BUFFALO, N.Y. — "If I wagered money, you can't go down the ice as many times as we can and hit the iron if you're aiming for it. You have pipe contests and crossbar contests and you can't hit it, it's one out of five, but in a game we can hit it six out of 10,” said head coach Lindy Ruff.

It's been a frustrating run for the Ruff and Sabres; snake-bitten when it comes to scoring goals. A shutout loss on Wednesday and the team has managed only 22 goals in 13 games since the New Year.

Many times, the chances have been there, but the Sabres haven't converted. Such was the case when Derek Roy hit the post on what could've been the clincher in overtime against the Rangers.

"Those are tough opportunities. You have to finish them off. Especially at this point in time we need the points. That was a huge play and I'm going to get 'em next time,” said Roy.

"Going forward we have to be able to bury chances. We've been saying that same song and dance, but if we get the chance we've got to be able to put that puck in, that's going to make a big difference going forward,” said Jordan Leopold.

In spite of those issues, the Sabres remain confident that if they continue to put themselves in the right positions, the puck will eventually find its way into the net.

"I think we're working in practice to try to score goals, trying to instill drills that we can work at it. Everybody has to help each other out and keep making plays and keep having confidence,” said Roy.

"At some point, those will start going in. They don't always miss, and they don't always hit somebody,” Ruff said.