Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, skated toward the net during the third shootout round on Monday night, skillfully maneuvering around Sabres’ backup goalie James Reimer to secure the game-winning goal.
Fans started heading for the exits, with some expressing their frustration by booing from their seats.
The Sabres extended their losing streak to seven games with a 6-5 loss, marking their longest slump since an eight-game skid two years ago. They are now just one point away from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
“We need to face this head-on, honestly,” said veteran winger Jason Zucker, who contributed two goals and an assist. “We have to acknowledge it’s seven losses in a row and take a hard look in the mirror. There’s no point in saying, ‘We’re doing this or that.’ We’ve lost seven straight. We’re not playing well enough. … We need more urgency. We have to approach these games aggressively and put an end to this streak now.”
Zucker’s second goal of the game put the Sabres up 5-3 heading into the third period, but they faltered once again. Andrew Copp and Moritz Seider scored just under six minutes apart to even the score at 5-5. Buffalo’s power-play struggles continued, dropping to 1-for-25, as they struggled to set up in the offensive zone following Seider’s penalty with 2:19 remaining in regulation.
Red Wings goalie Sebastian Cossa faced minimal action in his NHL debut, making just 14 saves in 45 minutes after entering at the start of the second period. The 22-year-old stepped up as Detroit looked to end a five-game losing streak. He wasn’t tested in overtime, aside from Ryan McLeod’s backhand attempt that hit the post, and Alex Tuch was the only Sabre to find the net in the shootout.
Red Wings starter Ville Husso was pulled after giving up three goals on seven shots in the first period. The Sabres managed just 21 shots on goal over 65 minutes and recorded 49 shot attempts—22 fewer than the Red Wings.
“We look tense,” admitted Sabres center Tage Thompson. “I think that comes from not winning. When you lose several games in a row, it’s easy to grip your stick a little tighter and feel more anxious about making mistakes. Unfortunately, that usually just compounds the problem and makes things worse. …”
“Right now, I think we just look hesitant with the puck,” Thompson continued. “It feels like we’re afraid to make mistakes and end up losing the game, especially when we have a lead.”
The Sabres didn’t appear hesitant at the start of the game. Zach Benson put them ahead 1-0 just 1:38 into the first period. They’ve scored first in 17 of their 28 games this season, a notable improvement after ranking near the bottom of the league last year. However, the team still struggles to capitalize on early leads, with a 7-6-4 record when scoring first.
After trailing 2-1, Buffalo bounced back with goals from Thompson and Zucker. Detroit quickly tied the game again just 1:05 into the second period. Later in the frame, Zucker and Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored to give the Sabres a 5-3 lead, but they were unable to hold onto it.
“It’s all self-inflicted,” said defenseman Connor Clifton regarding the Sabres’ recent losses. “We’re not getting beaten; we’re beating ourselves right now.”
Lindy Ruff’s excitement was evident in Prague as the Sabres got ready to start the season against the New Jersey Devils. The coach was pleased with the effort and execution from his players since training camp and intended to be patient, giving himself time to learn more about them.
His patience for certain players has gradually worn thin over the past 28 games.
Jack Quinn watched from the press box as a healthy scratch for the third straight game. Selected by Adams as his first draft pick in 2020, Quinn was the AHL’s rookie of the year and expected to take on a significant role this season after missing most of 2023-24 due to serious injuries. However, he struggled to win enough battles and defend effectively, with just one empty-net goal in 24 games, which wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the lineup.
JJ Peterka also received a warning from Ruff following the Sabres’ loss to Utah on Saturday. He rotated onto the third line during practice the next morning, hinting that he might be scratched for the next game. Although the 22-year-old started alongside Thompson and Tuch against the Red Wings, Peterka struggled with three giveaways and just one shot on goal. He and Quinn, both first draft picks by Kevyn Adams as general manager, have a combined minus-18 rating. Peterka has scored only one goal in his last 12 games.
“After 20-some games, I have a pretty good understanding of what each player is capable of, what they can bring to the table, and how they perform when things get tough,” said Ruff. “Can you dig in? Can you play through fatigue? Can you finish a shift? If you can’t maintain that throughout the game, then the next guy has to step in.”
Zucker, McLeod, and Jordan Greenway were among the veterans Ruff leaned on during key moments against the Red Wings. McLeod recorded two assists, won 53% of his faceoffs, and forced a turnover in overtime before hitting the post. Greenway ranked second among Sabres forwards in penalty-kill ice time, while Tuch led all forwards in total ice time.
The Sabres appeared disjointed once again in the absence of Rasmus Dahlin. Their captain and top defenseman missed a second consecutive game due to back spasms.
Owen Power was mostly solid in his 24:57 of ice time, and he, along with Henri Jokiharju, formed the Sabres’ strongest defensive pairing. However, Byram and Ryan Johnson had a tough night. While they were on the ice at 5-on-5, the team was outshot 8-3 and outscored 3-0. It was Johnson’s season debut, and the 2019 first-round pick struggled at times, appearing lost in his own zone during a few shifts.
Clifton’s misplay icing the puck in the third period gave Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde the opportunity to put his top line on the ice for an offensive-zone faceoff. Larkin won the draw, and Seider capitalized by scoring the tying goal. Later, Jacob Bryson was unable to intercept a cross-ice pass, allowing Copp to score Detroit’s second goal with a tap-in.
This team appeared to have found its identity during a 4-1-1 stretch over six games in October and a strong 7-2 record in November, which helped them rise to third in the Atlantic Division. However, they’ve lost their way again, and individual mistakes are now hindering the Sabres from gaining an edge in close games.
They are just 1-2-2 in the five games where they’ve been forced to chase the starting goalie. The team builds a lead, only to lose its focus and control. Ruff was brought in to provide structure to a team that had previously played too loosely.
There have been games where the Sabres appeared better equipped to win in low-scoring situations, such as in their losses to Minnesota and Vancouver at the start of the losing streak, where they defended well in front of Luukkonen. However, the Utah game was one of their worst of the season. The Sabres are currently tied for 25th in 5-on-5 goals against, a sharp drop from their 11th-place finish under Don Granato last season.
Ruff is demanding more from the Sabres as they sit at 11-13-4, with their homestand concluding Wednesday night against the New York Rangers.
“Sometimes you have to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, and that’s where we are right now,” he said. “We’re going through a tough stretch, and you need to get comfortable with that. You have to decide, ‘I’m the guy who can make a difference.’ You need to show composure under pressure, even if it’s just one or a few players stepping up. You have to be able to handle the pressure of the game.”
