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Too Little. Too Late

March 5, 2013, 10:35 PM ET [427 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
One of these days, the Sabres are going to figure out that they are playing for their lives in a 48 game season.

One day, they will see the light. They better hope that its sooner than later.

After earning seven out of a possible eight points in its previous four games, the Sabres reverted back to form in Raleigh.

Inexplicably, the team skated in quicksand for the first thirty minutes against the Staals, Semin and the Canes, which caused them to fall into a 2-0 sink hole. In the end, it was too little, too late.

So much for earning points in five straight games. So much for taking a serious run at salvaging a place in the top eight Eastern playoff race. Time's awastin'.

They peppered the Canes' third string goalie with 40 shots, most of which came in the second half of the game. They had a handful of chances to take control of the game, however, could not beat the AHL goalie. The Sabres can blame themselves for leaving two points on the table
to a team that they should have beaten by a goal or two.

The Sabres reverted back to old habits when they blinked first.

It took just 91 seconds for the Hurricanes to light the lamp, when Tlusty had his way with Tyler Myers in front of Ryan Miller for his 11th goal of the season.

It was all Carolina from that point on.

The Canes dominated the puck in the first 10 minutes of the opening period limiting the Sabres to one shot on AHL Charlotte Checkers back stop Justin Peters. Shame on the Sabres. They peppered Peters with 40 shots, however, they could only light the lamp three times.

Marcus Foligno gave the Sabres their best chances to score of the first period but Peters made a glove save on a wrister, and later stopped Foligno with a sprawling left-pad save at the post.

In the second period, Carolina extended the lead to 2-0 on the power play, as Corvo ripped a shot that Miller never saw. It appeared as though Skinner re-directed it with his stick in the high slot, but Corvo got credit for the goal.

The Sabres sat in their frooma fter 40 minutes, trailing 2-0.

Then, the Sabres decided to play hockey.

Cody Hodgson halved the Canes lead just 25 seconds into P3. However, Jussi Jokinen scored at the 1:15 mark to restore carolina's two goal cushion.

Peters saved his best for the final moments of the second period. In a mad scramble for the puck in Peters' crease, Thomas Vanek fumbled away a glorious opportunity to steal the momentum from the Canes. Yawning net. Peters down and out. Somehow, Peters reached across and thwarted Vanek's goal with the shaft of his goal stick.

TJ Brennan scored the PPG at 14:33.

Then Semin scored at 16:13.

Hodgson scored a beauty of an SHG at 19:25. Too little. Too late, boys.


It was THAT kind of night for Buffalo.

I scratch my head. They played 30 minutes of hockey after playing four complete games the week before. Can't blame fatigue as Rolston ditched practice on Monday.

I don't get it.




The Sabres now travel to Newark in 13th place in the East.


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