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Sabres Hit Rock Bottom in Eastern Conference with 6-1 Loss to Canadiens

Sabres Hit Rock Bottom in Eastern Conference with 6-1 Loss to Canadiens

The Buffalo Sabres reached a new low on Tuesday night as they suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens, dropping them to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. This loss extended the Sabres’ winless streak to 11 games (0-8-3), a stretch that has seen them fall further from playoff contention and now sit at the conference’s basement. The Canadiens, who have been on a hot streak, leapfrogged the Sabres in the standings after this commanding win.

Sabres Hit Rock Bottom in Eastern Conference

Patrik Laine was the game’s star, recording his 11th career hat trick, with all three goals coming on the power play. Laine’s dominance in special teams significantly influenced Montreal’s overwhelming victory. Alongside Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky contributed with a goal and an assist, and the Canadiens had no trouble dominating the Sabres in all aspects of the game.

“It’s horrible,” Sabres forward Alex Tuch remarked, capturing the team’s frustration after such a tough loss. “The season’s not over. We’re gonna come back and be better tomorrow.” Despite Tuch’s optimism, the Sabres’ ongoing slump is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and their position in the standings worsens.

The Sabres’ struggles have reached the attention of team owner Terry Pegula, who flew out to Montreal on Monday to meet with the team. Pegula’s message was clear: stick together, work through the issues as a group, and find solutions. However, the improvement plan was quickly undone when the game unfolded in the first few minutes.

Montreal wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, jumping to a 2-0 lead before the Sabres even registered their first shot on goal. The Canadiens’ fast start left the Sabres reeling, unable to recover. Though Buffalo managed to cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second period, things quickly went downhill. The Canadiens responded with four more goals before the intermission, sealing the game before the third period began.

“Our puck play, again, early in the game, it hurt us,” said head coach Lindy Ruff, reflecting on his team’s inability to get into the game early. “You get a tough break going the other way, and all of a sudden, we gave them energy, and I think that fueled them right off the bat. Which didn’t allow us to get really into our game.” Ruff’s frustration was evident as his team allowed Montreal to build momentum with each mistake.

The Sabres were also stung by Joel Armia’s bizarre opening goal, scored just 19 seconds into the game after a strange bounce in front of the net that caught goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen off guard. That goal set the tone for the rest of the night as Buffalo struggled to recover from the early deficit.

The loss is another chapter in a season full of disappointment for the Sabres. Their last win came on November 23 against the San Jose Sharks, and since then, they have yet to regain their form. The team is in a dire situation, with a 0-8-3 record during its winless streak, and its upcoming schedule offers little relief.

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Next, the Sabres will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, but whether the team can turn things around remains to be seen. There is growing speculation that changes could be made in the coming days to address the team’s ongoing struggles. The Sabres need a spark, and there is increasing pressure on both players and coaching staff to find a solution.

Defenceman Connor Clifton echoed the team’s current challenges: “We need more from every guy. Every part of our game right now needs more. We’re just not playing together. We’re all over the place.” Clifton’s words reflect the disarray that has plagued the Sabres throughout their winless stretch.

As the Sabres head home to face the Maple Leafs, the clock ticks so that they can find their rhythm. The team is at a crossroads, and the next few games could determine whether it can salvage its season or continue to sink further down the standings. With its playoff hopes slipping away, the Sabres must unite and rediscover their form to avoid a lost season.

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