Lindy Ruff isn’t unfamiliar with the feeling of losing a frustrating game in Buffalo, but Saturday’s defeat had a uniquely irritating tint to it.
Ruff’s Dallas Stars lost to his former team the Buffalo Sabres - aka a squad that’s been called “historically inept” - by a score of 3-2 tonight. Worst yet, the Stars failed to even grab a standings point in overtime or via a shootout.
You’d think it was an ideal night to get a little confidence for befuddled backup Anders Lindback. That wasn’t the case, as the Sabres generated a 3-0 lead about six minutes into the second period, a lead that they were able to hold onto for the win.
Jhonas Enroth was one of the standouts, stopping 38 out of 40 shots. Chris Stewart continues to quietly heat up, too, grabbing an assist on all three goals.
It will go down as a bitter loss for Dallas any way you slice it, but don’t blame Tyler Seguin. He scored a goal and fired 10 shots on goal while winning more than half of his faceoffs. John Klingberg stood out too, generating two assists.
Seguin had 20 shot attempts, 10 shots on goal -- and scored only once. #Sabres #Stars
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) February 8, 2015
Then again, maybe we should have seen this loss coming for the Stars:
With the win, the #Sabres improved to 9-2-1 record in their last 12 home games vs. the Stars. #DALvsBUF
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 8, 2015
The Stars may very well make a big run or sputter out completely. Still, if they end up barely missing the playoffs, remember this night.
Lindy Ruff will probably try to forget it.