The Buffalo Sabres may be facing an 0-3-2 opponent, but that doesn’t mean the Vancouver Canucks are short on talent. Let’s break them down.
Since J.T. Miller grew up a half-hour north of my hometown, I’ve been waiting to break down the Canucks ever since I saw the schedule released a few months back. And Miller isn’t the only player the Buffalo Sabres need to account for tonight, as there is a lot of talent wearing the emerald and blue.
Just one look at their 5 on 5 analytics, and you can tell the Canucks are no joke. Their save percentage sits at 0.913, higher than the Calgary Flames (0.908), but about a half-point lower than the Edmonton Oilers (0.918). And here’s the kicker: Edmonton’s Corsi For% sits at just 48.3%, while Vancouver’s is just above average at 51.3%. Calgary’s sits at 57.1%.
As for the Sabres, they are currently a paltry 45.4%. This indicates Buffalo could once again have to deal with a team outshooting them by about 10 shots on goal. And with the Sabres hurting in the defensive rotation, the Canucks could be the first team this season to overwhelm the goaltending. So who are Vancouver’s most dangerous players on the ice? Let’s meet three of them.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Canucks – Three opponents to watch
One of the league’s MVP candidates from a season ago, J.T. Miller is one of the game’s better defensive forwards. And he seems to be picking up where he left off last season, with three points, two goals, and an assist in five games. Miller may be a threat to score every time he touches the puck on offense, but you also need to account for the physical forward when he’s in the defensive zone.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson may also be a little older at age 31, but he remains one of the league’s better defensemen. The Buffalo Sabres will need to account for the Swede’s presence every time he’s on the ice, as he always seems to be in position to make a play. Overall, Ekman-Larsson has five blocks, three takeaways, and eight hits on the season. He also has three points in five games.
Rasmus Dahlin may have four goals in four games this year, but Elias Pettersson isn’t far behind with three in five, and six points total. Much like Miller, Pettersson can hurt you offensively and defensively, never afraid to sacrifice the body or steal the puck from an opponent.
Overall, the Sabres cannot take this team lightly. They may be winless, but the Canucks last two games have been overtime losses. This team is looking for a breakthrough, and if the Sabres aren’t careful, that breakthrough can occur tonight.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)