The Buffalo Sabres entered the weekend in sole possession of last place in the Eastern Conference. They haven't qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011, making them one of the biggest laughingstocks not only in the NHL, but in North American sports.
Yet, at a time when nobody would blame Sabres fans for spending their time and money elsewhere, they continue to show up to the KeyBank Center in droves.
More than 17,000 were on hand for Friday night's 9-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Another 18,000 showed up for Sunday's 4-1 triumph against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Over 35,000 supporters for a team that saw it's playoff odds dip to 3% before winning four of its past five games to leapfrog the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers in the standings.
Say what you want about the Sabres organization — team owner Terry Pegula has prioritized financial consciousness over winning, general manager Kevyn Adams was unqualified when hired to guide the front office and the Lindy Ruff-led coaching staff too often doesn't have solutions to longstanding problems — but the fanbase remains among the NHL's very best.
Quite simply, Sabres fans deserve a winning team. They deserve to Party in the Plaza again. They deserve an opportunity to witness the Blue and Gold chase a championship, even though chasing down a Stanley Cup title is the longest of long shots in the imminent future.
They've endured a 14-year playoff drought and still haven't quit, just like people in Buffalo never gave up on the NFL's Bills during a 17-year postseason absence.
So, let's jump into the latest installment of our Sabres player grades series with a healthy amount of respect for the fans who continue to fill the KeyBank Center seats.
Buffalo Sabres deliver a well-rounded performance in Nov. 21 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Josh Doan | 9 |
Jacob Bryson | 8.5 |
Alex Tuch | 8.5 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 8 |
Tage Thompson | 8 |
Jason Zucker | 7.5 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 7 |
Jack Quinn | 7 |
Owen Power | 6.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 6.5 |
Beck Malenstyn | 6 |
Peyton Krebs | 5 |
Bowen Byram | 5 |
Jordan Greenway | 4.5 |
Isak Rosen | 4.5 |
Noah Ostlund | 4 |
Tyson Kozak | 3.5 |
Conor Timmins | 3 |
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 3 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Josh Doan
There were plenty of candidates for this honor in a game where the Sabres lit the lamp nine times. Doan scored two of those goals to reignite his breakout season after a brief scoring lull. Even when his offense slowed, however, he remained one of the team's most consistent two-way contributors.
Doan's energy is contagious. He never shies away from puck battles or stops trying to get into the most dangerous areas of the ice. It's something Buffalo has sorely lacked in recent years, which is why his acquisition from the Utah Mammoth in the JJ Peterka trade made a ton of sense.
His role may shift at times in the coming weeks as the Sabres continue to get players back from injury and try to find the right line combinations. A lot of his value comes from his ability to move up and down the lineup without losing his effectiveness.
So, even if he's getting less offensive-zone opportunities in the middle six, Doan should remain a pivotal asset for the Blue and Gold.
Sabres quick hits
- Fourteen different players scored at least one point for Buffalo against Chicago. That type of balanced offense has been missing for most of the season so far.
- Although Alex Tuch's future with the Sabres remains up in the air, the uncertainty seemingly isn't impacting his on-ice performance, as evidenced by this four-assist outing.
- Jacob Bryson will always have a weakness defending the front of the net as an undersized defenseman, but he still brings value when he delivers transition and offensive play like he did vs. the Hawks.
- Jason Zucker's strong performance in his first game back from an illness was a great sign.
- Jack Quinn is starting to show signs of life offensively, which could provide a big boost for Buffalo.