The Great Wall of Thatcher
The Sabres were not looking for an excuse after their 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, but they did have one: All-Star goalie Thatcher Demko stopped them with 26 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Demko, who is second only to Alexandar Georgiev in wins, made several excellent saves for his 22nd win of the season, the most impressive of which was a post-to-post glove save on Casey Mittelstadt in the second period and a late denial on Sabres winger J-J Peterka.
Depleted on defense.
In the second period, the Sabres’ blue line was so depleted that veteran winger Zemgus Girgensons was forced to return to defense. Buffalo was down three defensemen after losing Mattias Samuelsson and Rasmus Dahlin to the concussion protocol. Dahlin was slammed to the boards after being elbowed in the face by Canucks forward JT Miller, but the initial call of a five-minute major was reduced to a minor for elbowing. Samuelsson left early in the middle inning and did not return, but Dahlin returned later in the second.
Penalties to Owen Power and Erik Johnson reduced the Sabres’ available blueliners to three at two different points, forcing Granato to reposition Girgensons on the blue line.
Buffalo Roller Coaster
With the loss to the Pacific Division leader, the Sabres are 1-2-0 in the first half of their six-game homestand and 9-11-1 at Key Bank Center this season. The most stunning fact thus far is that, at the halfway point of the season, Buffalo has yet to win consecutive home games, which is one of the reasons they are eight points out of a playoff spot.
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