The Sabers allowed five straight goals in a 5-2 loss to Utah

The Sabers have lost six straight and fallen to 11-13-3. They are 0-4-2 since completing their California road trip on November 23rd.

This was nothing like Tuesday night’s loss, when they blew a 4-0 lead and lost 5-4 to Colorado, or their 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, when they lost in back-to-back games Goalkeeper restrictions were on the wrong side.

The Sabers were outplayed in the final 40 minutes, allowing five straight goals in a game for the second time this week. It was 5-1 until Jiri Kulich scored on a rebound with 2:20 left.

One came against Utah (11-11-4). Sabers coach Lindy Ruff was able to prevent a goal early in the first period.

Tyson Kozak’s first NHL goal gave the Sabers a 1-0 lead with 9:46 left in the first period. They have scored the first goal in 16 of 27 games this season, a significant improvement on last season.

However, they broke up again in the second third.

Michael Kesserling, Mikhail Sergachev and Nick Schmaltz each scored a goal from midfield to give Utah a 3-1 lead. The lead was extended in the third period when Jack McBain scored just 2:11. Kevin Stenlund added another goal with a shot from the right circle.

The Sabres’ power play ended 0-3 and failed to score two goals before Utah tied the score at 1-1 early in the second period.

• Utah winger Nick Schmaltz scored with a rebound just 3:41 into the game, but the goal was negated by a goaltender interference challenge from Sabers coach Lindy Ruff. Barrett Hayton ran alone into the Buffalo goal area to prevent Luukkonen from making the save.

• The challenge of a coach didn’t slow Kozak down this time. The Sabres’ rookie skated to the net and scored his goal, redirecting Beck Malenstyn’s pass to beat Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka and take a 1-0 lead with 9:46 left in the first period .

Buffalo’s Dennis Gilbert’s second assist on goal, an excellent stretch pass to Malenstyn, was the native’s first point with the Sabres.

• The Sabres’ power play failed to produce a goal on their two opportunities in the first period, and Luukkonen had to stop Schmaltz’s shorthanded breakaway with 21 seconds left.

• According to Natural Stat Trick, Utah had an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal and two shot attempts (24-22), while the Sabers had more dangerous scoring opportunities at 5-on-5 (5-4).

• Dylan Cozens missed the goal from the slot as the Sabres’ power play ended less than a minute into the period.

• The problems began three minutes into the half when Luukkonen was forced to make three consecutive saves against Utah’s top team. The Sabers were stuck in their own zone until Kesserling’s shot from the point went over the crossbar, tying the score at 1-1 just 3:18 into the second half.

Owen Power had a failed breakout pass and Alex Tuch shielded Luukkonen on goal.

• Sergachev scored on a shot from the point just 22 seconds later, while Luukkonen was rocked by a collision around the Sabres’ net. Gilbert checked Michael Carcone against Luukkonen, which stunned the goalie and gave Utah an empty net with 16:18 left in the second period.

• Malenstyn tackled Kesserling after the Utah defender was annoyed by the Sabers winger’s hit behind the visitors’ goal.

• Luukkonen again had to make a difficult save on a backhand shot from Carcone as the Utah winger got behind Gilbert, then the Sabers fell behind 3-1 on a goal from Schmaltz with 51.5 seconds left.

• The Sabers lost to Utah 14-5 and didn’t score in the second half in seven games. According to Natural Stat Trick, they only had 12 shots on goal in 40 minutes on Saturday and allowed seven dangerous chances in midfield.

• Cozens forced a 2-on-1 pass, then McBain made it 4-1 with 17:49 left.

• Tage Thompson had a shot from the slot, then Tuch got a rebound by snapping the puck to Vejmelka, but the puck rolled past Thompson near the Utah net.

• The Sabers failed to score on another power play before Stenlund scored on a shot from the right circle that went past the post and into the goal.

The Sabers host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday at 7 p.m. and close out home action on Wednesday with a game against the New York Rangers.