Sabres mail it in at MSG

After a brutal homestand at KeyBank Center, the Sabres couldn’t be much worse as they hit the road, right?

They got embarrassed (again) on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Rangers scored early and often en route to a 5-1 victory.

The Rangers didn’t play a perfect game. It was just that Buffalo doesn’t have any sort of life or commitment right now. They beat themselves once again. 

Sam Reinhart scored Buffalo’s lone goal, his 20th of the season, which came on the power play late in the third period. The goal spoiled a shutout bid for Alexandar Georgiev, who stopped 44 of 45 shots on the night. 

Georgiev was a big reason why the Rangers won big, and Jimmy Vesey helped on the offensive side with two goals and an assist.

Chris Kreider, Jimmy Hayes and Mika Zibanejad all had two points each as the Rangers handed the Sabres their fourth consecutive loss.

Mercifully, the regular season is coming to an end. This Buffalo team is getting harder and harder to watch. They have just two goals over the past four games, and just seven remaining. 

Robin Lehner was pulled from Saturday’s game after allowing four goals on 12 shots. The one positive was that Linus Ullmark held the Rangers to one goal on 11 shots for just over half the game.

After the game, it was the same kind of things we’ve heard all season from the Buffalo locker room.

“I just need to be better. All of us need to be better. Obviously, it’s not good enough. It’s look in the mirror. All you can really do is control yourself. You can’t look to anyone else to be better.” – Jack Eichel

Clearly, these words have not translated to any consistent success on the ice, for any player really. 

Phil Housley tried lighting a spark during a practice last week, but it’s not getting through. 

Once again, the only thing to look forward to is the future, but Jason Botterill has some work to this offeseason. The lineup that is being put out there isn’t going to fix itself. There are players with talent, but nothing is clicking and they’re headed in the wrong direction.

The Sabres are back at it on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.