Losers of 12 straight games, the Buffalo Sabres made a move Wednesday when they fired head coach Ralph Kruger. Generally, when a team fires their head coach, it gives the team an energy boost. The Boston Bruins hope that’s not the case with the Sabres beginning tonight.
In the new-look 2021 NHL season, there have been several changes by the league with new divisions based on region to cut down on travel, as well just a 56-game schedule for each team. The Bruins are placed in the East Division, but the only team to join them from the Atlantic Division is the Sabres. Because of the league’s COVID-19 protocols, the first two meetings between the clubs was postponed in Boston, but now they Bruins get a chance to get a look at the struggling Sabres.
Buffalo, which last won on February 23 when he beat the New Jersey Devils, 4-1, is missing several players from their lineup, with the biggest name out being former Boston University standout and captain Jack Eichel. Just like the Bruins, scoring has been an issue for the Sabres as, during their losing streak, they have scored two goals or less in 10 of the 12 games.
The other four teams in the East Division that the Black and Gold are fighting for playoff position with have feasted on Buffalo the last couple of weeks. The Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders each have three victories against Buffalo, while the Washington Capitals have one.
Now it’s the Bruins turn to try and take advantage of the NHL’s worst team that has just 16 points in 28 games. Easier said than done for this Boston club.
Struggling to score, the Bruins would be wise to take advantage of the Sabres by scoring early and often. One big key to tonight’s game for Boston would be to get ahead and stay ahead. Falling behind a team that has lost 12 in a row and just fired their coach is not the recipe coach Bruce Cassidy wants to see. We should find out early on how the Buffalo plays for their new coach and how tough of a night that the B’s could be in for.
The Bruins are playing a team that has nothing to lose while losing points in the standings for the B’s could come back and haunt them at the end of the season. Firing a coach can get a team going. Boston hopes that is not the case in the next games.