Sabres down for the count
Defensive breakdowns again haunt Buffalo
BOSTON — For three days, the talk was the same. Defense. Tighter play. Getting back to disciplined, system-based hockey. There were video clips on the big screen. There were coaches in the dressing room with laptop computers.
Then, in an instant, there were way too many goals on the scoreboard.
The Buffalo Sabres just can't keep the puck out of their net. They got lit up seven times by Boston on Wednesday night in a 7-4 free-for-all. It was the fourth time in the past six games Buffalo had allowed at least five goals.
Any guesses as to why they are 1-4-1 in those six games, including three straight losses in which they have given up 18 goals?
"We have nowhere to point the finger except ourselves," Sabres center Paul Gaustad said. "It's hard work. It's hard work to cut down on chances. You can talk about it as much as you want. We talk it about too much. We have to execute."
The Sabres' desire for a finely tuned game disappeared in a hurry in TD Banknorth Garden. The teams scored seven times in the first period, with five goals coming the opening 5:38.
It was fun to watch for the fans, but today's sure to be an unbearable one for the Sabres in the video room.
"It's not something that I'm dreading. We have to fix this," Gaustad said. "The coaches are putting in game plans that are the right ones. We just have to execute. It's the players in the locker room right now."
The turnovers were egregious. The defensive play was putrid. The goaltending, struck by bits of bad luck, was not good. The only bright spots for the Sabres were their ability to create offense early and their willingness to hit, though there were a few undisciplined moments.
Buffalo really wanted to make a statement against the Bruins. The Sabres hadn't played since Saturday, giving them plenty of time to work out the kinks in their play. Luckily for them, they get another day to work them out before the Philadelphia Flyers visit Friday.
"When you win games, it's easy to pick out who's doing well and who's going good," Sabres forward Thomas Vanek said. "We'll see now who's desperate, who can come and work hard tomorrow and carry that over into Friday."
The Sabres came out hot, with Jason Pominville scoring just 1:41 into the game. Derek Roy and Vanek followed shortly thereafter, and Buffalo held a 3-1 lead with less than five minutes gone.
But the Bruins always answered. Their first goal, off a terrible Henrik Tallinder turnover that got him benched for all but 5:49, came 78 seconds after Pominville's tally. The Bruins made it 3-2 just 40 seconds after Vanek's goal. And just 31 seconds after Vanek scored his second of the night, Marc Savard made it 4-3.
The Bruins scored 2:37 into the second period to tie it, and the Sabres never knocked them off-stride again.
"Every time we scored, they scored one right back," Vanek said. "It's just not good enough. I know that's what everyone says, but you've just got to be smarter, especially when you get a lead."
The 15,623 in the new Garden were all over Bruins goalie Manny Fernandez in the first period. Twice they let loose loud, mocking cheers when he made routine saves.
And believe it or not, he was the goalie with the better stats. Fernandez turned aside 10 of 14 shots in the first period, while Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller stopped just four of seven. Miller had little help on some of the goals, but he didn't help himself, either. Zdeno Chara scored twice from the blue line, and Chuck Kobasew scored one of his two goals from behind the net.
Miller's night came to a merciful end 1:16 into the third period after Phil Kessel gave Boston a 7-4 lead. Miller stopped 13 of 20 shots and gave way to Patrick Lalime.
"I can be better," said Miller, who summed up the state of the Sabres by describing the Kobasew goal. "It hit the side of the net, it hit Hank in the skate, bounced up and hit me in the ribs. It's just like, 'Can everything go wrong?'
"We're not playing terrible. It's just all going wrong right now."
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