BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Sunday night crowd at KeyBank Center saw the Sabres fall to the Nashville Predators 2-1 for Buffalo's third consecutive defeat.
This loss at home followed a pretty similar script to the Sabres's previous two defeats in Carolina and St. Louis. Nashville took a 2-0 lead in the first period, scoring twice in the time span of 74 seconds via Filip Forsberg and Yakov Trenin.
It marked the third straight game Buffalo faced a multi-goal deficit in the first period after falling behind 2-0 against the Hurricanes and 3-1 to the Blues through the first 20 minutes.
"You've got to have details in these tight games and it's tough to be down two goals after the first period and chase the whole game," said Sabres forward Victor Olofsson after the game.
Buffalo answered in the second period with a penalty shot from Olofsson that changed the complexion of the game. The Sabres outshot the Predators from there and had several chances in the second and third period to tie the game, namely from Dylan Cozens whose seven shots were tied for most on the team alongside Jeff Skinner.
Despite stronger showings in the second and third periods, it was once again the first period and falling behind quickly that dug the Sabres a hole they couldn't find their way out of.
"It's kind of just playing with that desperation right off the bat. I feel like once we get down, we kick it into an extra gear and push a little harder and we kind of play fearless like we have nothing to lose because we're already down," Cozens said. "That's kind of how we need to play right off the start. I feel like once we get one of those games where I feel like we're rolling, we'll get our swagger back."
The loss drops the Sabres to 10-13-2 on the season through 25 games.
The team will stay at home as it gets set to host Detroit on Tuesday night and the possible Red Wings debut of Patrick Kane. Puck drop Tuesday night between the Red Wings and Sabres is set for 7:30 p.m.