Postgame Report | Skinner, Dahlin hit milestones in loss to Nashville

Tage Thompson expressed confidence that the Buffalo Sabres will be better for their recent struggles following a 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators inside KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
The Sabres entered the month of March in the thick of the Wild Card race, a new experience for the NHL's youngest roster. Thompson explained how the players' desire to make the playoffs has led to uncharacteristic lapses of late.

"It's the first time in a while this team's been close to playoffs," he said. "We wanted to be the group that can push and get there. So, with that comes that added pressure. But we got to learn how to play with that, and that's something we're learning to do right now.
"… We're the same team, we just got to continue to simplify when things get difficult, not complicate the game for ourselves. A lot of it is self-inflicted, so the good news about that is we can clean that up."

Thompson scored his 43rd goal of the season in the loss. Dylan Cozens and Jeff Skinner also scored goals for the Sabres.
Craig Anderson started in goal for the Sabres and stopped 14 of 20 shots in 35:52. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all six of the shots he faced in relief.
"We will get through this," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "We'll get through it. There's no doubt. I can stand here with no doubt and tell you we will get through this. I have been through much more difficult and challenging situations as a coach. We will get through this. Completely confident."

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How it happened

PERIOD 1
The Predators jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of goals from Philip Tomasino and Matt Duchene. Tomasino opened the scoring on a 2-on-1 rush and later delivered a pass through the middle to set up Duchene's one-timer from the right circle with 1:17 remaining.
Shots in the period were 13-5 in favor of Nashville.
PERIOD 2
The Sabres opened the period with a string of chances - a shot from in front from JJ Peterka, a breakaway from Victor Olofsson, and their second power play of the night - before Cozens buried the rebound off a Peterka shot to put them on the board at 3:36.

The Predators answered 14 seconds later on a breakaway by Tommy Novak, which ignited a run of four straight goals. Luke Evangelista scored the next two 40 seconds apart - one on a 2-on-1 rush, the other on a breakaway. Ryan McDonough made it 6-1 with 4:08 remaining.
Thompson buried a one-timer during a 5-on-3 power play with 2:43 left in the period for his 43rd goal of the year.

PERIOD 3
Skinner buried his own rebound to cut the deficit to three with 12:15 remaining.

Duchene lit the lamp again, this time into an empty net with 2:23 left, to round out the scoring.

What we learned

1. Granato said the Sabres' lapses of late can be traced to overcomplicating their play with the puck.
"You have to have the ability to keep things in the game simple and that's what we're going to learn through this, how to keep it simple," he said. "You just need to get through the neutral zone; you don't need to make a perfect play through the neutral zone. You just need to get depth; you don't need to make a play through sticks.
"So, the resolve is you'll learn to keep the game simpler, you'll learn the greater respect for how to keep the game simple, and it will be situational awareness. When you have a team that's a growing team, that's what they have to learn, situational awareness."

2.Thompson became the first Sabres player to score 43 goals in a season since Thomas Vanek hit the mark in 2006-07.
3. Skinner hit the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his career. He is the third Sabres player to hit the mark this season, joining Thompson and Alex Tuch.
4.Rasmus Dahlin became the third defenseman in Sabres history to record 50 assists in a season. Phil Housley and John Van Boxmeer each accomplished the feat twice.

Up next

The homestand concludes Friday with Military Appreciation Night against the New Jersey Devils. Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7 on MSG and WGR 550.
Tickets are on sale now.