Time for a Shake-Up: Rangers Defeat Sabres to Make it 8 Straight

The Buffalo Sabres dropped their eighth straight game, this time to the New York Rangers, 3-2. It’s Buffalo’s sixth one-goal loss during the losing streak. The combination of heartbreaking defeats has heightened the Sabres’ mistakes, seemingly needing some sort of shake-up to get things back on track.

New York’s Mika Zibanejad scored 7:01 into the game on the powerplay, which was the only goal through the first two and a half periods of play. Reilly Smith made it 2-0 for the Rangers late into the game, but Owen Power’s late tally kept the Sabres fighting.

Adam Fox scored an empty net goal with just over two minutes remaining, which was answered by Tage Thompson’s blast with 37.7 seconds left. The Sabres couldn’t find one more answer though, and extended their downtrodden ways.

Trade Talk

General manager Kevyn Adams has reportedly been active on the phones since October, trying to make a big move to improve the roster. According to reports, he’s been searching for a “win-now” move, willing to part with future assets for a player that can drastically improve the team.

There’s one problem – the good players aren’t available right now. The best players available during the season are usually pending unrestricted free agents. Those players simply aren’t available in early December, as the standings are generally too tight for NHL teams to think they’re out of it.

This is clearly weighing on Adams, who was wound-tight and defensive when he recently addressed the media. Buffalo’s general manager can allude to excuses as to why he can’t acquire the players he wants right now, but it’s time he does something.

Related: Sabres GM Adams’ Presser Gets Defensive, ‘We Don’t Have Palm Trees’

Time for a Move

Head coach Lindy Ruff has tried about every combination possible with his roster. There has to be a big shake-up, even if it removes an NHL player or two from the team. The Sabres are folding in pressure situations. The lines aren’t performing consistently enough.

Yes, missing the team’s best player and captain has hindered the Sabres, but they have to be able to find ways to win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was great in net once again, in a performance that attributed to nothing. That has happened too many times this season, with his teammates letting him down.

Owen Power and JJ Peterka were benched for the bulk of a period each for blatant turnovers. Sitting a shift here and a shift there isn’t cutting it. Ruff is trying to change the culture of the team, and it’s time Adams helps him out.

What to Do?

The Sabres aren’t the only team in the NHL underperforming. The Nashville Predators went all-in this offseason by adding Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. They are also asking more of underperforming players like center Tommy Novak.

The Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are in similar boats, with core players not playing up to par. Find a team that needs a spark and see if a deal – any deal – works. You can’t win every trade on paper, but making the right trade at the right time can set you up for the rest of the season and beyond.

What’s Next

The Sabres ended their five-game homestand winless after Wednesday’s loss to the Rangers. They have their annual visit to Roswell Cancer Institute to visit the children tomorrow, before practicing on Friday and heading to Washington D.C. to face the Capitals on Saturday. Washington is one of the league’s surprises, in first place in the Eastern Conference and first in the NHL in points percentage.