The Buffalo Sabres' offense has been virtually nonexistent in the first period this season, scoring just six goals in 10 games, and head coach Lindy Ruff is growing tired of the slow starts.
Buffalo allowed the only goal in the opening frame of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night as Yegor Chinakhov took advantage of an Owen Power turnover in the defensive zone. The Sabres generated just nine shots in the first 20 minutes.
"I think we thought the game was a 7:18 [p.m.] start, and it was 6:45; unacceptable, the way we started," Ruff told reporters.