Give the Buffalo Sabres credit for their effort.  I'd give them an A-minus against the best team in the National Hockey League.  The Sabres gave the Nashville Predators all they could handle, but ended up losing anyway 4-0.

At least in my eyes, the Sabres held the better of the play for most of the game showing that just maybe, the players are finally getting to understand what coach Phil Housley has been trying to tell them since last fall.  The difference was Nashville goaltender Pekke Rinne who stopped 35 shots to win his 40th game of the season including his eighth shutout.

There have been way too many games this season where the Sabres just didn't show up to play.  But maybe in this game they were giving their best for Housley in his first game against the team he spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach.

The Sabres had their chances, especially on a pair of power plays but just couldn't cash in while the Predators were able to convert on the chances they got.  It's the 15th straight game in which they gained at least a point.

The Sabres continue their homestand Wednesday night against the Arizona Coyotes.

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