What the numbers tell us about the Buffalo Sabres so far this season
Through 15 games of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres are in last place, but some of the numbers show that they are a middle of the road hockey team, especially offensively. Sneaky Joe looks at the story of what the numbers say this year, including that Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have let the team down a bit offensively, while the team has actually allowed more defensively this season than you might expect. Is Lindy Ruff’s system working defensively? Can they keep it going with Rasmus Dahlin?
Plus, why the powerplay is struggling again, as Jason Zucker, Zach Benson, and Dahlin are all missing. And why the penalty kill continues to be the best unit in the NHL so far this year, as Jordan Greenway rejoins the mix.
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25 Comments
That ownership doesn’t know WHAT THE FUCK they are doing! COMMON DENOMINATOR DURING DROUGHT
Numbers suggest we are 2 players getting healthy away from playoffs. Then we lost 2 more players.
The most important numbers are wins
Numbers suggest Kevyn Adams should be fired….. Into the sun.
They are passing away great shooting positions. I found Quinn has shot a lot, but it feels like each game the shots he should have shot were in great positions and the spots he chose to shoot from were bad ones. This is not a dig at just Quinn, this is the Sabres as a whole when they try to go for the better "catch the goalie off guard" pass but don't actually get the pass through or the pass is bad resulting in the receiving player to juggle it a bit.
They have played 2/3 of their games at home and are in last place anyway. So they're NOT a middle-of-the-road team thus far.
I'm sorry, but you have liked Jack Quinn's season? Aside from (maybe?) 2 games, he has been an absolute disaster. Falls almost constantly when he's on the ice, loses practically every single puck battle on the boards, cannot pass or catch a pass whatsoever, on the PP he literally either throws himself or his teammates offside, and if/when he ever controls possession on the PP he just stick handles around until he inevitably throws it to no one or gets checked off of it and it gets dumped down. On top of that he sucks whenever he has to fill in for a pinching D-man. He just swings his stick and takes himself out of the play. He is not having a good season even in the slightest.
Another season down the drain…thanks, Pegula!!!
Utah will destroy them…they do not even have a chance. I have never seen a team just get worse and worse.
I’m starting to believe that Zucker isn’t the only one that has some mysterious Virus! I’m beginning to think that Josh Norris has some strange “Injury Virus” that he’s passed on to the team! I don’t ever remember the Sabres being THIS injured, and that includes the ‘05-‘06 (I believe) playoffs where nearly every one of our defensemen were hurt!
I hate to make light of any of these situations, because I truly hope that everyone gets healthy REAL soon, but if we can’t laugh at how frustratingly absurd this string of injuries are, I’m afraid we’re all gonna throw in the towel on a season that’s barely begun!
Get Well Guys!! We’re gonna need you if we have any hopes of pulling off a miracle!
This is a real thing. #donebyturkeyday. Again
All of this just means they are done before thanksgiving
You talk about the Sabres SV% being at a surprising 88.6. That’s basically ALL Alex Lyon. His SV% is .912, which puts him at 16th in the entire league. While UPL’s is .877, which puts him in 58th place.
Zucker and Benson are absolutely essential if the Sabres even want a glimmer of a chance competing against some of these teams… But even then they're still thin, but those guys are like the spark 🔥 (but I have to give credit to Doan/McLeod also for that, and Ostlund, Kozak and Rosen bring some of that but man they are small) that ignites this team, when they get juiced become #OneBigOffense. Dahlin is the anchor ⚓ that holds everything steady (Timmins has been pretty solid). Kulich is a luxury at this point. Norris, bigger luxury. Strategy at this point has to be to just stay afloat and hope some healthy guys return and stay healthy 👍 🏒 ⚔️
The Sabres, strangely have been competitive in every single game this year… They have not been blow out of a single game… I know, I know 'bad teams find a way to lose'… But 16th in the league in goals, 12th in expected, One of the best PP kills and pretty good Goalie Stats…. The Lord 🙏 needs to fight on!! 👍 🏒
Tage needs a solid winger like Huberdau to really be effective. Someone that can a little heat and attention off of him.
The only bright side to all of this is that the young ahl offensive players like ostlund, rosen and maybe helenius eventually will get some extended time in the NHL.
Just feel bad for Lindy as I thought he was doing a great job and then ALL this craziness happens all at once
I'm still waiting till the end of November through the middle of December to see where the sabres stand if they have to climb up for points it might be tough and I guess it also depends on what the other teams are doing
The Sabres are excellent on the PK with McLeod and Tuch plus Lyons, their defensive game is much improved, they would have a much better record without all these injuries. This new training staff and medical staff sucks
Jordan Greenway wasn’t the best PK guy last year lol, McLeod and Tuch Bro…Greenway played like 30 games. This year Greenway was out of lineup and PK was already number 1 in the league.
the fact remains they've played 15 games and won 5 of them. Terrible. Said it after the 0-3 start and I still believe it, get the McKenna train started
Holy shit
Poor zucks
9 days
Time to blow it all up and start from scratch. Great to see Cozens coming into his own in Ottawa.