The Buffalo Sabres are still searching for answers on their six-game road trip, falling to the Calgary Flames by a score of 7-4 on Monday night. The Sabres, now 0-3 on the road trip, struggled to contain Calgary's offense, which exploded for a season-high in goals. Here are three takeaways from the game:

1. Defensive Lapses and Goaltending Woes

The Sabres' defensive struggles continue to plague them, as they allowed the Flames to score seemingly at will. Buffalo has been outscored 16-7 during the first three games of their road trip. Calgary exploited defensive breakdowns and capitalized on power play opportunities, scoring three times with the man advantage. Goaltending was also an issue, as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after surrendering five goals on 22 shots through two periods. Alex Lyon replaced Luukkonen to start the third period, stopping all four shots he faced. The team's inability to consistently clear the defensive zone and limit high-danger scoring chances continues to be a major concern.

2. Offensive Spurts Not Enough

While the Sabres managed to score four goals, it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Flames' offensive outburst. Tage Thompson snapped a six-game goal drought with a power-play goal, while Owen Power ended his 13-game drought. Rasmus Dahlin also scored his first goal in 15 games, and Alex Tuch added a power-play goal late in the third period. However, every time the Sabres cut into the lead, the Flames responded quickly, preventing Buffalo from gaining any sustained momentum. The Sabres twice cut the deficit to one goal in the second period, only to have Calgary answer back less than a minute later on both occasions.

3. Special Teams Struggles

Special teams proved to be a significant factor in the game. The Flames capitalized on their power play opportunities, converting on three of eight chances. Rasmus Andersson's power-play goal was a result of a 5-on-3 advantage. Jonathan Huberdeau also scored on the power play, further highlighting the Sabres' penalty kill struggles. While the Sabres did score two power-play goals of their own, they were unable to contain Calgary's special teams. Disciplined play and improved penalty killing will be crucial for the Sabres moving forward.

The Sabres will look to turn things around as they continue their road trip against the Edmonton Oilers. To do so, they will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities, find more consistency on offense, and improve their special teams play.