Ted Nolan called out his team after it lost 5-1 to Anaheim on Monday afternoon.
Nolan called the Sabres a Pee Wee team.
Ouch.
The Sabres responded with an inspired, passionate effort in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday night.
Props to Marcus Foligno for giving the Sabres their first lead of the season. This is a beautiful 2on-1 breakaway that Chris Stewart controlled from the out set.
Thanks, NBCSN
Former Sabres D Reggie Sekera bought the farm and crashed face first into the rock solid back boards after he tripped over his goalie Cam Ward after he lost the foot race with Marcus Foligno on the scoring 2 on 1 breakaway.
Fourth liner Torrey Mitchell proved that putting the puck on the net from odd angles is a good idea. The goal gave Buffalo the lead for only the second time in four games this season. Nice assist by captain Brian Gionta.
The Sabres started the third period with the lead for the first time this season. Could they make it hold up?
Heading into Tuesday night's third period, the Sabres had been out scored 9-1 in third periods this season having given up 2 third period goals to Columbus, 4 to Chicago, and 3 quickies to Anaheim.
Would they gack up their one goal lead and succumb to the pressure of playing with and adding to its lead, or, would they tack on an insurance goal to help preserve their first win of the young season?
Just 2:45 into the third period, Marcus Foligno buried a high slot wrister behind Ward for his second goal of the game.
Moments later, Chris Terry cut the Buffalo lead to 3-2.
With 1:48 to play in regulation, Zach Boychuk scored the game tying goal..
This Sabres team makes my head hurt. They blew a two goal lead while playing in a road barn. All they had to do was keep attacking and owning the puck. Instead, Nolan's club played passively and allowed the Canes the opportunity tie the score.
This team has played with such anxiety in four consecutive third periods. Its inexplicable what is wrong with this team that causes it players to freeze in the final 20 minutes.
The two teams traded chances with no goal scoring in OT.
Zemgus Girgensons scored the game winner in the eight-round shootout.
Girgensons and Tyler Ennis continue to be Buffalo's scoring leaders. I shutter to think about where the Sabres would be right now without the offensive production of the Latvian Locomotive and Ennis.
It wasn't pretty, especially the part when they blew a two goal third period lead, however, Buffalo earned its first victory of the season.
More to come.....