from Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News,

The three forgettable periods of hockey that followed were among the Sabres’ worst in 21 games this season. They allowed four goals in the first, mustered only 12 shots on goal in 60 minutes and didn’t put up much of a fight in a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Devils.

It was a dud of a performance less than 24 hours after the Sabres scored three goals in the third period to complete a come-from-behind win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of a sellout crowd in KeyBank Center. Bad starts have become an alarming trend for Buffalo. Falling behind in games is one reason why a team with playoff expectations is failing to replicate and exceed its success from last season.

“I’m not happy about it, obviously,” lamented Sabres coach Don Granato. “The lessons will keep repeating until you learn them. You come off a game you feel good about last night, but you have to have greater respect going in to the intensity that’s needed day in and day out in this league. … It’s a matter of respect for that. It’s a matter of experience gained in that, and lessons learned and it’s a big lesson, obviously, tonight.”

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