The St. Louis Blues blocked 20 shots and goaltender Joel Hofer recorded his first shutout of the season, leading to a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
It was the fifth time in six games that the Sabres lost in regulation or overtime, continuing a difficult stretch marked by lineup changes due to injuries and illnesses.
Rasmus Dahlin summed up the opposition’s effort: “They were playing a man’s game.”
Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff reflected on the loss, noting the team’s struggles to generate consistent offense against a well-organized Blues defense.
Despite the defeat, the Sabres’ penalty kill remains a bright spot, leading the NHL at 90.9% through their first 13 games.
Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancée, Carolina Matovac, recently recovered after suffering heart failure during a vacation in France and spending several weeks on life support.
Author’s Summary: The Sabres suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Blues as defensive strength and Joel Hofer’s shutout defined a tough night for Buffalo, who continue battling inconsistency and health setbacks.