HC Lindy Ruff makes his feelings known about Buffalo Sabres "painful loss" after squandering 3-0 lead against Avs

The Colorado Avalanche won 6-5 in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres after tying the game late. Jonathan Drouin scored to make it 5-5 with just eight seconds left. Devon Toews then scored the game-winner 48 seconds into overtime.

The Avalanche were down 5-3 but managed to rally in the final minutes. Cale Makar scored two goals, and Toews had two assists. Nathan MacKinnon recorded three assists. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made two saves after replacing an injured Scott Wedgewood.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff was frustrated after the loss. He said his team played well but couldn’t hold onto the 3-0 lead. They fought hard throughout the game but gave up the lead late.

“You play a game like that - nine out of ten times you win a hockey game,” Ruff said. “Played a hell of a game. We battled hard. They score. We come back and score. They score. We come back again with Zucker's goal."

Ruff also explained how the Sabres worked to avoid a repeat of their past mistakes.

“We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that the same thing didn't happen,” he said. “We were gonna have a push. We were gonna try to play in the offensive zone. We weren't gonna back off. And then we accomplished a lot in the game, but that's just another painful loss.”

The Buffalo Sabres, with a record of 14-20-5, will play the Vegas Golden Knights, who have a record of 26-9-3. The game is on January 4, 2025, at 10:00 PM EST.

Buffalo Sabres struggles continue despite ending 13-game losing streak

The Buffalo Sabres have had a tough season, holding a 14-20-5 record and sitting last in the Atlantic Division. They suffered a 13-game losing streak, including a tough 6-1 loss against the Canadiens and a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. They also suffered two shutout losses to the NY Islanders (3-0) and the Minnesota Wild (1-0).

The Sabres ended their losing streak with a big 7-1 win over the Islanders. They followed up with victories against the Blackhawks (6-2) and Blues (4-2). Despite these wins, their struggles have continued.

Statistically, the team allows 3.34 goals per game, ranking 26th in the NHL. Their power-play success rate is 16% and the penalty kill is slightly better at 78.2%. Tage Thompson is the team’s top scorer with 33 points, including 18 goals and 15 assists. Rasmus Dahlin leads in assists with 21 and supports the team defensively.

The Buffalo Sabres need more consistency and stronger defensive efforts to compete in the Atlantic Division, led by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. Their focus is on improving both offense and defense in the coming games.