"Et tu, James?": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 77: Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres

While games are no longer "must-wins" for the Hurricanes, this one feels as close to a must-win as you'll get for a playoff team. Losing the first two games of their four-game road trip over the weekend, the Canes needed a positive result heading into their rematch with the Capitals on Thursday. The Sabres are already eliminated from playoff contention, but they've gotten red-hot, winning 10 of 14 and six straight at home. The Canes needed two points to inch closer to home ice for their first-round meeting with the Devils.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

BUF (1:32)- Tage Thompson (44) (unassisted)

BUF (16:45)- Alex Tuch (34) SH (Bowen Byram (31) & Ryan McLeod (30))

3rd Period

BUF (1:58)- JJ Peterka (24) (Jack Quinn (22))

My Thoughts

The Canes hit the road on Friday with all of the momentum in the world after beating the brakes off the Washington Capitals, in more ways than one. All of a sudden, this team can't buy a goal. I'm not in the business of overreacting, nor should I be considering the Canes are in the playoffs and will be in Raleigh when they begin in a little over a week, but this isn't ideal heading into the postseason. It's even worse when considering their opponents during this trip. Detroit, while mathematically still in the hunt, is going to miss the playoffs. Boston was sitting in dead last in the conference, albeit with David Pastrnak on the roster. Buffalo has been on a heater, but they aren't threatening for a playoff spot this season. In fact, like Boston on Saturday, they were eliminated tonight despite winning. Again, I'd be more concerned if the Canes were still fighting for something. Fortunately, they aren't, and these losses mean next to nothing in the grand scheme of their season.

I'm not going to over-analyze this game. It really comes down to two things. First, the Canes, once again, lost the goalie battle. Pyotr Kochetkov played his best game since his shutout victory over the Flyers a few weeks ago. His final numbers didn't look great, but this game wasn't on him. Unfortunately, his counterpart for the Sabres was perfect. James Reimer couldn't be beaten on Tuesday night. Even the iron seemed to like him a lot. The Canes hit the post twice in the third period, though it wouldn't have done them any good since they were down by three goals. Reimer's best work was done during the second period. His most consequential stop was on Sebastian Aho early in the frame, not long after Tage Thompson opened the scoring. It was a desperation stop, especially since Aho didn't get all of his power behind the chance. Obviously, I'm frustrated with the loss, but it's hard to be too mad at Reimer getting his moment.

Second, the power play has reverted to its pre-Anaheim form. After five straight games with a goal, the power play has been shut out in the last three games. Tonight, it didn't look particularly lethal. They had their first chance cut short before the second unit allowed a short-handed goal to Alex Tuch, putting the proverbial dagger in the Canes late in the second period during their third chance. Buffalo's penalty kill isn't that good either. I'd pointed out this morning that while the Sabres are on fire, their kill has been the biggest flaw in the system. Tonight, it proved to be a valuable asset, outscoring the Canes' power play, 1-0. This is another big area of the Canes' game that needs to be fixed over the next two weeks.

Checking In on the Playoff Picture

New Jersey (7 Points Behind for 2nd)

The only positive takeaway from tonight's game had nothing to do with what happened in Buffalo. It was just down the road in Newark, where the New Jersey Devils allowed seven goals to the Boston Bruins in a 7-2 loss. If the Canes had earned one point, they'd ensured home ice in the first round. While they couldn't secure that, they are one step closer. The Devils don't play again until hosting the Penguins on Friday. If the Canes can earn at least one point against the Capitals on Thursday, they'll ensure Game 1 in Raleigh once the playoffs begin. Otherwise, they'll have to hope the Devils leave a point on the table against Pittsburgh.

The Road Ahead- The road trip ends Thursday against the Washington Capitals in the nation's capital. I'm half-expecting a spirited bout, though the two sides could opt to save it for the playoffs since both are in excellent spots. The Canes return to Raleigh for a weekend back-to-back against the Rangers and the Maple Leafs before finishing the regular season with another back-to-back against Montreal and Ottawa.