The Buffalo Sabres practiced at Key Bank Center on Monday in advance of a critical point of the young season after losing their third game in a row in Detroit on Saturday. The club has a 4-7-1 record and is tied for last place in the Eastern Conference and one point out of last in the NHL standings.
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Head coach Lindy Ruff put his players through a brisk workout in preparation for a divisional matchup against Ottawa on Tuesday and afterward indicated that in spite of displaying some positive aspects at points during the first dozen games, the Sabres need to start compiling points or they will not be able to stay in the mix for a playoff spot.
“We’ve got to win the games, and that’s the key. (We have to) raise the standard, raise the expectations.” Ruff said. “I’m not going to stand here and talk about we did. We did good things, but finish the good things. Finish on those great opportunities and put them in the back of the net. That’s what we’re here for.”
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At the 12-game mark last season, the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 at Scotiabank Arena on November 4 and evened their record at 6-6-0, tying them for the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot. This season, they are four points out of the last playoff spot and are showing no signs of being able to put things together.
Following a streak of five straight games scoring four or more goals, the Sabres offense has dried up during their losing skid, with just five goals in three games. In Saturday’s defeat, the Sabres took the lead on a first-period goal by Alex Tuch, but then gave up the lead and fell behind on two power-play goals by Dylan Larkin.
“Don’t accept what went out in Detroit as okay. Okay hockey is not good enough.” Ruff said. “There’s a heightened sense of urgency every time we put the skates on. From game one, that’s just this league. There are no easy games. Urgency has to start as soon as the puck is dropped.”
Buffalo takes on the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames at home on Tuesday and Saturday and travels to Madison Square Garden to face the NY Rangers on Thursday.
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