The Buffalo Sabres have just completed their tenth game of the 2021 NHL season. The Sabres currently sit at 4-4-2 on the season. They are in sixth place in the East Division, but only one point out of a playoff spot at the moment.
We have seen some good things, some bad things, and even some ugly things this season. It is still early on, giving the Sabres time to capitalize on what they are doing well and work on the things they are struggling with so far.
The good
Linus Ullmark
If you look up Linus Ullmark’s stats, it’s nothing remarkable so far this season. With a save percentage (SV%) of .914 and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.56, he ranks in the low twenties out of all goalies in those categories.
But if you watch games that he plays in, you see that he is clearly the number one goalie in Buffalo. His stats are much better than those of Carter Hutton to start the season. There have been multiple games so far this season that Ullmark was the main reason why the Sabres won or escaped with a point.
Ullmark seems to be picking up momentum as of late as well. The Sabres are 3-0-1 in Ullmarks last four starts, including two games that went to a shootout. Linus has stopped six of six shots in those two shootouts, and the Sabres have two victories. Over his last four games, he has a SV% of .918 and has come up huge numerous times to keep the Sabres in close games.
Power play and penalty kill
The Sabres special teams units have been a vital part of the team early on in this season. Buffalo’s power play and penalty kill units rank in the top-10 in the league through their first ten games.
The Sabres power play unit is currently operating at 30.8%, ranking them at seventh in the NHL. With players such as Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall, and Rasmus Dahlin getting a lot of time on the power play, there is no reason they should ever rank outside the top-10. Buffalo’s power play should be among the best in the league all season long.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things we have seen from the Sabres this year is their successful penalty kill and ability to avoid being a man down altogether. Buffalo averages 5.5 penalty minutes per game, which is the fewest in the league. And when they find themselves a man down, they are averaging 82.6% on the penalty kill, which is good for tenth in the NHL.