Sabres fall to Thrashers, 4-2, to end hot start

The Buffalo Sabres were the last team in the league to lose in regulation.

But all good things come to an end, and Buffalo’s winning streak came to an end in a dramatic fashion. In his first visit to his former home, Max Afinogenov nailed Buffalo’s coffin shut with a goal before Drew Stafford’s goal was even announced, ending hopes of a 3rd period comeback.

Any claims that there are no hard feelings regarding the winger’s departure from Buffalo are unfounded. Afinogenov, the favorite player of every teenage girl in Buffalo, was booed every time he touched the puck – sometimes, it seemed, when he even so much as looked at it. Angry muttering of “Why couldn’t he do that when he was here?” followed his dramatic goal against backup goaltender Patrick Lalime.

The Sabres never really had a chance. They trailed the entire game, played without energy, and committed error upon error. The decisions were mostly right – the correct passes, the correct shots – but all executed as if the body simply couldn’t keep up with the mind. It’s reasonable: they were playing their second of back to back games.

But the Sabres were still guilty of numerous errors that can’t be explained away. They failed to convert – or seemingly even take shots – on an extended 5 on 3 powerplay, and committed numerous costly turnovers even with the man advantage. Kovalchuk and Afinogenov were allowed to score goals they never should’ve been able to – Kovalchuk was allowed into the slot with barely a whimper from Buffalo’s defenders, and Tallinder and Myers were sluggish in moving back with the play to keep Afinogenov from creating a chance.

While the tendency may be to say that the game wouldn’t have been lost if Miller had been in net, no goalie is superhuman. It may be comforting to place the blame entirely on Patty Lalime’s shoulders – then we wouldn’t have to acknowledge that the Sabres played a terrible game – but when lack of defensive coverage gives opportunity after opportunity and allows players like Afinogenov and Kovalchuk into prime scoring areas, goalies are left high and dry.

As they depart on a road trip until Oct. 30th’s home game against the winless Toronto Maple Leafs, they’ll have a chance to show the fans that this season, they’re playing to win. The real image of how the Sabres season will develop isn’t in their hot start – it’s in how they’ll rebound from its end.

- C.

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