Buffalo Sabres: Scoring has been their greatest statistical improvement
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres struggled scoring goals earlier this season, but their recent surge has them threatening 230 for the first time since 2010-11.
The Buffalo Sabres have scored just 224 goals in 79 games, averaging out to a meager 2.83 goals per game. However, the Sabres, on most nights, have let the pucks fly and find twine.
In April 2022, they averaged 3.45 goals per game. In March 2022, that number was 3.07. Combine their scoring efforts in March and April, and the Sabres averaged 3.24 goals per game, a far cry above their season average.
Also in March, the Sabres started meshing as a team as their resulting 8-3-3 record showed. Before Saturday’s tilt with the New York Islanders, the Sabres are enjoying a 6-5 record in April, and a 14-8-3 mark since March 2nd.
So how do the Sabres keep things pointing north? And who is responsible for the latest surge?
How the Buffalo Sabres improved in the goal scoring category
While the Sabres still rank 22nd in goals scored, their ranking since March 2nd is 15th, another far cry from what they were. Injuries and COVID-19 ran through the locker room around mid-season, and that hindered the team’s ability to score at will.
In “survival mode,” as head coach Don Granato labeled it, they had no choice but to take the ice with makeshift lineups that predictably did not perform well. It’s no coincidence that when the Sabres got healthy, they started scoring and winning.
"“We’re finally in the part where we have that stability and foundation to build, and … more offense will be the result, I’m sure of that,” Granato said, – via Buffalo Hockey Beat."
Granato also foresaw similarities between the team’s most recent lineups and who he expects to skate onto the ice in blue and gold next season. This implies his interest in bringing back one of his top scorers in Victor Olofsson, who improved more than any other Sabre since the All-Star break.
Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, two players who drastically underperformed last season, also made massive contributions to the scoring effort. Dahlin especially solidified himself in Sabres lore as the franchise’s first defenseman to score 50 points in a season since Garry Galley did it 27 years ago.
Thompson resurrected his career this season. After starting camp as one of the team’s fringe players, he since responded with 65 points in 72 contests. He also has 10 power play goals.
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Finally, the power play has been the league’s best since March 27th. Over the past 28 days, the Sabres have enjoyed a 40% conversion percentage. And if that keeps up next season, they will win a lot of hockey games.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)