Slow starts continue to haunt the Sabres

An unsettling trend has followed the Buffalo Sabres from last season into this season through four games. The poor starts in games have carried over and is a cause for concern.

Of the four games to start this season, they were outplayed in the first period in three of them. The Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche all dominated for most of the opening 20 minutes during their meetings with the Sabres.

They’re being outscored 4-2 and outshot 47-34 in the first period so far. The numbers would be worse if it wasn’t for a late power play at the end of the game last night. Prior to the man advantage in the final minutes of the period, the Sabres were being outshot 10-5 by the…