The Buffalo Sabres once again have gone back to the drawing board as they try to fix their power play. However, this time it might be more than just switching up the players on the units.
After scoring two power play goals in Game 1, the Sabres fell right back into their ineffective ways in Game 2 as they went 0-for-5 in power play opportunities. The biggest issue felt like it wasn't getting set up in the zone, but just actually getting into the zone.
For most of the season, the Sabres have tried a slingshot style entry where a player drops a puck back to a player who has had time to pick up speed. The hope is that with the speed, it disrupts the blueline defense and is able to get in deep.
The Canadiens have done a great job defending this and really stopping the play before it can get started.
Buffalo Sabres new power play units give them different options on entry
During practice on Saturday, The Athletic's Matthew Fairburn noted new power play units with Josh Doan and Zach Benson on the top unit with Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and Jack Quinn. The second unit had Josh Norris and Alex Tuch with Ryan McLeod, Bowen Byram, and Jason Zucker
After practice, Lindy Ruff was asked about the changes and was very direct with his response when he said, "We are going to shake it up. We feel it is the right time for it."
The additions of Doan and Benson on the top unit make sense but could also be an indication that the Sabres might be working to change their entries. These two players are excellent on the forecheck, chasing down pucks, and going with a simple dump and chase in the zone could be the answer.
It may not be exclusively the plan for entries, but giving the Canadiens a different look forces them to account for something else. That extra second that forces them to think could be all that is needed to open the ice up and allow the Sabres to get set up.
Prior to Game 1 against the Canadiens, the Sabres had one power play goal on their previous 46 opportunities. It is clear they don't want to start another streak like that and are willing to shake things up quicker. The question is whether or not it will turn into goals, and only time will tell the answer to that.
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