Another one goal effort, another loss for Sabres

Anders Nilsson continued to shine in the net, but the offensive woes once against plagued the Sabres in a 3-1 loss on the road against Washington.

In November alone, Buffalo has played 13 games and scored one goal in seven of those contests. They were shutout once, by Boston.

"We had the chances, the chances were there and we have to shoot the puck better," Ryan O'Reilly said after the game.  "It's that simple."

Sam Reinhart netted the only goal, his fourth of the year, midway through the final period to pull the Sabres within 2-1.

"It is frustrating. I don't know what that isn't (frustrated)," Reinhart said of the loss. "They're going to come in spurts. We have to find those chances and bearing down more in practice to lead into the game."

Earlier in the week head Coach Dan Bylsma said Nilsson would have another opportunity in net following his 46 save effort in the Sabres shootout win over Pittsburgh.  Against Washington, the netminder stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced and kept the Sabres in the game.

A hard luck goal in the second saw a pass broken up by defenseman Josh Gorges bounce right to Marcus Johansson, who ripped his 8th goal of the season past Nilsson.

"(Gorges) played good there, unfortunately (the puck) went right back to him.  I thought it was going to go high, and it went under my arm. It's one I want to have back," the netminder said after the loss.

The Sabres special teams unit, which ranked eighth in the league converting better than 20 percent of their man advantage opportunities, went 0-4 on the night and failed to convert on three power plays in the final period.

"When we get a bunch of chances, like we did, it was one of the better puck movement power play movement for us, but we didn't get any goals," Reinhart said.  "It's frustrating when we're getting those looks and not putting them away."

"I think we were looking for life with the power play to star the third period and we didn't get it," Dan Bylsma said.  "It was a push at that point to get the second one and then the two many men on the ice killed us."

Buffalo was whistled for too many men on the ice with less than five minutes to play, which resulted in a Washington goal from Brett Connolly to give the Caps a 3-1 lead.

The Sabres return home Tuesday to face Ottawa.