On this day one year ago, the Buffalo Sabres had a 10-13-2 record, a -14-goal differential and were near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. This season the club has decreased their goals allowed by 12 and have a .500 record (11-11-2), but are in an equally precarious position regarding their playoff aspirations.
Following their third three-game losing streak of the young campaign, the Sabres embark on a five-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche at Key Bank Center on Tuesday. This year’s squad has benefited from better goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and improved depth at forward, but their inability to score consistently at even strength and their struggles on the power play have been the primary causes for Buffalo’s current predicament.
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The Sabres (currently ranked 29th in the NHL at 15.3% on the man advantage) did not score on the power play the first three weeks of the regular season, which was a contributing factor to their 1-4-1 start. Buffalo’s struggles have re-emerged, as they have gone scoreless in their last 13-man advantages.
“Entries (into the defensive zone) have been a little bit hot and cold. One game that we were 82% was great, but it’s converting that into some type of opportunity,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the club’s morning skate. “When I’ve looked at some of the power plays, we’ve had to play there, but haven’t connected.”
With Buffalo three points out of the last wildcard spot and tied for 11th place with the NY Islanders and Pittsburgh, they have reached a critical point in their season. The Sabres face Colorado, Winnipeg, Utah, Detroit, and the NY Rangers on home ice over the next nine days and must come out of it with at least three and perhaps four wins to gain ground in the Eastern Conference.
Tuesday’s contest features the return of former Sabre Casey Mittelstadt, who was dealt to the Avs just prior to the trade deadline last March. Mittelstadt has 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) in 25 games for Colorado, but leads the club with a -15 plus/minus rating. Byram has 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games and is second only to Alex Tuch with a +8 plus/minus.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will make his 16th start of the season on Tuesday and could get a heavy workload for the Sabres during this homestand. With five games at home, days off in between, and no travel, it is possible that Luukkonen could start in every contest. Alexandar Georgiev, who has struggled this season with a 7-7-0 record, 3.31 GAA, and .875 save %, will be in goal for Colorado.
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