Game 1: An Instructive Loss

Buffalo's 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers serves notice that nothing will be easy but also, it's the first game of the season.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba takes a look at goalie Igor Shesterkin during morning skate on Thursday in Buffalo. (Photo: Joe Yerdon)

BUFFALO — That could’ve gone a lot better for the Buffalo Sabres. A 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers in their season opener at home was not in the plans, but instead it was the kind of loss that showed the Sabres what trying to get back to the playoffs is going to entail.

The Rangers used a disciplined defense, a stout shot blocking mentality, and creative opportunism to upend the Sabres.

It was a game that still had some stank of preseason on it but it’s one of the 82 that counts for real. At least for Buffalo there are 81 more to go because this was one in which there were very few lessons to take away from it.

“I thought our guys did their best to not be frustrated and stay in the moment and stay on it, and it was a challenging night,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “You get scored on twice in the first I think maybe three chances against, it’s tough sledding, especially in this scenario where you’re not in a rhythm, you haven’t played games in the regular season yet. We fought hard the rest of the game to try to dig out of that.”