Buffalo Sabres: 3 bold predictions for Week 2 of the 2023-24 season
By Sion Fawkes
3 – Sabres fourth line logs a 92 percent on-ice save percentage at even strength
The Buffalo Sabres fourth line was one of the best defensive forward lines in hockey last season, but they have gotten off to a rough start. So far, Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons, and Peyton Krebs are three out of four forwards with the worst on-ice save percentages on the team.
Of the trio, Krebs’ is the best, clocking in at 83.3 percent, while Okposo’s sits at just 81.8 percent, and Girgensons, an ugly 80.0%. These numbers will steadily rise back into the 90-percent range as the season wears on, but they will get quite the boost this week when Krebs, Okposo, and Girgensons find their respective defensive grooves and hit the 92 percent mark.
Related Story. Looking ahead to Week 2 of the Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 season. light
Week 1 can be a rough one all around for some teams, and the Buffalo Sabres were one of them in 2023. Other teams will overachieve, but the median almost always wins out, and that’s what this week’s bold predictions were based around.
Update: Peyton Krebs is currently skating with the Cozens line and Jost has taken Krebs’ spot on the fourth. Therefore, the fourth line will likely include Tyson Jost at least on Tuesday.
(Statistics and analytics provided by Hockey-Reference)