Hurricanes-Sabres Preview
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
The lack of offensive production that's contributed to a string of close defeats is starting to wear on the Buffalo Sabres. They'll try to avoid extending their season-high slide to seven games Friday night against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. Ranked 28th in the NHL with 2.05 goals per game, Buffalo (8-12-2) has scored seven times during its 0-4-2 stretch. One of those defeats came in overtime, another in a shootout and the last two by one goal in regulation. "This is getting pretty frustrating now, I think it's like a broken record," forward Marcus Foligno told the Sabres' official website. "We're losing games by a goal and ... I think we're outplaying teams in some of these games." The Sabres felt that was the case in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Nashville. Buffalo outshot the Predators 25-11 in the first two periods but trailed 3-0 before Evander Kane scored late in the second. Buffalo hasn't notched a power-play goal in four games and is 1 for 18 in the last six. However, coach Dan Bylsma is trying to find positives amid this dark stretch. The Sabres recorded 32 shots after failing to reach 30 in six of the previous eight games. They also killed all three penalties Wednesday. ''There's a lot in the game that's good,'' Bylsma said. ''There's nothing good about getting down 3-0 and not winning the hockey game, but some pretty good stuff from our lines.'' Rookie Jack Eichel snapped a six-game goal drought with his seventh to match Ryan O'Reilly for the team lead. Eichel, though, has recorded two of his 11 points in the last seven contests. "Hopefully I can build some momentum," the 19-year-old said. While Buffalo forward Zemgus Girgensons returned from missing four games with an upper-body injury, teammate Tyler Ennis could sit a second straight contest also with an upper-body issue. Ennis doesn't have a point in his last three games, but has four goals and two assists in his last seven against Carolina. The Hurricanes (8-10-4) have won two of three while earning at least one point in four straight games and six of the last seven. Jordan Staal recorded a goal after the puck bounced off two skates and Jeff Skinner had one on a skate deflection as Carolina rode that good fortune to a 4-1 victory over Edmonton on Wednesday. "Put your head down, go to work and earn those luck chances," Cam Ward, who made 30 saves for his second straight victory, told the NHL's official website. "They're starting to bounce our way, and hopefully we can continue that." Though the Hurricanes have been competitive during their 2-1-4 stretch, the only time they've posted back-to-back wins came on a three-game run Oct 27-30. Coach Bill Peters hopes his team's latest triumph can light a spark to ignite a needed winning streak. ''You have to hate to lose," Peters said. "Every game is a dogfight. Losing is a disease, and winning is an unquenchable thirst you have to have.'' Carolina's Justin Faulk has three goals and six assists during a seven-game point streak. Ward's dropped three straight at Buffalo and has a 3.27 goals-against average in his last four there. |