The Buffalo Sabres lost 6-2 to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday at KeyBank Center, ending their two-game winning streak. The Sabres had recently achieved a comeback victory in Detroit and a strong performance against Edmonton but were unable to continue that momentum.
Tage Thompson reflected on the team’s approach following their recent wins, stating, “I think we get a little too high on ourselves after a couple of wins; we think we’re better than we are, instead of remembering what got us those wins. Looking back at the other game against Edmonton, I thought we were really hard to play against, and I thought tonight we were really easy, really light on the puck. Anytime you’re doing that, you’re going to lose games.”
The Flames played the second game of a back-to-back after losing in Chicago but started quickly with goals from Rasmus Andersson and Joel Farabee in the first 12 minutes. The Sabres struggled offensively early on and recorded only five shots in the first period. They have scored first in just six games this season, which is tied for fewest in the NHL.
Coach Lindy Ruff commented on his team’s performance: “We had the opportunity in that first 10 minutes really to just try to outwork the other team; we got outworked, it’s as simple as that. I think our guys, some of the guys, wanted it easy. It wasn’t going to be easy tonight.” He added, “… I don’t think we respected them enough.”
A potential goal by Rasmus Dahlin late in the first period was overturned due to goalie interference after a challenge by Calgary. Tage Thompson expressed his disagreement with the call: “I thought it was a horrible call. They called it a goal on the ice. I think there’s minimal contact there, if any, and I think [Cooley is] square to the shot for a good two, three seconds. And Dahls’ shot goes bar down, so it’s not like it’s into the middle of the net and he can’t react to make a save.”
Buffalo scored twice in the second period—first by Mattias Samuelsson following Beck Malenstyn’s forechecking effort and then Thompson tied it with his tenth goal of the season off an assist from Samuelsson.
However, Calgary regained control early in the third period with Morgan Frost scoring at 2:02 followed by additional goals from Mikael Backlund and Farabee. The Flames outshot Buffalo 35-30; Colten Ellis made 29 saves for Calgary.
Mattias Samuelsson summarized how Calgary succeeded around Buffalo’s net: “They had a breakaway, but the other goals were gritty ones around the net,” he said. “I think that’s a pretty good indication of our game versus their game.”
The Sabres will next face Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
