Staggering Sabres searching for answers — fast - MPNnow.com

Amherst, N.Y. â€"

The high-priced Buffalo Sabres’ tumble from the top of the Eastern Conference to its bottom is just as perplexing to them as it is to most outside observers.

“We’re living through it,” right wing Drew Stafford said Monday before the team departed for Tuesday’s game at the New Jersey Devils. “We’re the ones on the ice, and we’re the ones responsible for the games. It’s been like this for a while, and you have to answer for it and answer why.”

Amid growing calls for a shake-up, the Sabres returned home briefly for practice after losing the first five games of a seven-game road trip, their longest of the season. Buffalo is just 1-7-1 in its past nine overall, and the NHL’s highest-paid team is in danger of falling into sole possession of 15th place in the East just two months after being a point out of the No. 1 spot.

Since blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 on Nov. 18 to move to 12-7-0 on the season, the Sabres have gone 7-17-5. They entered Monday tied with Carolina for last place in the East with 43 points, but they’ve played two fewer games than the Hurricanes.

Buffalo is also on a franchise-record 12-game road regulation losing streak, the longest such stretch for a team since the Chicago Blackhawks lost 16 in a row in regulation away from home during the 2003-04 season, according to STATS, LLC.

Though the NHL’s single-season record of 37 consecutive regulation defeats on the road set by the 1974-75 Washington Capitals appears out of reach, the Sabres are within striking distance of their franchise record of 23 straight winless games on the road (15 losses and 8 ties in 1971-72).

“We’ve had to deal with a lot of different circumstances with injuries and guys coming in and out of the lineup, but right now we have enough guys in there to win games,” captain Jason Pominville said. “It’s been disappointing and tough.

“It’s not easy having to talk everyday about it.”

There have been a number of things that have contributed to the free fall. Injuries have plagued the team all season, and of the 26 goalies who have played 29 or more games, Ryan Miller’s 3.15 goals-against average is the worst.

But Buffalo’s inability to score has been the main culprit for the slide.

The Sabres’ 115 goals (excluding two shootout-winning goals) are the fifth fewest in the league, and they’ve scored more than twice just seven times in their last 25 games.