The Buffalo Sabres are struggling, but that doesn’t mean the entire team hasn’t seen sound progress from a few players. Here are three players of note.
The Buffalo Sabres are 1-4-1 in their last six games, dating back to the debacle against the Philadelphia Flyers last Monday. But even in the disappointing month of January, the Blue and Gold have also seen some good things.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen continues to improve. Former first round pick Casey Mittelstadt has seen his game trend north. But no one’s game has risen faster than the following players’. Let’s talk about them.
1 – Tyson Jost
While Jost doesn’t score often, he’s generated chances for both himself and teammates. And as most of the Buffalo Sabres have looked sloppy, Jost’s game has, at worst, remained even-keel.
He’s been all over the ice lately, looking good in nearly every situation, whether it involves getting aggressive on the forecheck, creating space, or simply turning nothing into something. Look for this trend to continue the deeper we dive into the season.
2 – Victor Olofsson
Olofsson still has his dry spells, but the guy’s on pace for 34 goals this season and he sunk another one in last night’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The downside with Olofsson is that he’s nothing more than a scorer, but he’s also shedding the stigma that he’s only effective on the power play.
So far, 14 of Olofsson’s 18 goals have come at even strength. His scoreless slumps are also much less pronounced than they were last season, when he went three months without finding the net.
3 – Peyton Krebs
Peyton Krebs scored on a breakaway goal last night, and a shorthanded one at that. He has just 10 points in 34 contests, but with 41 hits and a fight on the year, Krebs is gaining a reputation for being an enforcer.
And to be frank, the Buffalo Sabres need someone like Krebs to rough up opponents. They’ve been outmuscled unlike any other over the last three contests and Krebs is one player capable of evening the score. Look for him to eventually turn into the player that will make opponents think twice about laying a big hit on his teammates.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
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