O’Reilly sums up Sabres missing the playoffs as ‘pathetic’ (Apr 5, 2017) – FOXSports.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Sabres forward Ryan OReilly calls it pathetic that his under-achieving Buffalo team will miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.

Were not a very good hockey team. Weve let a lot of things go that we normally shouldnt, OReilly said during a six-minute session at his locker Wednesday before the teams final home game of the season against Montreal.

Its so frustrating coming to the rink right now. Practicing. Theres no purpose to it, he added. Im sick of losing. Its getting exhausting and its not fun. It sucks the fun out of the game.

OReilly blamed the Sabres troubles on season-long struggles with consistency and players falling back into bad habits. He also blamed himself for a failure to assert himself more in a leadership role.

I think I really didnt step up and hold guys accountable and be a voice, and its tough, he said. I think at times I didnt say enough, and at times I maybe said too much.

OReillys frustrations reflect the disappointment surrounding a team thats suddenly grown stagnant under an ambitious rebuilding plan which began after the Sabres finished with the NHLs worst record in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

OReilly was pegged as a key fixture in the Sabres future. Buffalo acquired the multi-purpose forward in a multi-player deal with Colorado during the 2015 NHL draft, and shortly before the Sabres selected another key building block, Jack Eichel, with the No. 2 pick.

The additions began paying off last season, when Buffalo finished with a 35-36-11 record, which marking a 27-point improvement over the previous year. This year, Buffalo (32-25-12) needed to win its final three games to match last years win total.

Though second-year coach Dan Bylsma is taking much of the heat for the teams troubles, OReilly said the criticism should fall on the players.

Were the ones on the ice, OReilly said. You cant look at him to take the fall. Its a lot of us. Weve all kind of let it slip here.

Despite a series of injuries that sidelined numerous players during the first two months of the season, the Sabres worked their way into contention in mid-February before they completely unraveled. Starting with a 5-1 loss to Chicago on Feb. 19, Buffalo endured a 2-8-2 skid.

OReilly has been inconsistent this season, though his play was hampered by an abdominal strain which forced him to miss six games in November. Hes third on the team with 20 goals and second with 53 points.

OReillys frustrations echoed those expressed by Eichel following a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Monday.

As much as Im a young guy, Ive got to take on more responsibility, be more of a leader on this team, Eichel said. Ive got to expect more out of myself.

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O'Reilly sums up Sabres missing the playoffs as 'pathetic' (Apr 5, 2017) - FOXSports.com