The Sabres win streak came to an end on Thursday falling to the Dallas Stars 4-3. It was a disappointing loss for everyone. The Sabres gave up a two-goal lead and were on the wrong side of three goal reviews. Once again they showed no quit even when calls just didn’t seem to go their way. They fought to the very end after digging themselves into a hole in the first and second periods. Although the team couldn’t complete the comeback it’s a hopeful sign that this team can respond.
Let’s get some thoughts in…..
1. Evander Kane is looking like the player we pictured when Tim Murray acquired him two years ago. He’s currently on a three game point streak and has 7 points in his last 5 games. He also has 8 goals in his last 15 games. If the Sabres want to get to the next level as a team then they need Evander Kane to keep producing.
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2. Taylor Fedun isn’t a flashy defenseman and he isn’t a guy you expect to play big minutes but he’s been solid on the backend. His 55.3 Corsi For % leads the team at even strength but after posting his season high 18 minutes played in Montreal, Fedun has played only about 10 minutes in each of the last two games. It’ll be interesting to see which defensemen they take out when Jake McCabe gets back.
3. How about that Robin Lehner save last weekend? That was a spectacular save with the game on the line and I thought it was a tough act to follow after Carey Price’s save on Risto. Both were pretty amazing but have to give the edge to Lehner. Galchenyuk had a wide open net and Lehner somehow managed to comeback across and snatch it with his glove.
4. Sabres prospects have been impressive so far this season. Justin Bailey’s point streak came to end this week at 8 games where he had 12 points including 9 goals. Hudson Fasching has goals in back to back games and they are his first since returning from injury in Rochester. Alex Nylander and Cliff Pu were listed on Corey Pronman’s top 50 prospect list (Insider). Brandon Hagel recorded a six point night for Red Deer last week and currently has 46 points in 41 games. Vasily Glotov scored this nifty back hand goal for Cape Breton in a 7-1 win over Moncton last week.
5. The NHL needs to reevaluate its goal review procedures. Last night in Dallas the Sabres were essentially gipped of two goals and a third was given to Dallas. Jason Spezza ran into his own teammate on the blue line and Jamie Benn’s foot looked to be off the ice making him offside. The refs missed the call and the Stars went on to score. Dan Bylsma decided to use his coaches challenge but the play was ruled inconclusive. In today’s day in age with all the technology we have theres no reason why an NHL team doesn’t have two cameras on the blue lines. Going along with the same idea, why hasn’t the NHL used a similar goal line technology that soccer uses? Sam Reinhart looked to have scored the game tying goal late in the game but once again the goal was ruled inconclusive.
Looks pretty conclusive to me. Then in the dying seconds of the game Jack Eichel threw a puck to the net that looked like it was tipped in but it was ruled that the puck did not fully cross the goal line.
I will admit looking at it today this can be a tough call but I still believe the puck is across the goal line. If the NHL had goal line technology to detect if the puck fully crosses the goal line then nights like last night wouldn’t happen.
The Sabres fought hard going into the All Star break and have really shown a lot of fight. Playoff hopes are on on a thin ice right now but hopefully the Sabres come out of the break with some momentum. Also make sure to watch the skills competition this coming weekend. Kyle Okposo will be competing in the shot accuracy competition.
Thanks for reading!
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