of being aggressive and coaching to win.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: The Sabres blow a one goal third period lead and lose in overtime to the Devils

'Ullmark had started the last five games for the Sabres, including Thursday night. Through that stretch, Ullmark had saved 124 of 133 shots for a save percentage of .932. He's been a mainstay in the net for the Sabres.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Three observations: Ullmark injury looms large in overtime loss to Devils