Game 7: Sabres @ Ottawa Senators
Sabres score six goals, Senators score four, Sabres win!
Things got a littttttttle interesting last night in Ottawa…
Sabres up 5-1, in total control, only to see the Senators make it 5-4 with 62 seconds remaining.
A Tage Thompson’s lob wedge rolled out into an empty net to secure a much needed 6-4 win for the Sabres.
I’ll touch on this quickly, because I mentioned it after their win against the Lightning, but giving up goals late in games, trying to protect leads, putting yourself in stressful situations for no reason… that stuff wears on a team.
The Sabres need to be more dialed and decisive in these winning moments of a game. Up 3 goals late, up 2 goals, up just one, the Sabres need to be better in these scenarios if they want to be a playoff team.
I don’t like the intensity on the Ottawa fourth goal. We got guys doing nothing, late to getting back to the middle, not picking up the obvious dangerous guy.
Hey, they just made it a game, let’s dial it in!
It hasn’t cost them yet, but its something worth keeping in mind.
Looking at Dahlin, there’s one thing we will continue to look at as the Sabres try and get their game on track…
Offensive engagement
Not a ton here. Not many times did Dahlin jump in the rush, didn’t have a lot of 5v5 offensive zone touches.
But hey, the Sabres got it down without him.
The first package here is stuff I like to see from Dahlin. Driven by his feet. Trying to get involved, doing a great job quarterbacking the powerplay.
But this next clip here, I think is a microcosm of where Dahlin’s offensive game is at right now.
I’ve talked about how it seems like he has no speed before receiving pucks, sort of just flatfooted upon possession… then needs to get boots moving to beat and already in motion defender.
I need to see Dahlin in motion before getting this puck from his partner. When he is in motion, he will be able to attack down on this lonely winger. You see the space.
It’s puzzling to me.
Tim Stutzle
A young center who plays at a high pace, controls the ice, elite offensive instincts and seemingly more interested in becoming a better 200 foot player this year.
What an awesome young core these Senators have. The impact Brady Tkachuk will have on Stutzle over the long term is going to be fantastic.
Tkachuk drags his teammates into the fight every night, a consistency that should inspire Stutzle to become a 100+ point guy in this league.
Looking ahead
Sabres look to win two games in a row for the first time this season.
They’ll head to Newark for a Friday night matchup against Jack Hughes and the Devils. Cancel all your plans.