3 - Someone “taking over the game” to keep the Sabres afloat
When things weren’t looking good for the Sabres last Saturday, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stepped up and played a near-perfect game. While it would be excellent to see Buffalo’s young goaltending duo step up and continually give their team a reprieve when things get rough, it’s not always feasible.
Therefore, in Week 14, someone other than Levi and Luukkonen needs to be disruptive and help prevent opposing scoring chances. Whether it’s someone we discussed earlier in Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, or one of the more physical forwards, the Buffalo Sabres need someone to lead sound defensive play when opponents are creating chaos and traffic around the crease.
We have also seen numerous examples of the Blue and Gold tossing pucks at the net 40 or more times, only to come up with a goal or two. When the team has the puck, one of the game-changers must take control, whether it’s the elusive Tage Thompson, the resurgent Jack Quinn, or someone on the lower lines, someone must find the back of the net to create a spark.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)