BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres are deeply entrenched in a disappointing stretch, prompting Coach Lindy Ruff to explore various remedies to galvanize his team. Efforts have included benching players, granting additional off-days, reconfiguring lineups, and even receiving an encouraging talk from owner Terry Pegula. Unfortunately, these measures have yet to yield the desired results, leaving the team grappling with a troubling losing streak.
Forward Dylan Cozens expressed that mere discussions won’t suffice in turning things around for the Sabres. After practice on Thursday, he stated, “When you look at the players we have, we should be capable of winning.” However, he acknowledged the prolonged nature of this predicament and emphasized, “It’s high time to take action and deliver results.” Cozens did not hide the growing frustration among the team as they remain in the midst of an 0-8-3 stint, which marks the longest slump in the NHL this season and places the Sabres fifth-worst in the franchise’s history, amidst a troubling 13-season playoff drought.
“Not much else to say except it’s tough,” remarked Cozens. He stressed the need to leave the past behind and focus on securing the next win. The Sabres are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, with their last victory occurring almost a month ago on November 23, when they defeated San Jose 4-2. That win had uplifted the team momentarily, allowing them to reach third in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the overall Eastern Conference standings.
Since then, however, the team’s fortunes have taken a nosedive, plummeting to last place in the East with a record of 11-17-4. Strikingly, they now share the same number of victories as the Buffalo Bills, who currently boast a playoff-bound record of 11-3. During this disappointing stretch, the team has experienced several narrow one-goal losses, suffered heavy defeats, and squandered leads, resulting in a score differential of 44-24 against them. A particularly disheartening moment occurred on December 3 against Colorado, when the Sabres, while leading, conceded a 5-4 loss and became one of the 90 teams in NHL history to relinquish a lead of four goals or more.
After the demoralizing loss to Colorado, Ruff, who has returned for a second term with the Sabres, took accountability, vowing to prevent further decline. However, after another defeat to Toronto, he admitted being left speechless by the performance. The following encounter in Montreal didn’t yield improvement; the team faltered, falling to a 6-1 loss where the Canadiens scored just 19 seconds into the game due to an unfortunate bounce off an official’s skate.
“That was genuinely disappointing,” Ruff commented on Thursday. “We expected a stronger response from the team.” He now joins a list of six other Sabres coaches who have faced similar prolonged slumps since his initial departure from the organization 11 years ago. In fact, nearly half of Buffalo’s longest winless streaks have occurred post-2013-14, including a disastrous 0-15-3 stretch recorded during the 2021 season.
Amidst the uncertainty, there is a glimmer of hope as captain Rasmus Dahlin is set to return after sitting out for seven games due to a back injury. Dahlin noted, “It’s those small momentum changes—one goal can lead to a cascade of issues.” He emphasized the necessity of starting anew and building a foundation for success, pointing out the overall skill level within the team despite their current struggles.
In terms of roster changes, Ruff confirmed that forward Jordan Greenway will be sidelined indefinitely following surgery for a mid-body injury. Questions linger regarding potential adjustments as General Manager Kevyn Adams indicated a willingness to maintain the current roster amidst discussions about the team’s youth. He even suggested that it might have been beneficial to have re-signed veteran goalie Craig Anderson to bring experienced leadership.
In a previous press conference, Adams controversially remarked that Buffalo does not hold appeal for free agents and that the local climate is not as enticing as other locales. His comments about the lack of palm trees in the area led to fans humorously bringing inflatable palm trees to games, which they tossed onto the ice.
Looking ahead, the Sabres anticipate a challenging matchup against the Maple Leafs, who typically attract a large following from Toronto, often dominating the crowd at away games. Dahlin is aware of the anticipated atmosphere and remarked, “We know what we will face and we have to rise to the occasion.” The team is fully aware of the need to change the narrative and secure their first win in weeks.