3 takeaways from Sabers’ 7-4 loss to Flames – Hockey Writer – Buffalo Sabers
The Buffalo Sabers hit the road again on the Western Conference road trip, but things fell apart. This is an ancient tradition. After two wins that excited fans, the Sabers hit the road quickly, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets.
Surely a visit to perhaps the worst team in the league – the Calgary Flames – would solve their problems? If you think so, you haven’t seen this Sabers team before. They played an inconsistent game and ultimately lost to Calgary 7-4.
Team defense remains Achilles’ heel
Season after season, the Buffalo Sabers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Nothing has changed in this regard. Even after making changes to make the team’s defense better and “tougher to play against,” they’re still the same sloppy, inconsistent team.
The penalty shootout didn’t go well that night, conceding two goals. That said, there were a few goals that goalkeeper Uko-Pekka Lukonen was powerless to do. Too many mistakes left too much space for the opposing forwards.
The net defense also remains terrible. Day in and day out, there are so many opportunities in front of the net that most goalies can’t avoid. The defense constantly puts the goalie in bad positions that he can’t get out of.
The goalkeeper is not good either.
The team’s recent performance has not been great, although the goalkeeper appears to be clogged and a replacement may be needed. Yes, the team’s defense was poor, putting them in a tough position to get out of, but the goaltending wasn’t very good either.
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The Sabers are the third-worst team in the league in goals allowed per game, averaging 3.55 goals per game and ranking second in total goals conceded. They are 23 years oldRD Across the league, the team’s save percentage is 0.881, and teams below them are struggling in the standings.
These two things go hand in hand. You can’t ask Lukonen, Alex Lyon and others to perform every night. The best teams are the ones that defend well enough to allow their goalie to have a bad night without killing him.
Bad third phase team
It didn’t help that the Sabers were also one of the worst teams in terms of third-quarter goals and point differential. They conceded 37 goals in the third quarter, tied for fourth-most in the league, but only scored 28 in the final frame.
Only the Minnesota Wild (-10), Vancouver Canucks (-13) and Columbus Blue Jackets (-14) have the worst goal differential in the third quarter than the Sabers (-9). Turning the score around was nice, but giving up two empty-net goals erased all that.
It’s just another trait that bad teams have, and the Sabers have that too. When things get tense and they need the team’s help the most, the Sabers collapse on themselves and eventually fall apart.
What else do you say?
What else is there to say? The Sabers’ away record is 2 wins, 9 draws and 2 losses, ranking at the bottom of the Eastern Conference by many points. Head coach Lindy Love had clear criticism of the front office. Nothing gets better.
The Buffalo Bills hadn’t made the playoffs in 17 years before they found Josh Allen and emerged from the darkness. The Sabers’ playoff drought will certainly continue beyond this level, as this team now has no plan, no direction, and no hope.
