from Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News,

A 10-game winning streak propelled the Buffalo Sabres to the top of the NHL for one day and offered hope to a fan base that has not experienced playoff hockey since 2011.

Now, the Sabres' second season under coach Phil Housley could be defined by another figure: 197 minutes, 40 seconds. That is where their scoring drought stood after they were shut out for a third consecutive game, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-0, Thursday night in KeyBank Center.

The performance caused Jason Pominville to question the Sabres' pride, and Kyle Okposo grimaced while trying to explain how their play has become so unpredictable since the height of their success.

The Sabres (30-31-9) have lost 12 of their last 14 games, including six straight, and own the league's second-worst record since November had the city's fans imagining a playoff run. The team has not won back-to-back games since Dec. 13, and has gone over one week without scoring a goal, despite facing two backup goalies during that span.

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