The loss to Dallas marked the second time that the Sabres allowed seven goals at home in the span of less than two weeks. Afterward, Housley and some of the team's veteran players were critical of the collective work ethic against the Stars.
Scott Wilson won a pair of Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh, and thus knows what it takes to win in the NHL. He was promoted to a line with Ryan O'Reilly and Sam Reinhart at practice on Sunday, and suggested Buffalo's issues may be more a matter of working smarter than harder.
"Any time there's arguments about compete level, obviously it's not good," Wilson said. "At the same time, I can pretty much talk for everybody that we're trying out there. It's not like we're not trying and battling.
"Obviously, coaches think we have an extra edge to our game that we need to get to and I think all the guys agree. But at the same time, we're trying to compete out there every night and get some wins for the fans and try and turn this thing around."
At the heart of Buffalo's woes this season has been their tendency to start slow and go down early. In Pittsburgh, Wilson learned that confidence is gained early in games by paying attention to small details, whether it's finishing checks or making smart plays up the ice.
"First 10 minutes of a game they were chipping pucks out, making smart plays," he said. "Not only do you get your confidence for the game that night, it carries over to the next night. That was something I think we need to focus on, is our first 10 minutes. Not turning pucks over, being physical and just learning the process at the beginning of a game."
Lehner was pulled from the game on Saturday after allowing four goals on 19 shots in 29:28. He took responsibility for his performance on Sunday, but said it will take team accountability to turn things around.
"It was a pretty bad game from all of us yesterday," Lehner said. "It's tough when you get these starts. The puck's getting a little smaller. Obviously, the third goal yesterday, I want it back. We have a lot of things we need to figure out, and that's me included.
"… I don't turn it around," he continued. "Ryan O'Reilly is not turning it around. No one is turning it around by themselves. That's not how this works. In the NHL today, you cannot play on one line or one D pair or have a goalie carry you. It's too good of a league and especially this year with the scoring that's going on, there's a lot more space this year. We've got to do it as a team, all of us have to go out and do our job."
The Sabres will head into the All-Star break with a three-game road trip in Western Canada, which begins in Calgary on Monday night. Coverage on MSG-B begins at 8:30 p.m. with GMC Gamenight, or you can listen to the game live on WGR 550. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 9.
