{"id":788931,"date":"2012-01-16T17:22:08","date_gmt":"2012-01-16T22:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/twointhebox.com\/?p=2402"},"modified":"2012-01-16T17:22:08","modified_gmt":"2012-01-16T22:22:08","slug":"double-minors-sabres-weekend-round-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/double-minors-sabres-weekend-round-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Double Minors: Sabres weekend round-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might say the course of events the Sabres follow is becoming old hat. They find life with a victory and roll into their next game seeking a win streak. Inevitably they lose the game and at least one player to injury in the process. That script is certainly getting a lot of work.\"Double<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sabres were three minutes from guaranteeing a point percentage of .750 between Friday and Saturday, unfortunately they surrendered a pair of late goals (one ENG) in their loss to the Islanders. An overtime or shootout loss to New York would have mattered little had the Sabres managed to secure the bonus point. Getting points three-quarters of the time will be necessary for the remainder of the season if there is any hope of making the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s game was a well-played outing for almost the entire team. Ryan Miller played a strong game in goal, the Sabres got goals from their grinders and they took two points from a team their chasing. Mike Weber had an ugly night and Buffalo lost Brayden McNabb to an injury. Far from a flawless night, but it was a victory.<\/p>\n

Saturday was a relatively flat effort. Again they allowed a team to pepper Jhonas Enroth with pucks. Enroth played a great game, but the onslaught he faced can easily explain why three goals found their way in. The fact that the Sabres even had a chance at a victory was a testament to the game Enroth put forth. Unfortunately the rookie was saddled with another loss, something that has become fairly regular with him.<\/p>\n

Thomas Vanek rocked a penalty shot off the post with 90 seconds left. The shot was awarded on a bogus call that should have been ignored. Vanek, who was nicked up yet again, beat Nabokov but not the post. The Sabres couldn\u2019t gain the zone beyond that point and eventually surrendered the empty net goal that iced the game.<\/p>\n

It was a weekend series that was close to a guaranteed success and had the potential to be a monumental success were they to have won in overtime or the shootout. Unfortunately Saturday\u2019s poor effort shrouded the work the team did on Friday at home.<\/p>\n

Now the Sabres hit the road for games against some very hot hockey teams. The Red Wings and Blues are both winning tons of hockey games and the Jets may have the most hostile arena in the NHL. None of that bodes well for a team that has lost eight-straight on the road.<\/p>\n