The Buffalo Sabres end 2016 on a sour note. Unable to beat the Boston Bruins for the fourth time this season, the Sabres lost 3-1 at the TD Garden. After two consecutive losses to the Bruins, the Sabres find themselves losers of six out of the last seven games.
The scoring started early in this game, just as the previous one did against Boston Thursday night in Buffalo. This time the Bruins got on the board first, as the Massachusetts native Frank Vatrano scored only 1:28 into the game. The Sabres’ poor defensive zone play was on display early as Jack Eichel put an errant back-hand pass right onto the stick of Zdeno Chara, which led to Vatrano’s 2nd goal of the season.
The physical play also carried over from last game as well, as both teams laid the body at a high frequency. As the Sabres know all too well, whenever there are hits, there are injuries.
Adam McQuaid, who was heavily involved in last game’s physical display, collided with Johan Larsson as they both went after a puck deep in the Bruins zone. Larsson, crashing awkwardly into the boards, would not return.
The Sabres struggled to manufacture offense in the first period. Not only did they not register a shot on goal until 12:16 of the period, but they also squandered their power play chances, which featured 1:08 of a 5-on-3.
Similarities from Thursday night’s game continued to carry over as Boston had another strong 2nd period. Eichel, ruining the hopes for a strong start to the period, took an early tripping penalty to give Boston the power play. After 1:57 of a successful penalty kill, the Sabres failed on an attempt to clear the puck, which allowed for Patrice Bergeron to score his 2nd goal in as many games.
About two minutes later former Sabre Tim Schaller scored for Boston, a soft goal to say the least, to make it 3-0.
The Sabres did find some life before the period ended though, as Eichel took a nifty backhanded pass from Rasmus Ristolainen and fired a shot on goal with traffic in front for his 7th goal of the season.
Too little. Too late.
A 3-1 Bruins lead would be a deficit the Sabres could not overcome. The 3rd period featured a handful of good scoring chances, but no sustained offensive pressure for Buffalo. Give the Bruins credit though, in particular Tukka Rask, who has been nothing but sensational against the Sabres all year long, making 26 saves.
Another Sabres’ loss featured more injuries to key players. Not only did Johan Larsson get injured and not return, but so did defenseman Josh Gorges, who did not play the final two periods.
2017 will not start any easier for a Sabres team struggling to find consistency, health, and an identity. The next two games are on the road against the Rangers and Blackhawks, both of which will be televised on NBCSN.
The Sabres close 2016 with a record of 13-15-8. That’s good for 34 points and dead last in the Eastern Conference.