2010/11 Final Team Stats

From 14th in the Eastern Conference after October to a #7-seed heading into the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres completed a fantastic turnaround.

When you look at how they did it, you'll find a steady climb in many statistical categories, but the most telling stats have to do with the offense, and how the team eventually began to bury their chances in 2011.

The fast-skating Sabres averaged right around 33 shots per game throughout most of the season, but seemed to be missing glorious opportunities on a consistent basis throughout the first half of the season.

At the end of the 2010, the Sabres were 21st in the league in goals per game (2.57) and sat in 12th place in the conference. Their best record for any month was December where they went 6-5-1.

By the end of January the Sabres were at 16th in the league scoring 2.71 goals per game in compiling a 8-3-1 record.

The steady climb continued as the team finished 9th overall with 2.93 goals per game--a 14% increase.

The powerplay was a big reason for the increased output--23rd in the league to start 2011, 9th in the league at the end of the season.

On the defensive side, the team managed to cut it's goals against slightly and although January and February represented trouble spots for the team's penalty kill, they rebounded very well to finish 13th in the league.

Add it all up, the 2010/11 edition of the Buffalo Sabres turned around their season with offense and a penchant for burying their chances.



wins:

• Season--(tie) 15th (43)--(1st, VAN--54)
• march--16th (39)...(van--52)
• february--21st (29)...(philly--40)
• january--23rd (23)...(philly--33)
• december--26th (15)...(pitt--25)
• november--26th (9)
• october--27th (3)

points:

• Season--(tied) 15th (96)...(1st, VAN--117)
• march--17th (87)...(van--113)
• february--22nd (65)...(van--87)
• january--23rd (51)...(philly--71)
• december --26th (34)...(pitt, det--53)
• november--25th (21)
• october--28th (8)

eastern conference standing:

• Season--7th...(#1, WAS)
• march--7th...(philly)
• february--9th...(philly)
• january--10th...(philly)
• december--12th...(pitt)
• november--11th
• october--14th

northeast division standing:

• Season--3rd (1st, BOS)
• march--3rd...(boston)
• february--3rd...(boston)
• january--3rd...(boston)
• december--4th...(boston)
• november--4th
• october--5th

goals/game:

• Season--9th (2.93)...(#1, VAN--3.15)
• march--9th (2.87)...(van--3.19)
• february--12th (2.80)...(det--3.32)
• january--16th (2.71)...(philly--3.46)
• december--21st (2.57)...(det--3.45)
• november--25th (2.40)...(col--3.52)
• october--22nd (2.50)...(tampa--3.50)

shots/game:

• Season--4th (32.8)...(#1, SJS--34.5)
• march--4th (33)...(sjs--34.6)
• february--4th (32.9)...(sjs--34)
• january--3rd (33.3)...(sjs--34.1)
• december--5th (33.2)...(sjs--33.5)
• november--4th (32.7)...(sjs--35.6)
• october--5th (33.2)...(sjs--35.6)

goals against/game:

• Season--18th (2.78)...(#1, VAN--2.20)
• march--16th (2.77)...(van--2.20)
• february--20th (2.88)...(van--2.30)
• january--20th (2.94)...(bos--2.14)
• december--23rd (2.92)...(bos--2.03)
• november--23rd (2.92)...(mtl--1.96)
• october--23rd (3.17)...(bos--1.38)

shots against/game:

• Season--17th (30.7)...(#1, NJD--26.2)
• march--16th (30.6)...(njd--26.1)
• february--19th (30.8)...(njd--27.0)
• january--18th (30.4)...(lak--27.4)
• december--11th (29.4)...(tbl--27.3)
• november--11th (29.4)...(stl--26.8)
• october--10th (28.5)...(stl--25.8)

powerplay:

• Season--9th (19.4%)...(#1, VAN--24.3%)
• march--11th (18.8%)...(van--24.7%)
• february--12th (18.2)...(van--24.8)
• january--12th (18.7)...(chi--25.6)
• december--23rd (16.2)...(van--25.3)
• november--26th (13.4)...(van--29.3)
• october--20th (13.0%)...(sjs--31.8)

penalty kill:

• Season--13th (83.0%)...(#1, PIT--86.1%)
• march--13th (83.2%)...(van--86.6%)
• february--20th (80.4)...(#1, pitt--86.7%)
• january--17th (81.6)...(pitt--88.5)
• december--15th (81.6)...(mtl--87.8)
• november--20th (81.6)...(pit--90.5)
• october--27th (74.7)...(bos--93.1)

faceoffs:

• Season--27th (47.7%)...(#1, VAN--54.9%)
• march--26th (47.7%)...(van--55.1%)
• february--26th (47.9)...(#1, van--55.4)
• january--27th (47.2)...(van--55.8)
• december--26th (48.0)...(van--56.8)
• november--27th (47.9)...(van--56.9)
• october--27th (47.7)...(sjs--56.4)

team stats at the end of march

the buffalo sabers go into the final five games entrenched in the playoffs in the 7th spot tied with the ny rangers at 87 points...march was a rock-solid month for the team as they went 10-4-2...

it looked treacherous early in the month as the team started with a tough, seven-game road trip...although they stayed on the east coast, they played some eastern conference heavyweights in the process as well as games vs. playoff bubble teams they were battling...

they came through strong during the month by kicking in the offense (going from 12th to 9th in the league) and dropping their goals against from 2.88 to 2.77...the latter stat was bolstered by snaring three shutouts in the last five games of the month...

both the pp and the pk got better with a significant jump in the penalty kill which went from 20th in the league to 13th (80.4% to 83.2)

all-in-all, the sabres, save for a couple of breakdowns have gotten stronger on defense, have kicked in the offense and are comfortable and composed no matter where they are within  the game...they can come back from two-goal deficits and win (philly and boston) or lock down a one-goal lead (montreal, njd, ny rangers)...

sure, they had a couple of clunkers in the month, but they did not have a losing streak and they had one three-game winning streak...that's how they moved up the standings, have a firm grip on a playoff spot and are looking to move up further instead of worrying about who's on their heels...

here's a look at how where the sabres are league-wide at the end of march...

wins:

• march--16th (39)...(1st, van--52)
• february--21st (29)...(philly--40)
• january--23rd (23)...(philly--33)
• december--26th (15)...(pitt--25)
• november--26th (9)
• october--27th (3)

points:

• march--17th (87)...(1st, van--113) 
• february--22nd (65)...(van--87)
• january--23rd (51)...(philly--71)
• december --26th (34)...(pitt, det--53)
• november--25th (21)
• october--28th (8)

eastern conference standing:

• march--7th...(#1, philly)
• february--9th...(philly)
• january--10th...(philly)
• december--12th...(pitt)
• november--11th
• october--14th

northeast division standing:

• march--3rd...(boston)
• february--3rd...(boston)
• january--3rd...(boston)
• december--4th...(boston)
• november--4th
• october--5th

goals/game:

• march--9th (2.87)...(#1, van--3.19)
• february--12th (2.80)...(det--3.32)
• january--16th (2.71)...(philly--3.46)
• december--21st (2.57)...(det--3.45)
• november--25th (2.40)...(col--3.52)
• october--22nd (2.50)...(tampa--3.50)

shots/game:

• march--4th (33)...(#1, sjs--34.6)
• february--4th (32.9)...(sjs--34)
• january--3rd (33.3)...(sjs--34.1)
• december--5th (33.2)...(sjs--33.5)
• november--4th (32.7)...(sjs--35.6)
• october--5th (33.2)...(sjs--35.6)

goals against/game:

• march--16th (2.77)...(#1, van--2.20)
• february--20th (2.88)...(van--2.30)
• january--20th (2.94)...(bos--2.14)
• december--23rd (2.92)...(bos--2.03)
• november--23rd (2.92)...(mtl--1.96)
• october--23rd (3.17)...(bos--1.38)

shots against/game:

• march--16th (30.6)...(#1, njd--26.1)
• february--19th (30.8)...(njd--27.0)
• january--18th (30.4)...(lak--27.4)
• december--11th (29.4)...(tbl--27.3)
• november--11th (29.4)...(stl--26.8)
• october--10th (28.5)...(stl--25.8)

powerplay:

• march--11th (18.8%)...(#1, van--24.7%)
• february--12th (18.2)...(van--24.8)
• january--12th (18.7)...(chi--25.6)
• december--23rd (16.2)...(van--25.3)
• november--26th (13.4)...(van--29.3)
• october--20th (13.0%)...(sjs--31.8)

penalty kill:

• march--13th (83.2%)...(#1, van--86.6%)
• february--20th (80.4)...(#1, pitt--86.7%)
• january--17th (81.6)...(pitt--88.5)
• december--15th (81.6)...(mtl--87.8)
• november--20th (81.6)...(pit--90.5)
• october--27th (74.7)...(bos--93.1)

faceoffs:

• march--26th (47.7%)...(#1, van--55.1%)
• february--26th (47.9)...(#1, van--55.4)
• january--27th (47.2)...(van--55.8)
• december--26th (48.0)...(van--56.8)
• november--27th (47.9)...(van--56.9)
• october--27th (47.7)...(sjs--56.4)

team stats for the month of february

the playoff push is officially on with the passing of the trade deadline yesterday...a ton of parity throughout the league made for a ton of buyers and very few sellers, florida and atlanta being primary sellers in the east...that being the case the price was very high and most teams passed...

right now the elite remain elite, and mediocrity rules the rest...

team stats as of the month of february

wins:

• february--21st (29)...(#1, philly--40)
• january--23rd (23)...(philly--33)
• december--26th (15)...(pitt--25)
• november--26th (9)
• october--27th (3)

points:

• february--22nd (65)...(#1, van--87)
• january--23rd (51)...(philly--71)
• december --26th (34)...(pitt, det--53)
• november--25th (21)
• october--28th (8)

eastern conference standing:

• february--9th--(#1,philly)
• january--10th--(philly)
• december--12th...(pitt)
• november--11th
• october--14th

northeast division standing:

• february--3rd...(#1, boston
• january--3rd...(boston)
• december--4th...(boston)
• november--4th
• october--5th

goals/game:

• february--12th (2.80)...(#1, det, 3.32)
• january--16th (2.71)...(philly--3.46)
• december--21st (2.57)...(det--3.45)
• november--25th (2.40)...(col--3.52)
• october--22nd (2.50)...(tampa--3.50)

shots/game:

• february--4th (32.9)...(#1, sjs--34)
• january--3rd (33.3)...(sjs--34.1)
• december--5th (33.2)...(sjs--33.5)
• november--4th (32.7)...(sjs--35.6)
• october--5th (33.2)...(sjs--35.6)

goals against/game:

• february--20th (2.88)...(#1, van--2.30)
• january--20th (2.94)...(bos--2.14)
• december--23rd (2.92)...(bos--2.03)
• november--23rd (2.92)...(mtl--1.96)
• october--23rd (3.17)...(bos--1.38)

shots against/game:

• february--19th (30.8)...(#1, njd--27.0) 
• january--18th (30.4)...(lak--27.4)
• december--11th (29.4)...(tbl--27.3)
• november--11th (29.4)...(stl--26.8)
• october--10th (28.5)...(stl--25.8)

powerplay:

• february--12th (18.2%)...(#1, van--24.8%)
• january--12th (18.7%)...(chi--25.6%)
• december--23rd (16.2%)...(van--25.3%)
• november--26th (13.4)...(van--29.3)
• october--20th (13.0%)...(sjs--31.8)

penalty kill:

• february--20th (80.4%)...(#1, pitt--86.7%) 
• january--17th (81.6%)...(pitt--88.5%)
• december--15th (81.6%)...(mtl--87.8%)
• november--20th (81.6)...(pit--90.5)
• october--27th (74.7)...(bos--93.1)

faceoffs:

• february--26th (47.9)...(#1, van--55.4%)
• january--27th (47.2%)...(van--55.8%)
• december--26th (48.0%)...(van--56.8%)
• november--27th (47.9)...(van--56.9)
• october--27th (47.7)...(sjs--56.4)

year-to-date team stats, january, 2011

8-3-1 in the month of january should help a teams' standing in the conference...and that's what it did for the buffalo sabres...does it help their playoff chances after an atrocious start and an rather average november and december?...sure...but it's still too early to tell whether or not it will be enough to propell them into a solid stretch-run...we'll delve into that aspect a little deeper next week...

for now?...two takes on the sabres chances to make the playoffs at this juncture, the first from sportsclubstats.com...back in early november i checked out their chances at the site...no surprise, really...if i remember correctly it was somewhere around 3%...now it's up to 17.6%...

it's a complicated formula that has the sabres most likely to finish 9th thru 11th, with a decent chance to finish 7th or 8th...meh, whatever...not to dismss it completely, but with over 30 games to play, there are still plenty of variables that can affect the standings--injuries to their team, or another team, what they do or don't do at the trade deadline, the affect this move or non-move has, etc...

the other take is via tsn.com's jamie bell...he uses the all-star break in the post-lockout nhl as the definitive point in the season...he looks at who the playoff teams were at the break and concludes that those in a playoff position at the time have a pretty good chance of hitting the post-season...

for example, of the 16 teams in playoff position at the break last season, 15 made it...the most movement ever was the 2008/09 season when "only" 13 of the 16 made it...buffalo being one of the teams that dropped out...

interesting read...pretty sure we've got some time to kill...

anywho, since my "sources" tell me there's no movement yet on the "mega roomers,"  we'll just stick to the facts and take a look at where the sabres rank year to date in the league and where they stood previously...


wins:

• january--23rd (23)...(#1, philly--33)
• december--26th (15)...(pitt--25)
• november--26th (9)
• october--27th (3)

points:

• january--23rd (51)...(#1, philly--71)
• december --26th (34)...(pitt, det--53)
• november--25th (21)
• october--28th (8)

eastern conference standing:

• january--10th--(#1, philly)
• december--12th...(pitt)
• november--11th
• october--14th

northeast division standing:

• january--3rd...(#1, boston)
• december--4th...(boston)
• november--4th
• october--5th

goals/game:

• january--16th (2.71)...(#1, philly--3.46)
• december--21st (2.57)...(det--3.45)
• november--25th (2.40)...(col--3.52)
• october--22nd (2.50)...(tampa--3.50)

shots/game:

• january--3rd (33.3)...(#1, sjs--34.1)
• december--5th (33.2)...(sjs--33.5)
• november--4th (32.7)...(sjs--35.6)
• october--5th (33.2)...(sjs--35.6)

goals against/game:

• january--20th (2.94)...(#1, bos--2.14)
• december--23rd (2.92)...(bos--2.03)
• november--23rd (2.92)...(mtl--1.96)
• october--23rd (3.17)...(bos--1.38)

shots against/game:

• january--18th (30.4)...(#1, lak--27.4)
• december--11th (29.4)...(tbl--27.3)
• november--11th (29.4)...(stl--26.8)
• october--10th (28.5)...(stl--25.8)

powerplay:

• january--12th (18.7%)...(#1, chi--25.6%)
• december--23rd (16.2%)...(van--25.3%)
• november--26th (13.4)...(van--29.3)
• october--20th (13.0%)...(sjs--31.8)

penalty kill:

• january--17th (81.6%)...(#1, pitt--88.5%)
• december--15th (81.6%)...(mtl--87.8%)
• november--20th (81.6)...(pit--90.5)
• october--27th (74.7)...(bos--93.1)

faceoffs:

• january--27th (47.2%)...(#1, van--55.8%)
• december--26th (48.0%)...(van--56.8%)
• november--27th (47.9)...(van--56.9)
• october--27th (47.7)...(sjs--56.4)

an interesting note, the powerplay jumped without the "services" of derek roy anchoring it (and to an extent, tim connolly)...hmmmmm (it's still early, but worth noting)

team stats as of december, 2010

a 6-5-1 record for the month of december is a negligible improvement for the buffalo sabres, but not even close to being good enough to get them up in the standings...in fact, they actually dropped a spot overall and in the eastern conference...

here's a look at where they rank year to date and where they stood the previous month(s)...

wins:

• december--26th (15)...(#1, pit, 25)
• november--26th (9)
• october--27th (3)

points:

• december --26th (34)...(#1, pit, det, 53)
• november--25th (21)
• october--28th (8)

 eastern conference standing:

• december--12th...(#1, pit)
• november--11th
• october--14th

northeast division standing:

• december--4th...(#1, boston)
• november--4th
• october--5th

goals/game:

• december--21st (2.57)...(#1, det, 3.45)
• november--25th (2.40)...(col, 3.52)
• october--22nd (2.50)...(tampa, 3.50)

goals against/game:

• december--23rd (2.92)...(#1, bos, 2.03)
• november--23rd (2.92)...(mtl, 1.96)
• october--23rd (3.17)...(bos, 1.38)

shots/game:

• december--5th (33.2)...(#1, sjs, 33.5)
• november--4th (32.7)...(sjs, 35.6)
• october--5th (33.2)...(sjs, 35.6)

shots against/game:

• december--11th (29.4)...(#1, tbl, 27.3)
• november--11th (29.4)...(stl, 26.8)
• october--10th (28.5)...(stl, 25.8)

powerplay:

• december--23rd (16.2%)...(#1, van, 25.3%)
• november--26th (13.4)...(van, 29.3)
• october--20th (13.0%)...(sjs, 31.8)

penalty kill:

• december--15th (81.6%)...(#1, mtl, 87.8%)
• november--20th (81.6)...(pit, 90.5)
• october--27th (74.7)...(bos, 93.1)

faceoffs:

• december--26th (48.0%)...(#1, van, 56.8%)
• november--27th (47.9)...(van, 56.9)
• october--27th (47.7)...(sjs, 56.4)

"meh" month of november for the sabres

the buffalo sabres really needed to get a couple more wins in november to off-set the nightmare that was october where they went 3-7-2...they ended up going 6-6-1 for the month...better, but still not good enough

when gm darcy regier was asked a week and a half ago if he thought that this team was a playoff team he said, "yes, i do"...well, the team is on a pace for less than 90 points which is probably the low-end of the projected cut-off point...but, as long as the gm thinks that, then...(aye, yaye yaye)

anyhow, this group heads into december playing better overall hockey with three more wins than the previous month...not to mention that there could be a new owner by the end of the month/year in terry pegula...

regardless, this is where the team stands as of today, with the previous months standings preceding:

wins: 3, tied for last (njd, phx, edm)------9 (26th)

points: 8, tied for second last (edm, fla)-------21 (25th)
eastern conference: 14th-------11th
n.e. div: 5th------4th

goals/game: 2.50 (22nd)...(#1, tampa, 3.50)-------2.40 (25th)...(#1, col, 3.52)
goals against/game: 3.17 (23rd)...(bos, 1.38)-------2.92 (23rd, tied, anaheim)...(mtl, 1.96)
shots/game: 33.2 (5th)...(sjs, 35.6)-------32.7 (4th, tied, chicago)...(sjs, 35.6)
shots against/game: 28.5 (10th)...(stl, 25.8)-------29.4 (11th)...(stl, 26.8)

powerplay: 13.0% (20th)...(sjs, 31.8)-------13.4% (26th)...(van, 29.3)
penalty kill: 74.5% (27th)...(bos, 93.1)-------81.6% (20th)...(pit, 90.5)
faceoffs: 47.5% (27th)...(sjs, 56.4)-------47.9% (27th)...(van, 56.9)

october's horror



forget the classics like halloween, night of the living dead, the shining or nosferatu, tonight as you try to put a little fright into this halloween, watch a replay of last night's shutout loss in dallas...or, you can go back to the 6-3 loss at the hands of philly...or how about the game two clunker vs. the ny rangers...maybe the entire season thusfar can all be encapsulated in one play last night by tyler myers where he got his pocket picked on the pp, got it back, tried to do too much, got his pocket picked again, gave up on the play, and was too late on the back-check as his man scored a short-handed goal...this was not the tyler myers we saw last season...nor is this the team that started out last year on fire, eventually winning the n.e. div...

those who predicted an epic fail by this season's team are prancing with chests puffed full, snarky "i told you so's" bellowing from their proud lungs...those who predicted an extension of last season's team and an equal, if not slightly stronger run this season are choking with embarassment...(shrugs)...fine...

regardless of anyones opinion, these are the facts for the sabres as they gladly say goodbye to october:

wins:  3, tied for last (njd, phx, edm)
points:  8, tied for second last (edm, fla)
eastern conference:  14th
n.e. div:  5th

goals/game:  2.50 (22nd)...(#1, tampa, 3.50)
goals against/game:  3.17 (23rd)...(bos, 1.38)
shots/game:  33.2 (5th)...(sjs, 35.6)
shots against/game:  28.5 (10th)...(stl, 25.8)

powerplay:  13.0% (20th)...(sjs, 31.8)
penalty kill:  74.5% (27th)...(bos, 93.1)

faceoffs:  47.5% (27th)...(sjs, 56.4)

there's plenty of time for analysis the next few days as the sabres return to the ice against boston on wed.