BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres began a vital homestand with a flood of goals and then melted down on home ice like never before.
Tuesday night's 5-4 collapse against the Colorado Avalanche extended Buffalo's worst skid of the season so far. A fourth loss in a row sent fans slumping home with the same defeated feeling that has permeated the longest postseason drought in NHL history. Even after watching an entirely new episode in the series.
For the first time in 2,110 games played at Buffalo's home arena, the Sabres lost after leading by four goals. It happened once before on the road, in a 10-4 stampede at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary on March 12, 1988.
The announced crowd of 14,952 was delighted by the Sabres scoring four times in the opening 12 minutes, exceeding their offensive output from three previous losses. But they were booing before the end of a third period in which the Avalanche stormed back with four goals.
“It wasn’t a good enough effort from any of the guys in this room, honestly,” alternate captain Alex Tuch said. “We just need to be better."
Tage Thompson scored twice to break out from his three-game drought in returning from injury, JJ Peterka and Beck Malenstyn also had goals, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, under siege throughout the final two periods, made 36 saves.
Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon broke the shutout and started the comeback with an unassisted goal 2:24 into the second period. MacKinnon added the tying goal at 7:39 into the third and an assist on Artturi Lehkonen's winner with 4:22 left in regulation. Joel Kiviranta and Logan O’Connor also scored early in the period.
“I think their push intimidated us," Thompson said. "We let it fold us and we didn’t look like we had any confidence to make plays or execute anything coming out of our zone.”
A week ago the Sabres were tied for third in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. Now below .500 with 24 points in 25 games, they are tied for 13th. Failing to gain even an overtime point after the most explosive start to a game this season, Buffalo remained within three points out of a wild card playoff spot. But also sits just three points above last-place Montreal.
Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin left in the third period with back spasms and did not return. Coach Lindy Ruff said the ailment is related to what kept Dahlin out of action for part of preseason.
Meanwhile, fourth-line center Sam Lafferty is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, Ruff disclosed after Monday's practice. Forward Jordan Greenway (mid-body) and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower-body) are skating but uncertain when they can return to the lineup. Rochester call-up Tyson Kozak was scratched for a second game.
Having equaled the longest winless streak from a year ago, Buffalo continues its five-game homestand, the longest of the season, with a tough task Thursday against one of the top teams from out West, the Winnipeg Jets.
“We have a top-three team in the NHL in Winnipeg, we have to be ready for them," Tuch said. "We’re going to be playing against one of the best goalies in the world. They have a lot of firepower. They play a really good, hard team game and we have to be our best. We’re not making KeyBank a hard enough place to play right now, so that falls on me. That falls on all the guys in this locker room. We’ll be better.”
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.