TAMPA, Fla. – Four of the five Buffalo Sabres skaters on the ice were watching the puck as it soared in the air and eventually dropped near the feet of Lightning forward Conor Geekie.
James Reimer stopped 24 of 31 shots in the Sabres' 7-4 loss at Tampa's Amalie Arena.
No one was ready to prevent Geekie from snapping a shot that went by goalie James Reimer for Tampa Bay’s third goal of the second period Sunday night.
The Sabres’ play over the past month created some optimism that, finally, Lindy Ruff eradicated the bad habits that ruined their season and caused the embarrassing, NHL-record playoff drought to reach 14 years.
There were fewer turnovers, less puck-watching and, for the most part, better defending, but their final road trip was a stark reminder that the Sabres still have some growing up to do if they’re going to be in the playoffs next spring. The worst of the three games was at Amalie Arena, where the Lightning scored four goals in the second period to beat Buffalo, 7-4.
“Obviously not good enough,” lamented defenseman Connor Clifton. “We’re in a spot right now where we’re trying to make our game better and we obviously only have a couple left, but we’re playing for each other and Buffalo and our goalies. They’ve been so good for us with all the chances we give up, especially the grade-A chances, but it’s unfortunate how we performed tonight.”
Reimer didn’t stand a chance. Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov had two goals with an assist to reach 119 points, and Jake Guentzel scored twice to reach the 40-goal milestone. Connor Geekie, Ryan McDonagh and Emil Lilleberg also chipped in a goal apiece, as six Tampa Bay skaters had multiple points.
The Sabres finished their road slate season with a negative-29 goal differential and a 13-24-4 record, tied for the fourth-worst mark in the NHL. Six of their final eight road losses were by three-plus goals. They weren’t even competitive in some of those games, a startling regression from their 18-18-5 road record last season and 25-13-3 in 2022-23.
Lindy Ruff reminded his players at the start of the trip that this was an opportunity to forge better habits on the road for next season. Playoff teams typically finish with a points percentage of .500 or better on the road, he told his players, and these three games could be a springboard to improve one of several negative trends that caused them to miss the playoffs.
The Sabres blew a multi-goal lead in Columbus, lost in a shootout to the defending Stanley Cup championships while the Florida Panthers rested their top players and, finally, unraveled with another miserable second period in Tampa.
“Each and every night, our goal is to get better,” said center Peyton Krebs. “We have to continue to do that, even if we’re out of the playoffs. Our road game is something we need to work on for sure and continue to get better. These next games are important for us to really capitalize and get some momentum for next season.”
There were some signs of fatigue from the Sabres early Sunday night. Guentzel hit the post during the first shift. They took control, though, and had several chances to take an early lead. Jack Quinn hit the crossbar. Alex Tuch struck the post. Tage Thompson’s had a wrist shot from the slot. Tampa Bay had only one shot on goal through 10:35 in the first period.
Guentzel gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead, then Clifton and Jiri Kulich scored 15 seconds apart in the final minute of the first period to pull the Sabres ahead, 2-1. They knew what needed to happen next if they were going to beat a team that’s trying to earn a higher seed in the Eastern Conference, yet they proceeded to give the puck away and lost too many battles along the wall.
McDonagh tied it 2-2 only 3:02 into the middle frame, Kucherov gave Tampa Bay the 3-2 lead at 6:34 and the Lightning led 5-2 at the second intermission. Kucherov added another goal in the third period before Tuch and Sam Lafferty scored for the Sabres. They are 35-38-7 and need to win their two remaining games to eclipse 80 standings points.
“I just think the quick couple of goals they got in the second deflated us and we never recovered,” said Ruff.
The Sabres’ second periods had been better recently, but they were outscored 6-0 during the final two games of the road trip. Their struggles against most Atlantic Division opponents also continued, as they’ve allowed 3.76 goals per game while posting a 10-12-3 record against those seven teams. They didn’t follow the same approach that helped them allow three or fewer goals in six straight games entering Sunday.
Maple Leafs fans will pack KeyBank Center on Tuesday night with a chance to see Toronto clinch its first division title in an 82-game regular season since 1999-2000. The Sabres have won seven straight at home. They're 8-3-1 in their last 12 games overall. These turnover-filled performances are still happening too often.
“When we’re going, we’re not giving them chances and when we do, especially against top lines, it feels like we’re always gifting their top two lines, the scoring lines, and they’re making us pay,” said Clifton. “So many of our losses this season have been self-inflicted, not teams beating us, but beating ourselves. We’re going to have to grow up and mature and figure it out.”
Here are other takeaways from the game:
1. Rookie impact
Kulich has missed time this season because of an illness, concussion and a brief assignment to Rochester, yet the 20-year-old center has emerged as a reliable top-six center with impressive production.
He became the seventh Sabres rookie with 15 or more goals, joining Jack Eichel (24 in 2015-16), Tyler Ennis (20 in 2010-11), Victor Olofsson (20 in 2019-20), Jason Pominville (18 in 2005-06), Sam Reinhart (23 in 2015-16) and Thomas Vanek (25 in 2005-06). Kulich’s play has helped the Sabres cover for Josh Norris’ monthlong absence.
2. Progress
Jack Quinn was moved to a different line after he played only 11:25 in the shootout loss to Florida.
The consistency has been missing from Quinn, even though he's been better recently. The 23-year-old winger made one of his finest plays this season in the first period against Tampa Bay. He stickhandled around two defenders, including Victor Hedman, and set up Clifton at the far post for the go-ahead goal. Quinn has four goals with 13 points in his last 14 games.
“It was beautiful,” Clifton said of the pass. “Good little move by him and then we bury. Two quick goals and we got a lot of momentum coming in here first intermission, then we come out the second and we’re flat. Next thing you know, goals start going in.”
3. Another injury
We’ve likely seen the last of Owen Power this season.
“He hasn’t seen our doctors, but it looks like he’ll be out for a while,” said Ruff.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a lower-body injury Saturday when Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe fell into Power’s right knee and left ankle. The 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick didn’t return for the third period after he tried to stay in the game. He was wearing a heavy brace on his left knee as a scratch in Tampa.
It could be a devastating blow for Power if this significantly impacts his summer training. He needs to add strength and continue to improve his defensive game. General Manager Kevyn Adams said last month that one of his offseason priorities is to find a proper defense partner for Power.
4. Next
The Sabres’ final homestand begins Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Buffalo’s season finale is Thursday night in KeyBank Center against the Philadelphia Flyers.
