After a horrendous loss last night, getting embarrassed 6-2 in Carolina, the Sabres followed it up with a close game that although they didn’t find the back of the net besides on a penalty shot, they played decent in, losing 2-1 at home to the Predators.
The Preds got on the board for as Filip Forsberg shot a low rip from a bad angle near the boards right off the face-off, past UPL to take a 1-0 lead 9:40 into the game. Just a few minutes later with 9:06 left in the first, Yakov Trenin had a beautiful tip in on a Colton Sissons shot to make it 2-0 Smashville. Although the offense had a decent amount of chances, the defense looked like shit as we got outshot 14-11 in the first 20 minutes.
Nashville controlled the start of the second period, getting some good chances that couldn’t get past UPL. About halfway through the game, Buffalo got on the board with 9:58 left in the second period as Victor Olofsson opened the scoring for the Sabres to make it 2-1, getting a chance at a penalty shot after getting pulled down on a breakaway and capitalizing on it.
Pretty entertaining third period, with both teams getting a lot of good chances to score, but neither of them capitalizing on any of them. Fun period and the Sabres played their best hockey of the game, but couldn’t find a way to beat Saros and tie it.
FINAL: Sabres 1, Predators 2
Not the worst loss, but the offense couldn’t find the back of the net. Besides the penalty shot, the Sabres didn’t score at all tonight, which was alarming given the amount of chances we had. We had the opportunities to score tonight, outshooting Nashville 35-29 and out chancing the Preds 25-22 with a pretty high amount of scoring chances for both teams. We did get slightly outplayed by an expected goal rate of 3.86-3.17 but this game was winnable. The defense looked lousy in the first period tonight but picked it up after that, not giving up a goal after the first 10:54 of the game. Lousy way to lose.
Back in action again at home on Tuesday night against the Red Wings.
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