For the ninth time in a row, the Sabres wind up on the wrong end of a decision…..For several games during this streak one could say that while not winning the game outright, the Sabres had their opportunities to win but didn’t. One could walk away knowing that while Buffalo’s effort was good enough to earn a win, it could also be said that the opposition played well enough to win…and would.

Tonight was different…this was a game where the Sabres were the better team outright and going away, yet still the letter “W” remained an elusive target once again. On this night the Sabres failed to convert on several glorious scoring opportunities, couldn’t hold onto a two goal lead in regulation, and for the fifth time during the streak lost a shootout.

As a Buffalo sports observer I left the arena with much the same feeling that I had after the Cowboys stole one from the Bills in October, that kick-to-the stomach feeling though really not as strong. It was that type of game tonight…woulda, coulda…how the ….did they not…..ugh.

It was a night for which Daniel Paille should have been THE star of the game, as he was responsible for both Sabre goals in the first period. While not the prettiest of goals it was no matter. The team had the quick early lead that they needed.

And in period two the Sabres stellar play continued. As Coach Ruff said afterward “we went after it” instead of sitting back against a team not known for giving up or getting too many opportunities. Time and time again in the second period there were point blank shots to be had, yet not a one found the back of the net. The longer the game went on like that it would only be a matter of time before the Devils found the scoreboard and did on a goal from Paul Martin late in the second on a delayed penalty call.

The goal put to an end the dominance of the game by Buffalo and Jersey came to life as they outshot the Sabres from the end of the second stanza by a 15-6 count. The Devils even had a four minute power play early in the third from a Kotalik high stick, but failed to convert. Yet the score wouldn’t be tied until just over a minute to go when David Clarkson snuck one in with the extra attacker on the ice.

The Sabres seemed to be the better of the two clubs during the OT, but the game continued to the shootout where Jason Elias put the finishing touches on the theft of the victory with his shootout goal in the third round.The frustration was and is unmistakable in the Sabre locker room right now, yet Toni Lydman tried to put the best face on it stating repeatedly that “frustration is going to get us nowhere, we just have to keep playing….”It’s a tough time for the Sabres (I believe Lindy used the word tough eight times in his post game Q/A) but here’s some silver lining….

This nine game stretch was the toughest of the entire season schedule wise. Consider that eight of the nine were played against the top three teams in the conference heading into tonight and that only three of them were played at home (OK, the Winter Classic was a home game yet truly not on home ice). This team while not winning any of them took five of them to a shootout before losing. Not the results anyone would want, but certainly upon closer look maybe not such a hideous stretch of play by the Sabres.

“Better Days” are ahead for the Sabres. Trust me on this one.

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