• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New Jersey Devils
Devils History

Sabres’ Captain Gionta Takes Responsibility

By John Christian Hageny November 13th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

“O’ Captain! My Captain!”

It wasn’t the revenge series Brian Gionta envisioned when he took on his old team, but the Buffalo Sabres’ team captain stood tall and answered every question asked after his team was swept by the New Jersey Devils in a bitter, Eastern Conference home-and-home series.

After gaining one point but falling, 2-1, in overtime on Friday, it was a homecoming of sorts on Saturday for Gionta, who spent seven seasons in New Jersey red and black including a memorable Stanley Cup Championship in 2002-03.

But after another lackluster performance in a 4-2 setback to the Devils in its second meeting — the Sabres’ fourth straight loss, dropping the team below .500 and into last place (5-6-4) in the Atlantic Division — it was Gionta who stepped up and took responsibility.

Brian Gionta skates against the New Jersey Devils (Paula Faerman Photography/paulafaermanphotography.org)

Buffalo Sabres’ Team Captain Brian Gionta in action against his former team, the New Jersey Devils. (Paula Faerman Photography)

“We lost some bodies, some significant guys, but it’s on us to find energy, find ways to be at the top of our game and keep pushing through it,” Gionta said. “We have to keep grinding.”

Already without super sophomore Jack Eichel, who is out up to two months with a high-ankle sprain, Buffalo was also minus forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Tyler Ennis and two of its best shutdown defensemen in Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov for the series, but Gionta isn’t making excuses.

“It’s tough right now,” Gionta said. “We had a good game last night, we pushed hard, just couldn’t find that second one; Tonight, a little slow out of the gates, we started to find our groove, tied it up (1-1), but those next two (goals that put New Jersey up 3-1) were a killer for us. That third one especially… a big momentum shift there.”

Buffalo looked sluggish from the drop of the puck, playing without emotion until Robin Lehner took exception to Kyle Palmieri camping out in his crease. Only after sticks came up and defenseman Cody Franson stepped in to protect his goalie did the Sabres start showing signs of life.

It couldn’t possibly have been the retaliation Sabres’ coach Dan Bylsma was looking for, especially after being thwarted on a questionable penalty shot awarded to and converted by Andy Greene that sealed the Devils’ win in overtime on Friday.

“It certainly wasn’t the start we wanted,” Bylsma said. “We made some hesitation plays with the puck and they got the momentum because of it. We’ve played a lot of games and we’ve played a lot of road games, the schedule has been one after another but it had no bearing on our game tonight…. it really was just too easy.”

Undisciplined Hockey

“Careless penalties, stick penalties — it kind of took away from any opportunity we had to get back into the game,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said after the Sabres giftwrapped 11 power-plays to the Devils in the two-game set. “We had a power-play then we take a penalty to negate that. It didn’t make me happy.”

Buffalo Sabres, Brian Gionta, NHL, NHL Draft, McDavid

It’s been a frustrating season for Brian Gionta and the Buffalo Sabres, but with 14 points in 15 games all is not lost. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

After handing New Jersey six chances with the man-advantages on Friday, Buffalo afforded the Devils five more power-plays on Saturday. Tripping, cross-checking, hooking and holding calls added to the 133 penalty minutes assessed to this team in 2016-17. Evander Kane accounted for four infractions including a double-minor for high-sticking that put the Sabres’ backs against the wall late in the third period on Friday.

“Obviously we need to stay out of the box,” Sabres’ big free agent signee Kyle Okposo said. “That’s killing us. All the momentum we had tonight. Stick infractions — we talked about it last game.  We didn’t really have a power play all night. We had one for about 25 seconds and they had four or five. It’s tough to keep the momentum when you’re in the box all game.”

Though Buffalo was remarkably successful in killing off all 11 power-plays (while only being awarded five itself in the series), this pattern of undisciplined hockey cannot continue. Even with the NHL’s 10th-best penalty killing unit at 84.2 %, the Sabres, and specifically the defensive corps in front of goaltender Robin Lehner, cannot maintain that type of performance night-in and night-out.

Where’s the Offense?

It’s awfully tough to score when your team is shorthanded all the time, but the Sabres managed two goals from Matt Moulson in the series, one on the power-play, and Marcus Foligno also found the back of the net for the blue and gold. Still, the team’s offensive woes are evident and continued without Eichel, O’Reilly and Ennis in the lineup this weekend.

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

With just 29 goals in 15 games, Buffalo ranks 28th in the National Hockey League in total offense. It has a respectable 20.5 % efficiency rating on the power-play, which places it 11th in the league, but the fact remains this team is only averaging 1.93 goals-per-game, something Okposo has a problem with.

“We’ve scored what, a max of two goals our past five games?” as Okposo answered his own question. “We got to put the puck in the net. I know we’re missing some big pieces to our lineup, but we need to find ways to score.

“We’re playing hard,” Okposo continued. “I thought the first 10 minutes we came out a little sluggish but we still have to execute.”

Fond Memories for Gionta in New Jersey

For the better part of a decade, Brian Gionta made the Garden State his home.

Though he hails from nearby Rochester, N.Y., Gionta laced ’em up for the New Jersey Devils from 2001 until 2009, forming the eclectic “EGG Line” while skating up and down the right wing alongside Patrik Elias and Scott Gomez.

Appearing in 473 regular season games and another 67 in the playoffs, Gionta left a lasting legacy in New Jersey and Devils fans still love him for it.

Brian Gionta (center) recorded 152 and 160 assists over the course of 473 games for the New Jersey Devils from 2001-2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press)

Brian Gionta (center) recorded 152 and 160 assists over the course of 473 games for the New Jersey Devils from 2001-2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press)

After amassing 152 goals, including a career-best 48 in 2012-13, to go along with 160 assists for 312 points, Gionta is not forgotten and the 16,514 in attendance at Prudential Center Saturday night gave him a warm welcome in his return.

“The first team you ever play for and you win a cup with that team? I definitely have a lot of fond memories here,” Gionta, who helped the Devils to its third Stanley Cup in 2002-03, said. “It was before we opened up this building, obviously, we were still at the old Continental (Airlines Arena), but I remember everything, practicing in West Orange and all that stuff.

“I owe a lot to the organization. It was a great eight years here,” Gionta said. “A little different now with my brother (Stephen) not around but it’s still pretty special coming back. I had a great time here.”

Gionta still holds Devils’ franchise marks for goals in a single season (48, 2012-13) and power-play goals in a single season (24, 2012-13).

News and Notes

The New Jersey Devils have won four straight games and have yet to lose in regulation on home ice this season (6-0-1). The Devils have earned 16 points in its last 18 games against the Sabres. This is the second home-and-home sweep for the Devils this season after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 and 3-2 earlier this month. With the recent winning streak, New Jersey is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games.

The Buffalo Sabres have lost four straight and five of its last six. It has not scored more than two goals in any game the month of November. With 15 games in 31 calendar days this season, including nine games in 15 days, the Sabres have had one of the more vigorous NHL schedules. Only the Red Wings, Flyers, Blues, Jets, Ducks and Flames have played more games this season. Buffalo is just 1-3-2 at home but sports a solid 4-3-2 record on the road this season.

  • Tags
  • Brian Gionta
  • Dan Bylsma
  • Evander Kane
  • Kyle Okposo
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 10:50 AM
Montreal Canadiens

The Best Canadiens Team Since 1993 Stanley Cup

Jan 24th 10:47 AM
Archives

Bruins’ All-Time Best Draft Picks

Jan 24th 10:25 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Options to Replace Stephens on the Fourth Line

Jan 24th 9:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ K’Andre Miller an Early Bright Spot on Defense

Jan 24th 9:45 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres’ Bottom-Six Forward Woes Continue

Jan 24th 9:25 AM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Donato Looking Good Early

Jan 24th 9:15 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Can Make Quinn Hughes the Team’s Cornerstone

Jan 24th 9:05 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Jets’ Trade For Dubois Controversial, But Has Potential to Pay Off

Jan 24th 8:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers Have Been Plagued by Weak Prospect Development

Jan 24th 8:45 AM
NHL Goaltending

Sabres’ GM Adams Needs to Turn the Tables on Goaltending Front

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information