For the umpteenth time this season, the home team came out stiff and tentative, and the opponent took advantage of their lack of urgency.
The Sabres have now lost three of their last four games. They look lost when they play on home ice.
This game was over at the 14:41 mark of period one, when Val Filppula beat Jhonas Enroth. Earlier goals by Kindl and Franzen buckled Buffalo's knees.
Per their system, Detroit owned the puck. They win faceoffs, loose pucks and rebounds, and they refuse to share it with their opponents. The Sabres got schooled by the best puck possession team in the free world on Friday night.
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The Sabres lost more than the game. Late in the third period, on a face off, Nathan Gerbe's face was slashed by a skate blade that went awry, and according to Lindy ruff, the damage to his face is serious. Ruff said in his post game presser that the skate cut through Gerbe's nose and into his lip. Ruff noted that if Gerbe cannot play in Nashville, then Matt Ellis will take his roster spot.
Pat Kaleta's first game back from injury ended abruptly when the robust winger collided behind the Detroit net with D Jonathon Ericsson. Kaleta did not skate the entire thid period. If he cannot skate in Nashville, the team will call up a forward from Rochester. Likely Corey Tropp.
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I can tell you what I think the problem was/is, however, lets let the head coach and players do the explaining.
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