3 burning questions for the Buffalo Sabres heading into Week 4 in 2023
The Buffalo Sabres ended Week 3 on a high note following a shutout win over the Colorado Avalanche. Can they continue that momentum this week?
The Buffalo Sabres finally enjoyed a week’s worth of play when they found the net nearly four times per game. While the Blue and Gold scored just one goal on Monday vs. the Montreal Canadiens, they scored another 14 in the final three games, good for a solid 3.75 goals per game.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finally found out what it feels like to record a shutout performance, and it opens the question of whether he will be the 1A at goaltender for the time being. And finally, there is still the looming question of the power play and if it will ever get going. Below, you will receive some leeway for all three burning questions heading into Week 4.
3 burning questions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 4
1 – Can the Sabres keep up their high-octane game?
The Buffalo Sabres got little going offensively throughout their first six games of the season, and it dropped them to 2-4-0 on the year. The Blue and Gold are 2-1-0 since, and their only loss in that stretch came by just one goal to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
But with 14 goals over the past three games, it looks like the Sabres best playmakers are finding their stride with October fading into November. Last year, we all know what happened, and Buffalo struggled through a long month, finishing with a 4-9-1 record.
This year, the Sabres play another 14 games in November, and if their offensive play again sputters, then such a record will be tough to come back from. But if they keep up the momentum, then expect the Blue and Gold to fare way better this time around.
2 – Who is the 1A goaltender?
While the Buffalo Sabres were hot defensively in yesterday’s shutout win, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen bailed his team out early when they created one too many turnovers that the Avalanche converted into scoring chances. Now that Luukkonen has made it clear he’s capable of performing well under pressure, does he remain the 1A, or do you hand the keys back to Devon Levi?
In four starts this season, Levi hasn’t been impressive, but it would be foolish to expect rockstar performances from the rookie, who is currently sitting with a 0.892 save percentage and 3.26 GAA. With Eric Comrie out for the foreseeable future and Luukkonen coming off of a hot game, he should be the starter come Wednesday while Levi perhaps takes the reins on Friday.
If Luukkonen enjoys another stellar outing, Buffalo should want him to be the guy in the net when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs this Saturday. At this point, either one of these two can be the 1A this time next week.
3 – Will November be the magic month for the power play?
If you’re keeping track, the Buffalo Sabres power play is an abysmal 3 of 28, with a 10.71 conversion percentage. Compare this to the league average of 20.11, and the Blue and Gold are threatening to be just half as successful as the league’s other 31 teams while on the man advantage.
I asked a similar question last week, and the Sabres gave us a resounding, “Noooo,” in their slate of games over the past seven days. Perhaps this week, we will see head coach Don Granato concocting something to give this group its confidence back, but right now, they have given us no reason to believe.
light. Must Read. Major takeaways from the Sabres impressive victory over Colorado
Overall, the Sabres performed in October almost exactly as I expected them to. But it also didn’t mean I wouldn’t have questions for this team heading into November. I just didn’t know what questions I would have. But I’ll say this – I certainly didn’t see the power play being this bad.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)