Sabres Struggling On The Power Play Is Nothing New

Beginning the regular season at 2-2 is not catastrophic for the Buffalo Sabres, but the club is showing some similar traits to teams of recent past that did not achieve success. Through four games, the Sabres have played spotty inconsistent hockey, have not received strong goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and have been woeful with the man advantage. 

In the 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Buffalo was 0 for 3 on the power play, and so far this season, they are the only club in the NHL who does not have a goal with the man advantage (0 for 13). This is not shocking, because the Sabres have traditionally been weak on the power play, in spite of having top offensive performers in Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Three years ago, Buffalo had a 16.6% effective rate on the power play (29th overall), two years ago, it was 18.8% (24th overall), and last season it was 19.5% (21st overall). In their first year under Lindy Ruff, the Sabres went 0 for 22 on the man advantage. This season, the group has started 0 for 13, and Ruff has already tinkered with the personnel on the first power play group, subbing in Noah Ostlund for Josh Doan, but they to this point have had no success. 

"We  obviously  made  some  changes.  We  had  a  couple of  great  opportunities.  I  mean,  our  first  power  play  wasn't  any  good.  I'm  not  going  to  try  to  disguise  that.  Our  second  one,  we  had  Benson  all  alone  in  front  of  the  net,  and  you  get  a  couple  whacks.  You  got  to  put  that  in  the  back  of  the  net. (Thompson)  had  one  right  in  the  slot  that, normally,  he  finds  a  hole." Ruff said. "I  think (we're)  squeezing  the  sticks  a  little  bit.  We  had  some  guys  that  abnormally  didn't  handle  a  puck  very  well, and  that  really  hurt  us." 

Buffalo are 2-1 on their five-game homestand, and take on the offensively gifted Utah Mammoth on Saturday and the Florida Panthers on a Columbus Day matinee.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo