SABRES' SLUMP CONTINUES - SEVEN GAMES LONG!
By Rick Anderson
Wednesday, October 20, 1999
The Sabres winless steak continues, now at 7 games. They lost to the Nashville Predators 4-3, but Buffalo made a valiant effort at a comeback when they fought back from a 4-1 deficit to pull to withing one goal when they scored two goals during a powerplay. The first was when they had a two man advantage, and they score again while up one man. However, they could not score any more and now have their worst start this decade.
Dominik Hasek was a victim of a very early goal against the Nashville Predators tonight as first round draft choice David Legwand scored on the ‘Dominator' with only 46 gone by in the game. The on a powerplay, Sergei Krivokrasov got one past Hasek at the 12:41 mark of the first period. At the beginning of the second period, Dwayne Roloson was in the nets for Buffalo. This makes two games that Hasek has been pulled against new NHL franchises. Hasek was pulled against the Atlanta Thrasher halfway through the second period when they scored 4 goals on him. Ruff didn't wait that long last night.
"I know I can play better, for sure," a frustrated Hasek said. "I've had some average games, some bad games. Anytime you lose a game you are frustrated."
It was learned today that Hasek will be benched indefinitely because of his poor play. Martin Biron has been called up and will start tomorrow night against Carolina.
"We hit bottom in the first 40 minutes," said Geoff Sanderson after the game. "That was a pretty flat team. . . . I don't think you saw any desperation in that time."
"We've still got a lot of pride in this room. I think each guy is embarrassed about what happened," said Jason Woolley.
The Sabres started off the game as flat as pancakes. It wasn't until later in the first period that they generated any legitimate scoring chances.
"When there's two goals like that, it's deflating," said Woolley. "There was no breakdown there (on the first goal). It was a shot that Dominik will save 8,000 times in a row. I'm not going to stand here and blame him. He's saved everyone in this room many times. We needed to pull ourselves together and win it for the goaltenders for once."
The Sabres finally got a goal in the second period when Geoff Sanderson got a perfect screen shot on Mike Dunham and through his legs. However, one minute and 20 seconds later Cliff Ronning got a shot off on Roloson from the goalies right side that made it through his pads as he was going down to go up 3-1. That goal was at the 10:15 mark. Then Ronning assisted on Patric Kjellberg's goal 17:23 into the third period and the Predators now were up 4-1.
"After two periods, we knew we could still win the game," said Sanderson. "In the first two period, we basically just threw our sticks on the ice. You didn't see us show up until the third period."
Lindy Ruff tried a ploy that paid off. With Nashville one man short, Ruff got the ref's attention that he thought former Sabre Bob Boughner's stick had an illegal curve on it. After careful examination, Ruff was proven right. The Sabres went on a two man power play and this time the Sabres were not to be denied. First, Curtis Brown scored at the 9:14 mark of the third when he deflected a shot from Peca past Dunham. The Dominik Pittis got his first NHL goal about a minute later and the Sabres were now within one goal.
The Sabres came to life after scoring those two power play goals, but just could not get another one to tie the game. In the final minute, the put constant pressure on Dunham, especially after they pulled Roloson, but this was not to be a night when they were destined to break their winless streak.
HOME
SEASON'S RESULTS
SABRE TALK MESSAGE BOARD
NEWSROOM
99 PLAYOFFS
Is it time to bring up Martin Byron earlier than expected? Is Dominik Hasek already retired? Those are the questions that must be answered in the very near future.
Hasek lets one get past on the short side
THE PLAYERS
STATISTICS
SCHEDULE
PROSPECTS
LIVE GAME RADIO
HISTORY
TEAM INFO
PHOTO GALLERY
MULTIMEDIA
SABRES POLL
TROPHY CASE
LINKS
THE STAFF
E-MAIL SABRESWORD
Copyright © 1999 Sabres Central, all rights reserved
