Buffalo Sabres lose wild game in Buffalo

2) Sabres top players not getting it done

Of course, the Sabres can’t have everything going for them in one game. That seems to be the norm as of late, and it continued against the Wild.

While the Sabres’ depth was doing more than their fair share on the ice, the top players could not come through to get the job done. Jack Eichel did score the opening goal, which came from Pominville and Evander Kane, but that was the only breakthrough from them.

Sam Reinhart at least continued his recent form, by scoring yet another goal.

The scoring needs to come from everywhere to be effective and win games. It’s as simple as that.

The top players really needed to be there to get the game-tying goal, but they just couldn’t finish. That exact type of clutch performing is what the team needs, especially when the depth guys decide to pick it up.

3) Great effort wasted

Whenever Buffalo gets into shootouts like this on the scoreboard, it always ends the same way. They end up putting the required effort in throughout the duration of 60 minutes, but they can’t put the cap on it.

Chad Johnson was able to come in for the struggling Robin Lehner and put on the same type of display Devan Dubnyk was producing for the Wild. Buffalo’s depleted defense picked it up, at least the guys that usually struggle this season. The offense was able to keep pace with the goals, despite Minnesota scoring three-straight.

All the effort went into the wastebasket. Buffalo out-shot the Wild with 34 total on the night, but couldn’t find that last kick at the can. The PK also bit the Sabres in the end, as the Wild buried two out of three opportunities on the night.