3. Tuesday December 1
Detroit Red Wings: 5 Buffalo Sabres: 4 SO
The Wings had a solid 2-0 lead but many can agree this is the hardest lead to keep. One mistake and the other team is back in it. Unfortunately, the Red Wings have blown plenty two-goal leads during the first half of the 2015-2016 season, many in the third and final period.
The Sabres came back in the first two minutes in the third period. Sabres up 4-3, making the Wings desperate for another two goals to win. This was the fifth out of sixth games where the Wings gave up a third period lead. Justin Abdelkader managed to score to force overtime.
For the Wings this was the fifth game in a row that had gone into overtime, and the last seven of eight to also do so. This game had a playoff-esque atmosphere and feel to it for most of the sixty minutes of play. You have to give the Sabres credit for their competitive play. Gone are the days of Buffalo being a team that can just be rolled over on the ice. Kudos to them.
The Red Wings were unable to finish off Buffalo in the overtime period, so the game would be forced to go to a shootout. Brad Richards was the only player to score in that shootout for the Wings, but it would be all the team needed to secure the win.
This game comes to show that even if the Wings have a comfortable lead, this does not mean the players can become comfortable. They must keep playing and fight to keep the lead so unnecessary overtime and shootout don’t have to happen. Points will be valuable at the end of the season, so every point earned will go a long way in the long-run.
Next: December 5 at JLA