Embarrassing.  The Buffalo Sabres just weren't ready to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night and it cost them.  The Leafs scored three straight goals in a span of just 43 seconds early in the first period and the Sabres never recovered in a 4-2 loss. 

With nothing to play for, the Sabres played the part.  Playing at home the fans deserve a lot better than watching their team mail it in and that's exactly what the Sabres did.  It was a combination of a good Toronto team and a Buffalo team that just didn't want to give the effort.  And again it goes to show how much further the Sabres have to go to compete with the best the league has to offer.

Ryan O'Reilly shorthanded and Jack Eichel on a breakaway in the final minute of the game accounted for the Buffalo scoring, but to a man the Sabres were awful.  Robin Lehner was pulled after giving up three goals on five shots, his second straight poor game.  Anders Nilsson finished the game and might have been the best player on the ice for the Sabres stopping 39 of 40 shots.

Individually and as a team the Sabres just didn't come to play.  Nobody in the locker room had an answer for it either. The Sabres managed only two shots in the first period to 18 for the Leafs.  The Leafs finished with a 45-22 edge in shots on goal.

The Sabres have one more home game left and they owe it to the fans to come prepared to play when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

 

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