Observations: Sabres' prolific offense, improved team defense earn 6-3 win

kAm%96 $2? y@D6 $92C<D’ E@A\C2?<65 A6?2=EJ <:== 925 "F:?? DFCC@F?565 2D E96 qF772=@ $23C6D C@@<:6 H:?86C DE:4<92?5=65 E@ ECJ E@ 4C62E6 6?@F89 DA246 E@ F?=62D9 2 D9@E @? 2 A@H6C A=2J :? E96 D64@?5 A6C:@5 $F?52J ?:89E]k^Am

kAm"F:?? 4@==64E65 2 A2DD 7C@> ':4E@C ~=@7DD@? :? E96 9:89 D=@E[ AC@E64E65 E96 AF4< 7C@> $92C<D 46?E6C }:4< q@?:?@[ 42CC:65 :E 2C@F?5 E96 @FEDEC6E4965 DE:4< @7 5676?D6>2? #25:> $:>6< 2?5 362E 8@2=:6 p2C@? s6== H:E9 2 =@H D9@E E@ 8:G6 E96 $23C6D 2 >F49\?66565 EH@\8@2= 25G2?E286]k^Am

kAm%96 4C@H5 C@2C65] %96 $92C<D 9F?8 E96:C 9625D] qFE E96 $23C6D’ C6DA@?D6 7@==@H:?8 E96 8@2= H2D 72C >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? E96 :>AC6DD:G6 :?5:G:5F2= 677@CE 3J @?6 @7 E96:C J@F?86DE A=2J6CD]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D ?@ E9:C5\A6C:@5 4@==2AD6 E9:D E:>6] %96 $23C6D C6DA@?D:3=J EC:65 E@ 255 E@ E96:C =625[ "F:?? D4@C65 9:D D64@?5 8@2= @7 E96 82>6 2?5 E96J 5676?565 H6== 6?@F89 :? 7C@?E @7 8@2=:6 &<<@\!6<<2 {FF<<@?6? E@ 9@=5 @? 7@C 2 e\b H:? @G6C E96 $92C<D :? z6Jq2?< r6?E6C]k^Am

kAmQ(6’G6 E2=<65 :? 96C6 23@FE 4=@D:?8 82>6D 2?5 E@?:89E H6 5:5 2 C62==J 8C62E ;@3 5@:?8 E92E[Q $23C6D 5676?D6>2? #2D>FD s29=:? D2:5 H:E9 AC:56]k^Am

kAm%96 $23C6D W``\`b\`X 2C6 c\a\` D:?46 D?2AA:?8 2? 6:89E\82>6 D<:5 2?5 :>AC@G65 E@ h\_ H96? =625:?8 2E E96 D64@?5 :?E6C>:DD:@?] %96:C A@E6?E @776?D6 82G6 E96 $92C<D Wg\`e\cX 7:ED[ A2CE:4F=2C=J @? E96 A@H6C A=2J H96C6 "F:?? 2?5 %286 %9@>AD@? 925 2 8@2= 2A:646] yy !6E6C<2 2?5 y677 $<:??6C 2=D@ D4@C65 5FC:?8 2 E9C66\8@2= D64@?5 A6C:@5 367@C6 p=6I %F49 25565 2? 6>AEJ\?6E 8@2= :? E96 E9:C5] r@K6?D 925 E9C66 2DD:DED 7@C 2 D64@?5 DEC2:89E E9C66\A@:?E 82>6]k^Am

kAm(6 <?@H E96 $23C6D 42? D4@C6] %96:C b]f` 8@2=D A6C 82>6 6?E6C:?8 $F?52J C2?<65 7@FCE9 E96 }w{ 2?5 AFE E96> @? A246 7@C E96 7C2?49:D6’D 36DE >2C< D:?46 `hha\hb[ H96? p=6I2?56C |@8:=?J 2?5 !2E {2u@?E2:?6 96=A65 qF772=@ D4@C6 b]hh A6C 82>6] %9:D G6CD:@? @7 E96 $23C6D 925 D:I A=2J6CD 6IE6?5 E96:C A@:?E DEC62<D E@ 7@FC 82>6D $F?52J ?:89E]k^Am

kAmqFE H6’G6 366? H2:E:?8 E@ D66 :7 E9:D E62> 42? 5676?5] %96 :DDF6 :D?’E 6I4=FD:G6 E@ E96 3=F6 =:?6[ H9:49 :D 7:?2==J 4=@D6 E@ 7F== DEC6?8E9 H:E9 |2EE:2D $2>F6=DD@? 2?5 w6?C: y@<:92C;F 324< 7C@> :?;FCJ] u@CH2C5D 2C6 AFEE:?8 E96 5676?D6>6? :? 325 DA@ED 3J EFC?:?8 E96 AF4< @G6C @C 36:?8 @FE @7 A@D:E:@? H9:=6 AC6DD:?8 E@ 4C62E6 @776?D6]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D 2 ?@E23=6 6I2>A=6 @7 E9:D 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE D9:7E @7 E96 82>6] sJ=2? r@K6?D’ =:?6 62C?65 EH@ BF2=:EJ D4@C:?8 492?46D 3FE EFC?65 E96 AF4< @G6C E@ 8:G6 $2? y@D6 2 3C62<2H2J C2E96C E92? 49:AA:?8 :E :? E@ 4C62E6 E:>6 7@C 2 =:?6 492?86] {FF<<@?6? >256 E96 D2G6[ @?6 @7 ae 7@C E96 ab\J62C\@=5[ 2?5 E96 $23C6D E@@< 2 `\_ =625 2E hi`h :?E@ E96 82>6 H:E9 %9@>AD@?’D @?6\E:>6C 7C@> E96 =67E 4:C4=6 @? E96 A@H6C A=2J]k^Am

kAmQ(6’G6 8@E 2 D<:==65 E62>[Q D2:5 r@K6?D] Q(6 <?@H H6 42? D4@C6 8@2=D] %96C6’D 567:?:E6=J D@>6 E:>6D H6 ?665 E@ 4=62? FA E96 s K@?6 2 =:EE=6 3:E] (6’C6 =6EE:?8 :? E@@ >2?J 8@2=D 2?5 E92E’D @? 2== @7 FD] %96 D4@C:?8 :D E96C6[ D@ @?46 H6 4=62? FA E96 s[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ =625 E@ >@C6 H:?D]Qk^Am

kAm%96 $92C<D E:65 E96 D4@C6[ E96? 25565 E@ =625 3642FD6 @7 EH@ D:>A=6 >:DE2<6D 3J E96 $23C6D] ':4E@C ~=@7DD@? EFC?65 E96 AF4< @G6C :? E96 5676?D:G6 K@?6 AC:@C E@ }:4< q@?:?@’D 7:CDE 8@2= 7@C $2? y@D6[ E96? {FF<<@?6? H2D @FE @7 A@D:E:@? @? 2? F?D4C66?65 D9@E H96? z6G:? {232?4 82G6 E96 $92C<D 2 a\` =625 @? E96 A@H6C A=2J =2E6 :? E96 7:CDE A6C:@5]k^Am

kAm%96 $23C6D 2C6 DE:== ECJ:?8 E@ 6DE23=:D9 7@FC C6=:23=6 7@CH2C5 =:?6D] %96J’C6 >F49 4=@D6C E92? 2 J62C 28@ :? =2C86 A2CE 3642FD6 @7 r@K6?D’ C2A:5 56G6=@A>6?E[ 2D H6== 2D E96 2CC:G2=D @7 !6E6C<2 2?5 "F:??] p?5 E9:D E62> ?665D @?6 >@C6 42A23=6 5676?D6 A2:C E@ 2==6G:2E6 AC6DDFC6 7C@> E96 3:8 7@FC @7 $2>F6=DD@?[ y@<:92C;F[ s29=:? 2?5 ~H6? !@H6C]k^Am

kAmr@K6?D[ H9@ 92D ac A@:?ED :? ad 82>6D[ D9@H65 282:? 62C=J :? E96 D64@?5 A6C:@5 E92E 96’D A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@?] w:D 3C62<@FE A2DD 7C@> 566A :? E96 5676?D:G6 K@?6 DACF?8 !6E6C<2 7@C 2 CFD9 2?5 E96 a_\J62C\@=5 C@@<:6’D D9@E 7C@> E96 =67E 4:C4=6 =62<65 E9C@F89 s6== E@ E:6 E96 D4@C6 a\a @?=J `e D64@?5D :?]k^Am

kAmQw6’D 5@:?8 E96 C:89E E9:?8D 2== E96 E:>6 2?5 96 5676?5D H6==[Q s29=:? D2:5 @7 r@K6?D] Q~776?D:G6=J[ 96 5@6D?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 HC@?8[ :E 766=D =:<6] w6’D AC@E64E:?8 E96 AF4<[ 96 >2<6D E96 A=2J 96 92D E@ 2?5 96’D 8@E D<:== H:E9 2 8C62E D9@E] w6’D 8@E :E 2==[ x 766= =:<6]Qk^Am

kAmy@<:92C;F H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E96 A=2J E92E 82G6 qF772=@ E96 =625] %96 $23C6D 5676?D6>2? 4C62E65 2 EFC?@G6C 3J 5:DCFAE:?8 2 $2? y@D6 A2DD[ H9:49 =65 E@ 2? @55\>2? CFD9 E92E $<:??6C FD65 E@ D4@C6 9:D `aE9 8@2= @7 E96 D62D@? 2?5 8:G6 qF772=@ 2 b\a 25G2?E286]k^Am

kAm"F:??’D 7@==@H\FA D66>65 E@ 56>@C2=:K6 E96 $92C<D] %96 $23C6D E@@< 2 c\a =625 @? 9:D 7:7E9 8@2= @7 E96 D62D@?[ 2?5 E96:C A=2J 5:5?’E 5C@A @77 :? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5]  w6 D4@C65 282:? @? 2 4C@DD\:46 A2DD 3J r@K6?D[ 2?5 E9@F89 ~D<2C {:?53=@> 2?DH6C65 BF:4<=J 7@C $2? y@D6[ qF772=@ >2?2865 E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5 C6DA@?D:3=J :? E96 =2E6DE D:8? @7 8C@HE9]k^Am

kAmQ(6 ?6G6C E@@< @FC 7@@E @77 E96 82D[Q D2:5 s29=:?]k^Am

kAmw6C6 2C6 @E96C @3D6CG2E:@?D 7C@> E96 82>6ik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`] p?@E96C 3:8 ?:89Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAms29=:? 42? AFD9 324< ?@H 2?5 @E96C E62>D 5@?’E =:<6 :E] w6’D 366? E2<:?8 2 AF?:D9>6?E D:?46 6?E6C:?8 E96 =628F6 3642FD6 @AA@?6?ED ECJ E@ C2EE=6 9:> 6249 E:>6 96 92D E96 AF4<] %96J’C6 2=H2JD 7:?:D9:?8 4964<D] %96J’C6 86EE:?8 2H2J H:E9 DE:4< :?7C24E:@?D] %96J’C6 =62C?:?8 E96 92C5 H2J E92E s29=:? :D?’E `g J62CD @=5 2?J>@C6]k^Am

kAmw:D 3:886DE 9:E @7 E96 ?:89E :D?’E E96 36DE 6I2>A=6 @7 E9:D 3FE E2<6 ?@E6 @7 9:D C6DA@?D6] s29=:? =6G6=65 |2EE }:6E@ H:E9 2 E6IE3@@< @A6?\:46 9:E E92E 9@4<6J 4@2496D 6G6CJH96C6 H:== H2?E E@ D9@H E96:C 5676?D6>6?] s29=:? A6C764E=J <:==65 E96 CFD9 H:E9@FE E2<:?8 9:>D6=7 @FE @7 A@D:E:@?] *6E E96 $92C<D E@@< 6I46AE:@? E@ E96 9:E]k^Am

kAmQx 5@?’E <?@H 9@H >2?J A=2J6CD :? E96 =628F6 2C6 24EF2==J =:<6 E92E[Q $2>F6=DD@? D2:5 @7 s29=:?] QxE’D AC6EEJ DA64:2=] %@ D66 E96 DEF77 96 5@6D H:E9 E96 AF4< 2?5 E96? 36 23=6 E@ 9:E D@>6@?6 =:<6 E92E[ =:?6 9:> FA :D AC6EEJ :>AC6DD:G6]”k^Am

kAm$92C<D H:?86C %:>@ |6:6C E@@< 2 CF? 2E s29=:? @? E96 ?6IE D9:7E[ @?=J E@ >:DD 2?5 8@ 9625 7:CDE :?E@ E96 3@2C5D] s29=:? 925 EH@ 2DD:DED E@ :?4C62D6 9:D D62D@? A@:?E E@E2= E@ ah :? ac 82>6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma] z66A:?8 A246k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%9@>AD@? 3C@<6 ?F>6C@FD DE:4<D 2EE6>AE:?8 @?6\E:>6CD 62C=J E9:D D62D@?] w6 D66>D E@ 92G6 7:8FC65 @FE 9:D E:>:?8 @C E96 7=6I @? 9:D DE:4<[ 2D 9:D @?6\E:>6C :? E96 7:CDE A6C:@5 925 G6=@4:EJ 2?5 E96 A6C764E 2?8=6 E@ 362E s6== 7@C E96 `\_ =625] w6 92D `e 8@2=D 2?5 bc A@:?ED E9:D D62D@?]k^Am

kAm$:?46 ~4E] ah[ %9@>AD@? C2?<D D64@?5 :? E96 }w{ :? 8@2=D W`d :? `f 82>6DX 2?5 E9:C5 :? A@:?ED Wb`X] w6 6IE6?565 9:D A@:?E DEC62< E@ 7@FC 82>6D 2?5 6?E6C65 $F?52J @? 2 `_h\A@:?E A246 7@C E96 D62D@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb] #6DA@?D6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm*@F’G6 8@E E@ =:<6 !6JE@? zC63D’ C6DA@?D6 27E6C 96 H2D @FE @7 A@D:E:@? @? E96 q@?:?@ 8@2=] vC2?2E@ >@G65 zC63D E@ 46?E6C 2 =:?6 H:E9 zJ=6 ~<A@D@ 2?5 +6>8FD v:C86?D@?D[ H9:=6 %JD@? y@DE A=2J65 ?6IE E@ r2D6J |:EE6=DE25E 2?5 ':4E@C ~=@7DD@?]k^Am

kAmzC63D 925 2 DEC@?8 E9:C5 A6C:@5[ H9:=6 E96 @E96C =:?6 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36 DE28?2?E] xE’D E:>6 E@ DA=:E E96 |:EE6=DE25DE\~=@7DD@? 5F@] vC2?2E@ DE2E65 H9J 3@E9 2C6 :? E96 =:?6FA 56DA:E6 E96:C d\@?\d DECF88=6D] %96J’C6 :>A@CE2?E A:646D E@ qF772=@’D A@H6C A=2J] qFE 2 D92<6FA @7 E96 3@EE@>\D:I :D ?66565] }@ ?665 E@ >6DD H:E9 E96 %9@>AD@? 2?5 r@K6?D =:?6D]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ {FF<<@?6? H2D 8@@5 27E6C 2 D92<J 7:CDE A6C:@5] w6 925 2 3:8 D2G6 @? p=6I2?56C q2C32?@G E@ AC6D6CG6 qF772=@’D EH@\8@2= =625 :? E96 E9:C5[ E96? 2?@E96C @? {@82? r@FEFC6 5FC:?8 2 a\@?\`] k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc] q6EE6C DA@Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAms676?D6>2? y24@3 qCJD@? C6EFC?65 E@ E96 $23C6D’ =:?6FA 27E6C >:DD:?8 E96 A2DE EH@ 82>6D H:E9 2 =@H6C\3@5J :?;FCJ] qCJD@? 925 2 DEC@?8 DE2CE E@ E96 D62D@? 3FE[ 8C25F2==J[ 3682? E@ DECF88=6 H96? 8:G6? 2 3:886C H@C<=@25 2?5 >@C6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 3642FD6 @7 :?;FC:6D @? 5676?D6] w6 92D 2 E62>\H@CDE >:?FD\`b C2E:?8 27E6C 2G6C28:?8 a`i`d @7 :46 E:>6 H96? $2>F6=DD@? 2?5 y@<:92C;F H6C6 @FE @7 E96 =:?6FA]k^Am

kAmqCJD@? :D :? 2 36EE6C A@D:E:@? E@ 4@?EC:3FE6 H96? C646:G:?8 E9:C5\A2:C:?8 >:?FE6D[ 2D vC2?2E@ A@:?E @FE 7@==@H:?8 E96 >@C?:?8 D<2E6 $F?52J] k^Am

kAm“$=@EE65 4@CC64E=J H96? 96 4@>6D 324<[ x E9:?< H6 42? 6IA64E 2 =@E >@C6 @FE @7 9:>[Q vC2?2E@ D2:5 @7 qCJD@?]k^Am

kAm(:E9 qCJD@? 324<[ E96 $23C6D D4C2E4965 5676?D6>2? {2HC6?46 !:=FE 2?5 H:?86C #2D>FD pDA=F?5] }6:E96C H:?86C ':??:6 w:?@DEC@K2 ?@C 5676?D6>2? x=J2 {JF3FD9<:? D<2E65 H:E9 E96 E62> $F?52J >@C?:?8] q@E9 C6>2:? 52J\E@\52J 3642FD6 @7 :?;FCJ]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md] }6IEk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 $23C6D H:== EC2G6= E@ r@=F>3FD E@ A=2J E96 q=F6 y24<6ED @? (65?6D52J ?:89E 2E fib_ A]>] %96 82>6 H:== 36 3C@2542DE @? %}%]k^Am