By the Numbers: Sloppy Coyotes fall to Sabres at home

Jan 31, 2014, 4:53 AM | Updated: 4:53 am

The Phoenix Coyotes have had — to put it lightly — an up-an-down start to 2014.

They started the year with two straight losses before a blowout win was followed by four more losses. Then two wins were followed by two losses. Any bit of momentum has been promptly slowed, and that trend continued Thursday at Jobing.com Arena, where the Coyotes fell 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres.

Just two nights after thoroughly pounding the Los Angeles Kings 3-0, the Coyotes put together a sloppy effort that included allowing the game-winning goal shorthanded on a slow-rolling puck off a turnover.

Here’s a closer look at the loss by the numbers:

5

Phoenix forward Antoine Vermette has scored five goals in his last three games after netting a power play goal at the 18:30 mark of the first period, tying Thursday’s game at one.

8

Vermette has scored eight goals in the Coyotes’ last eight games, including a three-goal performance in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Vermette has added two assists for a total of 10 points during that stretch.

13

The Coyotes have scored a power play goal in 13 of their last 14 games. Phoenix is converting on 20.2 percent of its power plays — good for eighth in the NHL.

14

The Coyotes had killed off 14 straight penalties before the Sabres struck with 0:02 left on a Paul Bissonnette penalty early in the second period, tying the game at two.

16

Coyotes’ right wing David Moss snapped a 16-game goalless streak when he put Phoenix on top 2-1 late in the first period.

18

Phoenix needed just 18 seconds between tying the game at one and taking a 2-1 lead late in the first period. Vermette’s power play goal tied the game at the 18:30 mark of the period, and Moss’ tally at the 18:48 mark put the Coyotes on top.

 Phoenix Coyotes' David Schlemko (6) and Buffalo Sabres' Cody Hodgson (19) skate after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  With the help of Phoenix Coyotes' Derek Morris (53), Coyotes goalie Thomas Greiss (1), of Germany, makes a save on a shot as Buffalo Sabres' Marcus Foligno (82) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Ennis (63) scores a goal as he gets the puck past a diving Phoenix Coyotes' Thomas Greiss, of Germany, center, as Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, and Zbynek Michalek, of the Czech Republic, and Sabres' Matt Moulson (26) and Zemgus Girgensons (28), of Latvia, look on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Phoenix Coyotes' Antoine Vermette, second from left, celebrates his goal as Buffalo Sabres' Chad Ruhwedel (5) looks for the puck and Sabres' Marcus Foligno (82) and Coyotes' Mikkel Boedker (89), of Denmark, and Shane Doan (19) look on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Phoenix Coyotes' Thomas Greiss (1), of Germany, makes a save on a shot by Buffalo Sabres' Matt Moulson (26) as Coyotes' Antoine Vermette (50) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Linesman Scott Driscoll (68) checks his jaw after being hit with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Buffalo Sabres' Cody Hodgson (19) tries to pass the puck as he is hit by Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal (11), of the Czech Republic, during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Buffalo Sabres' Ryan Miller (30) makes a save on a shot by Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal, left, of the Czech Republic, as Sabres' Henrik Tallinder (20), of Sweden, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo)  Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Ennis (63) has his shot blocked by Phoenix Coyotes' Thomas Greiss (1), of Germany, as Coyotes' Zbynek Michalek (4), of the Czech Republic, skates in to defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Sabres defeated the Coyotes 3-2. (AP Photo)

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