The Buffalo Sabers seem to be following the adage that they are close, but not close enough. The Sabers were tied 2-2 midway through the third period with the Metro Division-leading Washington Capitals, but Dylan Strome scored the game-winner off a deflection with 8:55 left to give Buffalo its ninth consecutive defeat.
Jason Zucker and Jiri Kulich scored for Buffalo, but the club managed just 21 shots on Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson. Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that he was unhappy with the play of his special teams.
“The special teams weren’t good enough. That was probably the difference in the game,” Ruff said. “I just didn’t think (the power play) looked comfortable. It was a chance to try to give them an opportunity, but we put (Tage Thompson) in a different spot and that’s just something we’re going to continue to work on.
Washington went 2 for 3 on the power play. with Tom Wilson scoring in the first and second periods, while Buffalo continued to struggle with the power play, going 0-for-2.
Related: The Sabers are in a never-ending cycle of dysfunction
The Sabers fall to 11-15-4 and remain one point out of last place in the Eastern Conference, and six points behind Ottawa for the final wildcard spot. Buffalo will travel to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs on Sunday in an unusual 5 p.m. start. The Leafs also lost 4-2 on Saturday to the Detroit Red Wings with Joseph Woll in goal. Dennis Hildeby (emergency recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies) is expected to be in goal for the Leafs, while James Reimer is expected to start against his former team at Scotiabank Arena.
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