How do the Buffalo Sabres fix their ailing power play?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres power play ranks sixth in the NHL. But you would never know it if you watched the special teams unit play recently.
If the Buffalo Sabres want to end their playoff drought, they would have an easier time doing so if they figure out how to get their power play back on track. Earlier in the season, this was a strength. Now, they have converted just seven of their past 50 attempts, for just a 14% conversion rate in their past 17 contests.
In their first 37 games, the Sabres conversion rate sat at 28.9%, where they went 40 for 138 overall. So what happened, and what can they do to fix what has become a mess of a special teams unit?
Buffalo Sabres need to get more creative on the man advantage
Earlier in the year, opponents didn’t realize how good Tage Thompson was. Then he started putting up numbers worthy of the Hart Trophy, especially on the power play. He had 14 goals on the man advantage during those first 37 games, and only two since.
One reason isn’t because his game is cooling off, but rather, opponents are keying on him. The same goes for Rasmus Dahlin, where five of his 14 goals have come on the power play. Dahlin hasn’t scored on the man advantage since January 10th.
So how do the Sabres remedy this? They simply need to get more calm and creative. By now, it should be a given that opponents are going to key on Tage and Dahlin, meaning someone else is going to be open.
Instead of forcing things and watching their man advantage go awry time and again, the Sabres need to spread the puck around better and take what their opponents give them. To free up Tage and Dahlin, it’s also a good idea to shoot the puck more often than they have, as opposed to waiting for, or trying to force, the perfect play.
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If the play isn’t there, it isn’t there, and it’s something this young team needs to learn. Instead of allowing an opponent’s PK unit to lure them into forcing plays, the Blue and Gold need to turn the tables. But this won’t happen if they keep trying to force passes that lead to turnovers, clearing attempts, and the occasional shorthanded breakaway.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Source: Observations: Sabres gain ground in playoff chase by solving Sharks in 4-2 win by Lance Lysowski
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