The Sabres have stacked up 106 points and sit among the Eastern Conference’s best — but there’s one part of their game that’s quietly holding them back.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres are one of the top teams in the Atlantic Division, boasting 106 points this season. But despite their success, one surprising weakness remains, their power play ranks near the bottom of the league.
Still, Buffalo has found ways to win. Their strength at 5-on-5 and ability to generate offense in bursts has carried them through the regular season.
Right wing Alex Tuch believes that identity will be crucial, especially in the playoffs.
“Five-on-5, it’s going to be tight. It’s going to be hard to score,” Tuch said. “And we’re going to be hard to play against and not give up any chances, so when you get those chances on the power play and penalty kill, I think that’s what makes the best teams in the playoffs.”
As the postseason approaches, Ruff has turned his attention to fixing the power play by simplifying and attacking.
“I think we’ve been a little stubborn when it comes to shooting sometimes,” Ruff said. “But we talked to the group this morning … about being a little bit more in the attack mode, being a little bit in that mode where, if we get a puck on the net, anything can happen after that. We can create a little bit of chaos … versus a little bit too much on the outside.”
There have been glimpses of success. The Sabres went 2 for 4 on the power play against the New York Islanders just six games ago. However, that production hasn’t been consistent.
They’ve since gone 0 for 17. That inconsistency is something Josh Doan addressed, stressing the importance of balance heading into the playoffs.
“I think that’s something that for the playoffs is sometimes good because you can ride momentum,” Doan said. “But at the same time you want to be consistent throughout the game. That’s something that we’ve been focusing on.”
Doan added that relying too heavily on scoring bursts can be dangerous.
“If we’re holding the other team from scoring, then it’s not a big problem,” he said. “But you don’t want to be dropping two goals and then hoping you score in bursts to get back in the game.”
Buffalo’s power play will face another tough test against the Chicago Blackhawks, who rank second in the league in penalty kill percentage (84%). It’s a matchup that could reveal whether the Sabres’ adjustments are starting to click.
With the playoffs looming, the Sabres know improvement is necessary. If their power play can complement their already strong even-strength play, Buffalo could become an even more dangerous contender.