The Sabres put up a really disappointing 5-1 loss in their opening night game against the Rangers. The defense looked pathetic and the offense couldn’t score on Shesterkin. Tonight we head to Long Island to face the Isles and need to bounce back with the high expectations on them this season.

After the Sabres couldn’t capitalize on a pretty good chance in the first period, the Islanders got on the board first, as Brock Nelson scored on a two on one to open the scoring 5:57 into the game. With 1:42 left in the first, Devon Levi made the save on Brock Nelson, but the rebound went off Connor Clifton’s leg and into the net to make it 2-0 Islanders. Lousy defense but more bad luck on that goal than anything. I actually thought that was a decent period and with a few adjustments we should be fine. Just a bit disappointing. Both teams got seven shots on goal and we just slightly barely the Isles by an expected goal rate of 0.55-0.29.

Jordan Greenway scored a beautiful goal 4:15 into the second period, deking his way around Sorokin to make it a 2-1 game, giving rookie Zach Benson his first NHL point on the assist. Much better period for the Sabres as we were the far better team in that 20 minutes and doubled up our shots on goal from the first period, outshooting the Isles 14-11. Easily the best best period that Buffalo has played through these first two games.

Casey Mittelstadt tied up the game on a nice backhand over Sorokin’s glove hand to tie up the game just 2:34 into the third period. With 6:20 left in regulation, Cal Clutterbuck ripped a shot from the blue line that got redirected by Casey Cizikas right in front. The goal looked like it was on a high stick, but Don Granato challenged it for offsides. It got determined to be a goal, which made things work making us shorthanded. We caught a break 37 seconds into the penalty kill though with the Isles taking a penalty to turn it into a 4 on 4 with Bo Hornet in the box.

Solid effort with some good chances at the end of the game to tie it up, but we fall short to drop to 0-2 on the season.

FINAL: Sabres 2, Islanders 3

Much better game then Thursday, but it really sucks to lose this one. We were outshot 29-28 in a very evenly played game.

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Lousy loss. Tampa comes to town on Tuesday for us to look for the first win of the season.

Let’s go Sabres.

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