The Buffalo Sabres have just one win in their first five games of the season heading into a Thursday road clash against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As disappointing as their campaign been, the Sabres have held a lead in three of their defeats, including a disappointing 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
En route to dropping the first clash of a three-game road trip, Buffalo surrendered leads of 3-1 and 5-4.
“With a 3-1 lead, we’ve got to manage the puck better, be a little smarter, be more aware of what’s going on behind us,” Sabres forward Tage Thompson said. “That said, I loved our compete and determination to claw our way back into the game and find ourselves another lead in the third (period). …
“It’s a frustrating one, but we’ve got another chance to get back at it.”
Buffalo, which has missed the playoffs an NHL-record 13 consecutive seasons, was hoping for a quick start to the campaign, but has been unable to find a full performance all too often already this season.
Against the Penguins, the Sabres scored on their first two shots in what became a roller coaster of a clash. A pair of goals from JJ Peterka and Ryan McLeod put them up midway through the third period, but again Buffalo could not hold the advantage.
“We were all pretty sure we had it, and I think that cost us the game,” Peterka said.
“It’s a good lesson for the group,” McLeod said. “We have to play a full 60 (minutes) and have to move on.”
The Blue Jackets are back in action after an emotional 4-3 home-opening loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, a night in which so much attention was focused on the ceremonies to honor Johnny Gaudreau.
“Did we want a win to give to Johnny? Sure. Of course,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “But we talked to the group after the game and we told them we’re playing winning hockey but we just didn’t win.”
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Aug. 29 when a suspected drunk driver hit them while they were riding bikes. The Blue Jackets hoisted a banner bearing his jersey No. 13, a tribute video was shown and both teams honored him both in warmup and at the drop of the puck.
“I felt like Johnny was watching down on us,” teammate and close friend Sean Monahan said. “I had a feeling I was going to (score). Fortunately enough, I did. We lost, which (stinks), but yeah, no, I definitely could feel John.”
As much as the Blue Jackets will try to move forward and find a winning formula, their task has become even more difficult. On Wednesday, the team announced defenseman Erik Gudbranson was placed on injured reserve, while goalie Jet Greaves was summoned from the minors on an emergency recall after No. 1 goalie Elvis Merzlikins suffered an upper-body injury. Gudbranson left the Tuesday game after a collision with Monahan.
The Blue Jackets have five players out due to injury, although forward Justin Danforth (wrist) is nearing a return that could come as early as Thursday. David Jiricek is likely to step into the lineup in Gudbranson’s place.
