The Buffalo Sabres played host to the Boston Bruins this evening at the First Niagara Center, looking to get their season back on track.
Things started off very fast and fluid for the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo was getting pucks on net, as things appeared to be going to plan.
“We came out hard,” said Sabres captain Brian Gionta. “We wanted to focus on that, and made sure it happened.”
Unfortunately, things would not remain good for the Sabres.
At 9:56 of the first, a Dougie Hamilton shot beat Jhonas Enroth glove side, resulting in a Boston goal. Hamilton’s first goal of the season put the Bruins up, 1-0.
Just a few minutes later, Zdeno Chara would put his heavy slapshot on display. Cody McCormick was able to block the first shot, but the puck went right back to Chara. Zedno Chara went on to roof a shot from the blue line, putting Boston up 2-0, at 13:31.
The second period would be a lot more unkind to the Buffalo Sabres.
While Buffalo was able to hang around for the first ten minutes of the second frame, things turned ugly once the clock struck 10.
At 11:40 of the second, Torey Krug’s point shot snuck through a David Krejci screen and passed Enroth. Krug’s first of the season put the Bruins up 3-1.
“Honestly, I didn’t see them (first three goals) at all,” said Jhonas Enroth. “That’s something we need to work on.”
A little more than 3 minutes later, the Bruins would strike again. This time, it came at the hands of Carl Soderberg.
Soderberg’s 2nd of the season, at 14:48 in the second, put the Bruins up 4-0.
The Sabres would get their chances, as displayed by their 12 shots in the third, but they could not get anything through Niklas Svedberg.
Boston would keep their offensive pressure on in the third, with 11 shots of their own, and they were able to shut things down defensively.
The Buffalo Sabres would end up losing to the Boston Bruins, 4-0.
When asked about the scoring drought, Cody Hodgson certainly was unable to put his finger on it.
“It’s tough to analyze right now,” Hodgson said. “We’ve got to find a way, we can’t keep going like this. Now, we’re getting chances. We’ve just got to bury them.”
Sabres’ goaltender Jhonas Enroth was also critical of the team, but was optimistic that things can improve.
“We are professional athletes,” Enroth said. “A lot of guys in this room are strong mentally, so I’m sure guys are going to get over it and move on for the next week in California.”
This is the first time that the Sabres have been shutout in back-to-back games since October 2003, and only the second time that it has happened in franchise history at home, 2/17/72 – 2/20/72 was first.
Buffalo heads out on a lengthy road trip, following this game. On Wednesday night, the Sabres will take on the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Puck drops shortly after 10:30 PM, and the game will be broadcast on MSG.