Published by hockeybuzz.com 4-7-2017
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish exited the NCAA's Frozen Four late last night after the Denver Pioneers steamrolled them 6-1. Buffalo Sabres prospect Cal Petersen (2013, 129th-overall) was in net for the Irish, as he has been for 90 consecutive Notre Dame games, and got shelled. Truth be known, Petersen didn't have much of a chance vs. the Denver as the Pioneers overwhelmed the Irish for much of the game.
With that loss and the completion of his junior season, the intrigue concerning Petersen and his future now begins. After three strong seasons in net for Notre Dame and definitive growth shown along the way, the 6'3" 190 lb. Waterloo, Iowa native has done everything in his college career except bring home a national championship for the Irish so there's a good possibility he's ready to turn pro.
Buffalo holds Petersen's rights, but according to Kris Baker of sabresprospects/sabres.com, after consulting with those familiar with the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, June 1 is D-Day for Petersen. Here's his explanation via his appearance on WGR550's Shopp and the Bulldog yesterday.
"The CBA says that this is the fourth June 1st when he was drafted in 2013. It's about the year you were drafted in so 2017 would be four June ones. By the CBA, Section 8.6, if the Sabres don't have him locked up by June 1st, he's free to shop his services."
Here's the legalese Baker mentioned in Section 8.6:
(iv) If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19, who had received a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with Section 8.6(a)(ii) above, becomes a bona fide college student prior to the second June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft and does not remain a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain exclusive rights for the negotiation of his services until the fourth June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft.
Let's hope we come out on the good side of this one.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Friday, April 7, 2017
All the right words
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-6-2017
The Buffalo Sabres won last night, which is good unless you'd like for them to lose which would mean a move them up the draft board, at least until the lottery. After beating a Montreal Canadiens team that was more interested in staying healthy than it was in winning the game, the Sabres now find themselves with a 33-35-12 record and with two more wins they'll eclipse last season's 81-point effort by one.
Whoopee!
"It's another failed season in my mind," said Jack Eichel to the post-game media last night.
Be it known that Eichel is having a strong season despite missing the first 21 games with a high-ankle sprain. The sophomore phenom has 24 goals and 33 assists in 59 games for Buffalo and his 57 points leads the team. Eichel's 0.97 points/game is far and above the 0.69 mark he sported as a rookie last season and is top-10 amongst players playing 55 games or more.
But Eichel, like most if not all of his Sabres' teammates, were plagued by inconsistencies this season. Top-six forwards like Evander Kane, Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly are all where they should be amongst the top producers on the team but their point-totals belie a truth that sabotaged their season--when the team needed a win, they whiffed and were left to lament about it as they begin to make their tee times.
Whether the failures of this season lie with GM Tim Murray for his team-construct, or coach Dan Bylsma for his system or, like O'Reilly said yesterday, it's with the players, the Sabres hit a road block this season. Even with all the injuries to key players they had early in the season, Buffalo was in the playoff mix up until late February when a post bye-week 2-7-2 swoon effectively ended their season. Since then they've been playing out the string with a mix of wins and losses to go along with all the right words after solid efforts and pathetic ones alike.
Last night was Fan Appreciation Night for Sabres fans, which was to be a celebration of fans and team. The players did their fans a solid by beating Montreal in the final game of the season at KeyBank Center, and they gave the jerseys off of their backs post-game to lucky season ticket holders, but in all the night seemed to lack authenticity.
For many Sabres fans, the prior game against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that was visiting whilst in the throes of a playoff race was a truly meaningful game and most if not all Sabres fans would have appreciated an effort that reached above pathetic, especially in the first five minutes. That 4-2 loss, complete with Nazem Kadri calling Rasmus Ristolainen, and by extension the whole Sabres team, "effin' wussies" while Leafs fans celebrated at KeyBank Center, defined just how appreciative this group of Sabres was in regards to the Buffalo fans and the game they're lucky enough to play for a living.
"It's a shame we didn't put the effort forward tonight," Reinhart said to the media afterwards. No, Sam, get it right. That effort was shameful.
I have no problem with Eichel, especially how he approaches the game and with how he genuinely hates to lose. On Tuesday he spoke with the media about how the fans are "pretty loyal to us" and how the fans filled KeyBank Center whether they're playing good or bad hockey. Eichel talked about a "mediocre two years" and how, he said, "it’s a bit disappointing, a bit embarrassing for us as players that we can’t be better for them."
Yeah, well, show it on the ice.
Prior to last night's game O'Reilly took questions from the gathered media and he bemoaned this edition of the Sabres. "We're not a very good hockey team. We've let a lot of things go that we normally shouldn't," he said pregame.
"It's so frustrating coming to the rink right now. Practicing. There's no purpose to it," he added. "I'm sick of losing. It's getting exhausting and it's not fun. It sucks the fun out of the game."
Well, guess what, there Ryan, at least your not shelling out your money to see the embarrassment Sabres fans have witnessed at times this season, most notably the last Toronto game. By many accounts O'Reilly may have had his worst game as a Sabre in that one.
Of course from now until training camp when the Buffalo's flag of hope will once again be hoisted up the flag pole of a new season, we'll hear players lamenting the what-could-have-beens and about how they need to be better. O'Reilly, as always, directed his dismay with a lost season inward. "I really didn't step up and hold guys accountable and be a voice, and it's tough," he said of being one of the leaders on the team. "I think at times I didn't say enough, and at times I maybe said too much."
Eichel would chime in on the leadership question as well. "As much as I'm a young guy, I've got to take on more responsibility, be more of a leader on this team," he said. "I've got to expect more out of myself."
Reinhart waxed philosophical after the Toronto debacle saying "It's frustrating from our standpoint because it's not just going to change overnight and it's not just going to change over a summer. We have to find a way to get better on a nightly basis, all of us."
"We have to find a way to be better."
Sounds like all the right words to me.
The Buffalo Sabres won last night, which is good unless you'd like for them to lose which would mean a move them up the draft board, at least until the lottery. After beating a Montreal Canadiens team that was more interested in staying healthy than it was in winning the game, the Sabres now find themselves with a 33-35-12 record and with two more wins they'll eclipse last season's 81-point effort by one.
Whoopee!
"It's another failed season in my mind," said Jack Eichel to the post-game media last night.
Be it known that Eichel is having a strong season despite missing the first 21 games with a high-ankle sprain. The sophomore phenom has 24 goals and 33 assists in 59 games for Buffalo and his 57 points leads the team. Eichel's 0.97 points/game is far and above the 0.69 mark he sported as a rookie last season and is top-10 amongst players playing 55 games or more.
But Eichel, like most if not all of his Sabres' teammates, were plagued by inconsistencies this season. Top-six forwards like Evander Kane, Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly are all where they should be amongst the top producers on the team but their point-totals belie a truth that sabotaged their season--when the team needed a win, they whiffed and were left to lament about it as they begin to make their tee times.
Whether the failures of this season lie with GM Tim Murray for his team-construct, or coach Dan Bylsma for his system or, like O'Reilly said yesterday, it's with the players, the Sabres hit a road block this season. Even with all the injuries to key players they had early in the season, Buffalo was in the playoff mix up until late February when a post bye-week 2-7-2 swoon effectively ended their season. Since then they've been playing out the string with a mix of wins and losses to go along with all the right words after solid efforts and pathetic ones alike.
Last night was Fan Appreciation Night for Sabres fans, which was to be a celebration of fans and team. The players did their fans a solid by beating Montreal in the final game of the season at KeyBank Center, and they gave the jerseys off of their backs post-game to lucky season ticket holders, but in all the night seemed to lack authenticity.
For many Sabres fans, the prior game against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that was visiting whilst in the throes of a playoff race was a truly meaningful game and most if not all Sabres fans would have appreciated an effort that reached above pathetic, especially in the first five minutes. That 4-2 loss, complete with Nazem Kadri calling Rasmus Ristolainen, and by extension the whole Sabres team, "effin' wussies" while Leafs fans celebrated at KeyBank Center, defined just how appreciative this group of Sabres was in regards to the Buffalo fans and the game they're lucky enough to play for a living.
"It's a shame we didn't put the effort forward tonight," Reinhart said to the media afterwards. No, Sam, get it right. That effort was shameful.
I have no problem with Eichel, especially how he approaches the game and with how he genuinely hates to lose. On Tuesday he spoke with the media about how the fans are "pretty loyal to us" and how the fans filled KeyBank Center whether they're playing good or bad hockey. Eichel talked about a "mediocre two years" and how, he said, "it’s a bit disappointing, a bit embarrassing for us as players that we can’t be better for them."
Yeah, well, show it on the ice.
Prior to last night's game O'Reilly took questions from the gathered media and he bemoaned this edition of the Sabres. "We're not a very good hockey team. We've let a lot of things go that we normally shouldn't," he said pregame.
"It's so frustrating coming to the rink right now. Practicing. There's no purpose to it," he added. "I'm sick of losing. It's getting exhausting and it's not fun. It sucks the fun out of the game."
Well, guess what, there Ryan, at least your not shelling out your money to see the embarrassment Sabres fans have witnessed at times this season, most notably the last Toronto game. By many accounts O'Reilly may have had his worst game as a Sabre in that one.
Of course from now until training camp when the Buffalo's flag of hope will once again be hoisted up the flag pole of a new season, we'll hear players lamenting the what-could-have-beens and about how they need to be better. O'Reilly, as always, directed his dismay with a lost season inward. "I really didn't step up and hold guys accountable and be a voice, and it's tough," he said of being one of the leaders on the team. "I think at times I didn't say enough, and at times I maybe said too much."
Eichel would chime in on the leadership question as well. "As much as I'm a young guy, I've got to take on more responsibility, be more of a leader on this team," he said. "I've got to expect more out of myself."
Reinhart waxed philosophical after the Toronto debacle saying "It's frustrating from our standpoint because it's not just going to change overnight and it's not just going to change over a summer. We have to find a way to get better on a nightly basis, all of us."
"We have to find a way to be better."
Sounds like all the right words to me.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
The home schedule ends versus the team we started with: Montreal
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-5-2017
It seems like a long time ago, yet the season went by so fast. Back on October 13 with the NHL starting it's season a bit late to accommodate the World Cup of Hockey, the Buffalo Sabres opened up their season at home against the Montreal Canadiens, the team they'll be playing tonight as they close out the home portion of their 2016-17 schedule.
Right from the get-go there was a cloud hanging over the team. Buffalo's Jack Eichel suffered a high-ankle sprain at practice the day before and would not end up making his season debut until November 29. Prior to that newly acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov missed most of his first Sabres camp while competing in the WCoH and ended up getting checked into an open bench door in his first preseason game. Kulikov missed the opener vs. Montreal and would struggle mightily most of the season as he tried in vain to play through it.
Free agent signee Kyle Okposo also missed the opener after taking a puck to the knee in practice and you can add Ryan O'Reilly into the mix of injured. O'Reilly was suffering from back spasms after playing for Canada's WCoH team and it was a lingering problem that dogged him through the first half of he season until an emergency appendectomy on Christmas Day forced him to the sidelines for a full week of recovery time.
That's how things started out for Buffalo this season and even with Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price out for the opener, Montreal stifled the Sabres and walked out of KeyBank Center with a 4-1 win. To add insult to the already debilitating rash of injuries, LW Evander Kane crashed hard into the boards late in the second period and was lost for the next 11 games. It would take him an additional 10 more games to fully recover from the four broke ribs he suffered against Les Habitants.
So it went and so it goes.
It's been a season of ups and downs, mostly downs, but at least the Sabres have been able to give their hometown fans a little more bang for their buck as opposed to previous seasons. At one point a few years back they were abysmal at home going 27-43-12 during the two tank years spanning 2013-15 but they began to turn it around last season with a 16-19-6 record at home. This year they'll head into tonight's KeyBank finale with a 19-15-6 record which marks another year of progression. Of note, the Sabres haven't had a winning record at home since they finished 21-12-8 in 2011-12, the first full season under the ownership of Terry Pegula.
There was a lot of talk yesterday concerning the fans and how the players are embarrassed at some of the performances they've had in front of the home crowd. This of course was on the heels of their most abysmal performance since the tank years, a 4-2 loss vs. the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
Eichel talked to the gathered media yesterday about the fans and how they were "pretty loyal to us, obviously. If we don’t play well, they’re here. Play good, they’re here. Play bad, they’re here.
“It’s been a mediocre two years,” he continued. “More than anything, it’s a bit disappointing, a bit embarrassing for us as players that we can’t be better for them. You want to please the fans because of all they’ve been through and all they continue to put up with. You just want to be better.”
Don't we know it.
But with all due respect, and most like I have the utmost respect for Eichel, it's all just talk.
The crap-show they put on display vs. Toronto Monday night is inexcusable and couldn't have been more embarrassing to the players, coaches, management, owner, fans and Western New York itself as they laid an egg of monstrous proportions. The players didn't show up, as has happened many this season, and some trash-talking by an emerging thorn in the Sabres side, Nazem Kadri, pretty much summed up just what kind of team showed up for Buffalo that night.
After scoring Toronto's fourth goal to effectively put the game away Kadri took his mouthpiece out and called out Ristolainen for being an effin' wussy, albeit in a more colorful fashion. It was a slap in the face to not only Ristolainen but to the entire team as a rollicking KeyBank Center with the throngs of Leafs fans roared their approval. Kadri was right in one respect, nearly every time the Sabres played a game with significant meaning this season, they failed, and on more than one occasion failed miserably.
In the eyes of many a Sabres fan, that game against Toronto was one that had a helluva lot more meaning that tonight's game. Sure remorse is one thing, but I can't help but think of a Sabres fan watching this live and in person while being subjected to a hearty Leafs celebration breaking out all around them.
That was the one to win, not this one.
However, it is Fan Appreciation Day and players will give the uniforms off their backs to lucky season ticket holders after the game and we begin the cycle again.
I hope the schedule-maker has Toronto, instead of Montreal, as the bookends to next season.
It seems like a long time ago, yet the season went by so fast. Back on October 13 with the NHL starting it's season a bit late to accommodate the World Cup of Hockey, the Buffalo Sabres opened up their season at home against the Montreal Canadiens, the team they'll be playing tonight as they close out the home portion of their 2016-17 schedule.
Right from the get-go there was a cloud hanging over the team. Buffalo's Jack Eichel suffered a high-ankle sprain at practice the day before and would not end up making his season debut until November 29. Prior to that newly acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov missed most of his first Sabres camp while competing in the WCoH and ended up getting checked into an open bench door in his first preseason game. Kulikov missed the opener vs. Montreal and would struggle mightily most of the season as he tried in vain to play through it.
Free agent signee Kyle Okposo also missed the opener after taking a puck to the knee in practice and you can add Ryan O'Reilly into the mix of injured. O'Reilly was suffering from back spasms after playing for Canada's WCoH team and it was a lingering problem that dogged him through the first half of he season until an emergency appendectomy on Christmas Day forced him to the sidelines for a full week of recovery time.
That's how things started out for Buffalo this season and even with Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price out for the opener, Montreal stifled the Sabres and walked out of KeyBank Center with a 4-1 win. To add insult to the already debilitating rash of injuries, LW Evander Kane crashed hard into the boards late in the second period and was lost for the next 11 games. It would take him an additional 10 more games to fully recover from the four broke ribs he suffered against Les Habitants.
So it went and so it goes.
It's been a season of ups and downs, mostly downs, but at least the Sabres have been able to give their hometown fans a little more bang for their buck as opposed to previous seasons. At one point a few years back they were abysmal at home going 27-43-12 during the two tank years spanning 2013-15 but they began to turn it around last season with a 16-19-6 record at home. This year they'll head into tonight's KeyBank finale with a 19-15-6 record which marks another year of progression. Of note, the Sabres haven't had a winning record at home since they finished 21-12-8 in 2011-12, the first full season under the ownership of Terry Pegula.
There was a lot of talk yesterday concerning the fans and how the players are embarrassed at some of the performances they've had in front of the home crowd. This of course was on the heels of their most abysmal performance since the tank years, a 4-2 loss vs. the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
Eichel talked to the gathered media yesterday about the fans and how they were "pretty loyal to us, obviously. If we don’t play well, they’re here. Play good, they’re here. Play bad, they’re here.
“It’s been a mediocre two years,” he continued. “More than anything, it’s a bit disappointing, a bit embarrassing for us as players that we can’t be better for them. You want to please the fans because of all they’ve been through and all they continue to put up with. You just want to be better.”
Don't we know it.
But with all due respect, and most like I have the utmost respect for Eichel, it's all just talk.
The crap-show they put on display vs. Toronto Monday night is inexcusable and couldn't have been more embarrassing to the players, coaches, management, owner, fans and Western New York itself as they laid an egg of monstrous proportions. The players didn't show up, as has happened many this season, and some trash-talking by an emerging thorn in the Sabres side, Nazem Kadri, pretty much summed up just what kind of team showed up for Buffalo that night.
After scoring Toronto's fourth goal to effectively put the game away Kadri took his mouthpiece out and called out Ristolainen for being an effin' wussy, albeit in a more colorful fashion. It was a slap in the face to not only Ristolainen but to the entire team as a rollicking KeyBank Center with the throngs of Leafs fans roared their approval. Kadri was right in one respect, nearly every time the Sabres played a game with significant meaning this season, they failed, and on more than one occasion failed miserably.
In the eyes of many a Sabres fan, that game against Toronto was one that had a helluva lot more meaning that tonight's game. Sure remorse is one thing, but I can't help but think of a Sabres fan watching this live and in person while being subjected to a hearty Leafs celebration breaking out all around them.
That was the one to win, not this one.
However, it is Fan Appreciation Day and players will give the uniforms off their backs to lucky season ticket holders after the game and we begin the cycle again.
I hope the schedule-maker has Toronto, instead of Montreal, as the bookends to next season.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Sabres/Leafs, Eichel/Matthews, Nylander/Nylander? There is meaning tonight
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-3-2017
If you're going to get up for a hockey game this late in a lost season, this would be the one. The Buffalo Sabres will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs and their large contingent of fans descending from Mount Maple Leaf tonight with nothing but pride on the line as they try to play the role of spoiler.
Toronto heads to Buffalo third in the Atlantic Division, tied with the Ottawa Senators in points, with a three point lead and a game in hand over the Tampa Bay Lightning who are just outside the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs have made the playoffs once in the last 13 seasons and a win against the rival Sabres would give the feel of that glass slipper beginning to slip past the heel on their Cinderella season.
With nothing much left to play for as a team for the remainder of the season, an opportunity for the Sabres to make life difficult for the Leafs inside a sure to be raucous KeyBank Center should get their blood pumping even though they'll be playing in the second game of a back-to-back.
Buffalo hosted the NY Islanders on Fan Appreciation Day yesterday afternoon and proceeded to lose 4-2. With all due respect to the players, it would seem as most weren't overexerting themselves either physically or mentally as the Islanders capitalized on the Sabres generally uninspired play. NY's first two goals were the result of sloppy play and with the score tied 2-2, the Islanders Anders Lee capitalized on two mental errors for two unassisted goals. In all the Islanders only had two assists on their four goals.
I'd be remiss if I left out the effort of recently signed winger C.J. Smith who was making his pro debut against the Isles. After getting over butterflies Smith settled into his game which was skating and being hard on the puck. He got his first professional point yesterday as he found a seem at the Islanders blueline and went in 2-on-1 with Evander Kane who was streaking in on the left side. Smith calmly sent a backhand pass to a wide open Kane who proceeded to rocket a wrister home.
But the fact of the matter remains, the Sabres knew they had a back-to-back against Toronto, their 18th of a league-high 19 back-to-backs, and one couldn't blame them too much if they were saving much of their energy for tonight's game. It's one of the last chances, if not the last chance, they'll have to play a game with real meaning.
The two teams met just 10 days ago as the Leafs came to Buffalo having won three in a row and four of their previous five. Buffalo defeated the them 5-2 with Toronto starting goaltender Fredrik Andersen leaving the game because of injury. Anderson allowed two goals on 16 shots in the first period before backup Curtis McElhinney took over. Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Dmitry Kulikov all had single markers for Buffalo while Jack Eichel had two goals and an assist. In three games vs. the Leafs with Eichel in the lineup this season the Sabres are 2-1-0, outscoring Toronto by a combined 11-7. In those three games Eichel has six points (2+4) and is a plus-1. His American phenom counterpart in Toronto, Auston Matthews, has two goals and is a minus-1 while Kane has really taken to playing the Leafs scoring four goals and chiming in with a plus-4 rating.
In addition to the renewed Sabres/Leafs rivalry, there could be some sibling intrigue throw in for good measure as Sabres rookie Alexander Nylander is rumored to be making his pro debut. Nylander's older brother William is in his first NHL season and is having a helluva year for the Leafs. The elder sibling has 22 goals and 37 assists through 77 games and was just named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for the second time this season.
Although it hasn't been a great season for Buffalo by any stretch of the imagination, the game tonight should have a playoff atmosphere and although the Sabres have waltzed through a number of games as the curtain slowly closes, this game has a lot of meaning for them as a team. It also has meaning for individuals like Eichel, who will always be compared to Matthews and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, and for Nylander, who's up against the premier rookie season his brother is having. Young Buffalo players like Smith and William Carrier are looking to make an impression while some vets are looking to hold their places with the Sabres.
And then there's the horde of Blue and White invading KeyBank Center. As Eichel did when he punctuated his goal with a glass-slam in front of a large group of Leafs fans, it's a matter of defending the home turf.
If you can't get up for this one, you probably don't have a pulse.
If you're going to get up for a hockey game this late in a lost season, this would be the one. The Buffalo Sabres will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs and their large contingent of fans descending from Mount Maple Leaf tonight with nothing but pride on the line as they try to play the role of spoiler.
Toronto heads to Buffalo third in the Atlantic Division, tied with the Ottawa Senators in points, with a three point lead and a game in hand over the Tampa Bay Lightning who are just outside the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs have made the playoffs once in the last 13 seasons and a win against the rival Sabres would give the feel of that glass slipper beginning to slip past the heel on their Cinderella season.
With nothing much left to play for as a team for the remainder of the season, an opportunity for the Sabres to make life difficult for the Leafs inside a sure to be raucous KeyBank Center should get their blood pumping even though they'll be playing in the second game of a back-to-back.
Buffalo hosted the NY Islanders on Fan Appreciation Day yesterday afternoon and proceeded to lose 4-2. With all due respect to the players, it would seem as most weren't overexerting themselves either physically or mentally as the Islanders capitalized on the Sabres generally uninspired play. NY's first two goals were the result of sloppy play and with the score tied 2-2, the Islanders Anders Lee capitalized on two mental errors for two unassisted goals. In all the Islanders only had two assists on their four goals.
I'd be remiss if I left out the effort of recently signed winger C.J. Smith who was making his pro debut against the Isles. After getting over butterflies Smith settled into his game which was skating and being hard on the puck. He got his first professional point yesterday as he found a seem at the Islanders blueline and went in 2-on-1 with Evander Kane who was streaking in on the left side. Smith calmly sent a backhand pass to a wide open Kane who proceeded to rocket a wrister home.
But the fact of the matter remains, the Sabres knew they had a back-to-back against Toronto, their 18th of a league-high 19 back-to-backs, and one couldn't blame them too much if they were saving much of their energy for tonight's game. It's one of the last chances, if not the last chance, they'll have to play a game with real meaning.
The two teams met just 10 days ago as the Leafs came to Buffalo having won three in a row and four of their previous five. Buffalo defeated the them 5-2 with Toronto starting goaltender Fredrik Andersen leaving the game because of injury. Anderson allowed two goals on 16 shots in the first period before backup Curtis McElhinney took over. Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Dmitry Kulikov all had single markers for Buffalo while Jack Eichel had two goals and an assist. In three games vs. the Leafs with Eichel in the lineup this season the Sabres are 2-1-0, outscoring Toronto by a combined 11-7. In those three games Eichel has six points (2+4) and is a plus-1. His American phenom counterpart in Toronto, Auston Matthews, has two goals and is a minus-1 while Kane has really taken to playing the Leafs scoring four goals and chiming in with a plus-4 rating.
In addition to the renewed Sabres/Leafs rivalry, there could be some sibling intrigue throw in for good measure as Sabres rookie Alexander Nylander is rumored to be making his pro debut. Nylander's older brother William is in his first NHL season and is having a helluva year for the Leafs. The elder sibling has 22 goals and 37 assists through 77 games and was just named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for the second time this season.
Although it hasn't been a great season for Buffalo by any stretch of the imagination, the game tonight should have a playoff atmosphere and although the Sabres have waltzed through a number of games as the curtain slowly closes, this game has a lot of meaning for them as a team. It also has meaning for individuals like Eichel, who will always be compared to Matthews and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, and for Nylander, who's up against the premier rookie season his brother is having. Young Buffalo players like Smith and William Carrier are looking to make an impression while some vets are looking to hold their places with the Sabres.
And then there's the horde of Blue and White invading KeyBank Center. As Eichel did when he punctuated his goal with a glass-slam in front of a large group of Leafs fans, it's a matter of defending the home turf.
If you can't get up for this one, you probably don't have a pulse.
Monday, April 3, 2017
Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Individual Stats--March
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-2-2017
It was the Jack Eichel/Ryan O'Reilly show in the month of March for the Buffalo Sabres and one could also say that they did their best dancing on the powerplay. Eichel lead the team in points (18,) goals (9) and assists (9) last month while O'Reilly was second in all three categories with 13 points, six goals and seven assists. Eichel had 10 powerplay points (4+6) while O'Reilly was second with six points (3+3.)
The powerplay that went 15 of 36 (41.6%) in March along with a strong penalty kill that killed off six of 39 chances (84.6%) meant a huge discrepancy in 5v5 scoring which made for some abysmal numbers in the plus/minus category. Only one Sabre, defenseman Josh Gorges, was above water at +1 while two others--Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno--managed to break even. Everyone else was in the minus column with defenseman Jake McCabe, surprisingly at the bottom with a minus-9 for the month.
Goaltending remained stable as Robin Lehner kept his goals-against average (2.63) and save percentage (.922) exactly the same. Lehner went 5-5-1 in the month of March while backup Anders Nilsson went 1-2-0.
The Sabres are back on the ice for a matinee vs. the NY Islanders. Prior to the 3 p.m. start is Fan Appreciation Day which includes 40% off at the Sabres store plus the first Family Appreciation Day with events slated for starting at 1 p.m. in Tops Alumni Plaza.
On the ice newly signed college free agent forward C.J. Smith (UMASS Lowell) will make his NHL debut today for Buffalo. The 5'11" 185 lb. native of Des Moines, IA replaces forward Kyle Okposo who's still out with an illness.
According to Sabres.com, these were the lines at practice yesterday:
Kane-O'Reilly-Ennis
Foligno-Eichel-Reinhart
Smith-Rodrigues-Gionta
Carrier-Girgensons-Moulson
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen returns to the lineup this afternoon after serving a three-game suspension for a hit on Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel. Ristolainen leads the team in average time on ice (26:42) and assists (39) and is fifth on the team in scoring with 44 points.
The Sabres have four more games remaining after today. They'll play rival Toronto tomorrow at KeyBank Center then will finish off their final homestand of the season with a visit from the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo finishes the 2016-17 campaign on a trip to Florida with a back-to-back against the Panthers on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.
Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Individual Stats leaders:
Points
--October: Okposo, O'Reilly, Ristolainen, 7; Moulson, Brian Gionta, 5
--November: Okposo, Reinhart, 8; O'Reilly, 5
--December: Ristolainen, 15; Eichel, Kane, Reinhart, 10
--January: Kane, O'Reilly, 11; Eichel, Gionta, 10
--February: Eichel, 16; O'Reilly, Okposo, 10
--March: Eichel, 18; O'Reilly, 13; Reinhart, 8
Goals
--October: Okposo, Moulson 4; O'Reilly, Brian Gionta, 3
--November: Reinhart, 4; O'Reilly, Okposo, Moulson, Foligno, 3
--December: Kane, 8; Eichel, 6; Reinhart, Okposo, Gionta, Larsson, Ristolainen, 3
--January: Kane, 6; Eichel, Okposo, Gionta, 5
--February: Kane, 8; O'Reilly, Reinhart, Okposo, 4
--March: Eichel, 9; O'Reilly, 6; Kane, 4
Powerplay Goals
--October: Moulson, 4; O'Reilly, 2; Okposo, Sam Reinhart, 1
--November: Moulson, Okposo, 2; Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Larsson, Franson, 1
--December: Okposo, 3; Reinhart, 2; Eichel, Kane, Moulson, Ristolainen, 1
--January: Eichel, 3; Reinhart, Okposo, 2
--February: Reinhart, 3; O'Reilly, 2; Eichel, Moulson, 1
--March: Eichel, 4; O'Reilly, 3; Kane, Moulson, Gionta, 2
Assists
--October: Ristolainen, 7; O'Reilly, 4; Reinhart, Okposo, Franson, 3
--November: Okposo, 5; Reinhart, Ristolainen, 4; Kane, Franson, 3
--December: Ristolainen, 12; Reinhart, 7; O'Reilly, Okposo, Moulson, Gionta, Foligno, 5
--January: O'Reilly, 9; Reinhart, 6; Kane, 5
--February: Eichel, 14; Ristolainen, 8; O'Reilly, Okposo, 6
--March: Eichel, 9; O'Reilly,7; Ristolainen, 6
Powerplay Assists
--October: Ristolainen, 6; Okposo, 3; O'Reilly, Reinhart, 2
--November: Okposo, 4; O'Reilly, Reinhart, Ristolainen, 2
--December: Ristolainen, 5; O'Reilly, 3; Eichel, Moulson, 2
--January: O'Reilly, 4; Ristolainen, 3; Eichel, Kane, Reinhart, Okposo, 2
--February: Ristolainen, 5; Eichel, Okposo, 3
--March: Eichel, 6; O'Reilly, Okposo, Ristolainen, 3
Primary Assists
--October: O'Reilly, Reinhart, Ristolainen, 3; Gionta, Girgensons, 2
--November: Okposo, Kane, Reinhart, 3; Gionta, 2
--December: Ristolainen, 6; Reinhart, Okposo, 4;
--January: O'Reilly, 7; Reinhart, 6; Franson, 4
--February: Eichel, 8 Okposo, 5; Ristolainen, 4
--March: O'Reilly, 5; Eichel, Moulson, 4; Ennis, Foligno, Ristolainen, 3
Plus/Minus
--October: Gionta +3; Okposo, Franson +2
--November: Carrier +2; O'Reilly +1; Reinhart, Grant, Fedun, even
--December: Foligno +5; McCabe +3; Franson +2
--January: O'Reilly, +6; Kane, Girgensons, +4; Fedun Moulson, +3
--February: Bailey, +5; Ennis, +4; Moulson, +3
--March: Gorges, +1; Deslauriers, Foligno, 0; Reinhart, -1
Plus/Minus (Bottom)
--October: Tyler Ennis -4; Deslauriers, Grant -3
--November: Kane, Gionta -5; Larsson, -4
--December: Kulikov, Bogosian -6; Kane -5
--January: Eichel, Foligno, C. O'Reilly, Bogosian, -5; Franson, -4
--February: Kulikov, -7; Kane, -6; Reinhart, Gionta, -4
--March: McCabe, -9; Rodrigues, Kulikov, -6; Bailey, -5
Goalies (composite)
Robin Lehner
--October: 2-2-1; 2.61 GAA; .913 Sv%; 0 shutouts
--November: 5-7-3; 2.40; .921; 0
--December: 8-12-5; 2.51; .921; 0
--January: 12-13-5; 2.64; .918; 0
--February: 17-18-7; 2.63; .922; 2
--March: 22-23-8; 2.63; .922; 2
Anders Nilsson
--October: 1-1-1; 1.96 GAA; .937 Sv%; 1 shutout
--November: 3-2-2; 2.20; .939; 1
--December: 5-3-3; 2.47; .925; 1
--January: 8-7-4: 2.60; .923; 1
--February: 9-8-4; 2.69; .921; 1
--March: 10-10-4; 2.73; .920; 1
It was the Jack Eichel/Ryan O'Reilly show in the month of March for the Buffalo Sabres and one could also say that they did their best dancing on the powerplay. Eichel lead the team in points (18,) goals (9) and assists (9) last month while O'Reilly was second in all three categories with 13 points, six goals and seven assists. Eichel had 10 powerplay points (4+6) while O'Reilly was second with six points (3+3.)
The powerplay that went 15 of 36 (41.6%) in March along with a strong penalty kill that killed off six of 39 chances (84.6%) meant a huge discrepancy in 5v5 scoring which made for some abysmal numbers in the plus/minus category. Only one Sabre, defenseman Josh Gorges, was above water at +1 while two others--Nicolas Deslauriers and Marcus Foligno--managed to break even. Everyone else was in the minus column with defenseman Jake McCabe, surprisingly at the bottom with a minus-9 for the month.
Goaltending remained stable as Robin Lehner kept his goals-against average (2.63) and save percentage (.922) exactly the same. Lehner went 5-5-1 in the month of March while backup Anders Nilsson went 1-2-0.
The Sabres are back on the ice for a matinee vs. the NY Islanders. Prior to the 3 p.m. start is Fan Appreciation Day which includes 40% off at the Sabres store plus the first Family Appreciation Day with events slated for starting at 1 p.m. in Tops Alumni Plaza.
On the ice newly signed college free agent forward C.J. Smith (UMASS Lowell) will make his NHL debut today for Buffalo. The 5'11" 185 lb. native of Des Moines, IA replaces forward Kyle Okposo who's still out with an illness.
According to Sabres.com, these were the lines at practice yesterday:
Kane-O'Reilly-Ennis
Foligno-Eichel-Reinhart
Smith-Rodrigues-Gionta
Carrier-Girgensons-Moulson
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen returns to the lineup this afternoon after serving a three-game suspension for a hit on Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel. Ristolainen leads the team in average time on ice (26:42) and assists (39) and is fifth on the team in scoring with 44 points.
The Sabres have four more games remaining after today. They'll play rival Toronto tomorrow at KeyBank Center then will finish off their final homestand of the season with a visit from the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo finishes the 2016-17 campaign on a trip to Florida with a back-to-back against the Panthers on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.
Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Individual Stats leaders:
Points
--October: Okposo, O'Reilly, Ristolainen, 7; Moulson, Brian Gionta, 5
--November: Okposo, Reinhart, 8; O'Reilly, 5
--December: Ristolainen, 15; Eichel, Kane, Reinhart, 10
--January: Kane, O'Reilly, 11; Eichel, Gionta, 10
--February: Eichel, 16; O'Reilly, Okposo, 10
--March: Eichel, 18; O'Reilly, 13; Reinhart, 8
Goals
--October: Okposo, Moulson 4; O'Reilly, Brian Gionta, 3
--November: Reinhart, 4; O'Reilly, Okposo, Moulson, Foligno, 3
--December: Kane, 8; Eichel, 6; Reinhart, Okposo, Gionta, Larsson, Ristolainen, 3
--January: Kane, 6; Eichel, Okposo, Gionta, 5
--February: Kane, 8; O'Reilly, Reinhart, Okposo, 4
--March: Eichel, 9; O'Reilly, 6; Kane, 4
Powerplay Goals
--October: Moulson, 4; O'Reilly, 2; Okposo, Sam Reinhart, 1
--November: Moulson, Okposo, 2; Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Larsson, Franson, 1
--December: Okposo, 3; Reinhart, 2; Eichel, Kane, Moulson, Ristolainen, 1
--January: Eichel, 3; Reinhart, Okposo, 2
--February: Reinhart, 3; O'Reilly, 2; Eichel, Moulson, 1
--March: Eichel, 4; O'Reilly, 3; Kane, Moulson, Gionta, 2
Assists
--October: Ristolainen, 7; O'Reilly, 4; Reinhart, Okposo, Franson, 3
--November: Okposo, 5; Reinhart, Ristolainen, 4; Kane, Franson, 3
--December: Ristolainen, 12; Reinhart, 7; O'Reilly, Okposo, Moulson, Gionta, Foligno, 5
--January: O'Reilly, 9; Reinhart, 6; Kane, 5
--February: Eichel, 14; Ristolainen, 8; O'Reilly, Okposo, 6
--March: Eichel, 9; O'Reilly,7; Ristolainen, 6
Powerplay Assists
--October: Ristolainen, 6; Okposo, 3; O'Reilly, Reinhart, 2
--November: Okposo, 4; O'Reilly, Reinhart, Ristolainen, 2
--December: Ristolainen, 5; O'Reilly, 3; Eichel, Moulson, 2
--January: O'Reilly, 4; Ristolainen, 3; Eichel, Kane, Reinhart, Okposo, 2
--February: Ristolainen, 5; Eichel, Okposo, 3
--March: Eichel, 6; O'Reilly, Okposo, Ristolainen, 3
Primary Assists
--October: O'Reilly, Reinhart, Ristolainen, 3; Gionta, Girgensons, 2
--November: Okposo, Kane, Reinhart, 3; Gionta, 2
--December: Ristolainen, 6; Reinhart, Okposo, 4;
--January: O'Reilly, 7; Reinhart, 6; Franson, 4
--February: Eichel, 8 Okposo, 5; Ristolainen, 4
--March: O'Reilly, 5; Eichel, Moulson, 4; Ennis, Foligno, Ristolainen, 3
Plus/Minus
--October: Gionta +3; Okposo, Franson +2
--November: Carrier +2; O'Reilly +1; Reinhart, Grant, Fedun, even
--December: Foligno +5; McCabe +3; Franson +2
--January: O'Reilly, +6; Kane, Girgensons, +4; Fedun Moulson, +3
--February: Bailey, +5; Ennis, +4; Moulson, +3
--March: Gorges, +1; Deslauriers, Foligno, 0; Reinhart, -1
Plus/Minus (Bottom)
--October: Tyler Ennis -4; Deslauriers, Grant -3
--November: Kane, Gionta -5; Larsson, -4
--December: Kulikov, Bogosian -6; Kane -5
--January: Eichel, Foligno, C. O'Reilly, Bogosian, -5; Franson, -4
--February: Kulikov, -7; Kane, -6; Reinhart, Gionta, -4
--March: McCabe, -9; Rodrigues, Kulikov, -6; Bailey, -5
Goalies (composite)
Robin Lehner
--October: 2-2-1; 2.61 GAA; .913 Sv%; 0 shutouts
--November: 5-7-3; 2.40; .921; 0
--December: 8-12-5; 2.51; .921; 0
--January: 12-13-5; 2.64; .918; 0
--February: 17-18-7; 2.63; .922; 2
--March: 22-23-8; 2.63; .922; 2
Anders Nilsson
--October: 1-1-1; 1.96 GAA; .937 Sv%; 1 shutout
--November: 3-2-2; 2.20; .939; 1
--December: 5-3-3; 2.47; .925; 1
--January: 8-7-4: 2.60; .923; 1
--February: 9-8-4; 2.69; .921; 1
--March: 10-10-4; 2.73; .920; 1
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Team Stats--March
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-1-2017
By the time the calendar turned to March, Buffalo's playoff hopes were dimming fast. A 7-5-1 month of January got the Sabres to the outer fringes of the wild card race and heading into their bye week late into February they were on a similar path having gone 6-4-1 which included a loss to Chicago the game before their bye.
With two consecutive road games against the worst two teams in the league coming out of the bye, there was a good possibility that the team could head into March with some momentum. However losses to Colorado and Arizona and an overtime loss to Nashville to end the month put the kibosh on that. That trio of games pretty much ended Buffalo's playoff aspirations and although the Sabres began the month of March with a win the nail in the coffin was the 1-5-1 record after that.
It's often said you are what your record says you are and at 32-33-12 and through 77 games the Sabres are exactly that, a 24th place team. Statistically there are some highs, like the having leagues No. 1 powerplay and some lows as shown in their league-worst 34.2 shots-against/game but by and large they're statistically in that 18-24 range which makes them a below average team.
Sure the Sabres have struggled with injuries, but they've also had numerous opportunities to climb over teams ahead of them through the course of the season only to fail, sometimes miserably. Losing to both Colorado and Arizona in late February with the playoffs in sight is inexcusable and to follow that up with five losses in eight games to begin the month of March when there was a glimmer of hope showed little gumption on their part.
As we begin looking to next season in earnest, rays of light are shining through the darkness. Buffalo's powerplay is downright dangerous and has been that way in the 2017 calendar year. The Sabres went 15-for-36 (41.7%) on the power play in 14 games in March, including 7-for-10 mark in the last five games, according to Sabres PR. They also point out that Buffalo has not finished a season ranked in the top five in power-play percentage since the 2005-06 season (third, 21.2%) and the team has led the league only once (1991-92, 22.5%.)
Also on the upswing is the penalty kill. After bottoming out at 30th in the league through December, the Sabres have slowly creeped up in that category to 26th. They've also been getting more rubber to the net as their shots/game increased to 30.4 (13th in the league.)
Buffalo's next game is tomorrow as they'll start a five game in eight-day stretch with a matinee at home against a NY Islanders, a team that's trying desperately to stay in the playoff hunt. On Monday Buffalo takes on the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. The Leafs are in control of their playoff destination as they're third in the Atlantic Division, three points ahead of the Boston Bruins and four points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lighting who are just outside of the second wild card slot.
On Wednesday the Sabres finish up the home portion of the season with a visit from the Montreal Canadians before they head to Florida for a back-to-back season finale on the road. They'll play the Florida Panthers on Saturday before concluding the 2016-17 season with a stop at Amalie Arena in Tampa for a game against the Lightning with possible playoff implications.
Buffalo Sabres Team Stats/League Rankings...(Leader):
Wins
--October: 3 (T-23rd)...(MTL, 8)
--November: 8 (T-28th)...(MTL, NYR, 16)
--December: 13 (28th)...(CBJ, 26)
--January: 20 (T-27th)...(WSH, 33)
--February: 26 (T-23rd)...(WSH, 42)
--March: 32 (24th)...(WSH, 51)
--2015-16: 35 (23rd)...(WSH, 56)
--2014-15: 23 (30th)...(ANA, 49)
Atlantic Division Standing
--October: 7th...(MTL)
--November: 8th...(MTL)
--December: 8th...(MTL)
--January: 7th...(MTL)
--February: 7th...(MTL)
--March: 7th...(MTL)
--2015-16: 7th...(FLA)
--2014-15: 8th...(MTL)
Eastern Conference Standing
--October: 12th...(MTL)
--November: 15th...(MTL)
--December: 16th...(CBJ)
--January: 15th...(WSH)
--February: 13th..(WSH)
--March: 14th...(WSH)
--2015-16: 14th...(WSH)
--2014-15: 16th...(NYR)
League standing/Points
--October: 20th/8...(MTL/17)
--November: 28th/21...(MTL/34)
--December: 28th/34...(CBJ/56)
--January: 27th/49...(WSH/72)
--February: 22nd/63...(WSH/91)
--March: 24th/76...(WSH/110)
--2015-16: 23rd/81...(WSH/120)
--2014-15: 30th/54...(NYR/113)
Points Percentage
--October: .500 (T-15th)...(MTL, .944)
--November: .477 (26th)...(MTL, .739)
--December: .472 (28th)...(CBJ, .800)
--January: .500 (24th)...(MIN, .724)
--February: .500 (T-22nd)...(WSH, .734)
--March: .494 (24th)...(WSH, .714)
--2015-16: .494 (23rd)...(WSH, .732)
--2014-15: .329 (30th)...(NYR, .689)
Goal Differential
--October: -1 (16th)...(MTL, +17)
--November: -13 (25th)...(NYR, +29)
--December: -23 (27th)...(CBJ, +50)
--January: -21 (26th)...(MIN), +54)
--February: -24 (23rd)...(WSH, +73)
--March: -28 (24th)...(WSH, +75)
--2015-16: -21 (20th)...(WSH, +59)
--2014-15 -113 (30th)...(NYR, +60)
Goals/Game
--October: 2.50 (21st)...(NYR, 3.89)
--November: 1.95 (30th)...(NYR, 3.67)
--December: 2.14 (28th)...(CBJ, 3.46)
--January: 2.43 (24th)...(PIT, 3.55)
--February: 2.46 (24th)...(PIT, 3.46)
--March: 2.48 (24th)...(PIT, 3.36)
--2015-16: 2.43 (25th)...(DAL, 3.23)
--2014-15: 1.87 (30th)...(TBL, 3.16)
Shots/Game
--October: 27.4 (28th)...(TOR, 34.7)
--November: 29.4 (20th)...(PIT, 33.9)
--December: 29.5 (17th)...(PIT, 34.8)
--January: 29.8 (17th)...(PIT, 34.4)
--February: 29.7 (20th)...(BOS, 33.9)
--March: 30.4 (13th)...(PIT, 34.1)
--2015-16: 29.5 (17th)...(PIT, 33.2)
--2014-15: 24.2 (30th)...(CHI, 33.9)
Goals-against/Game
--October: 2.50 (12th)...(MTL, 1.44)
--November: 2.45 (10th)...(SJS. 2.09)
--December: 2.67 (14th)...(MIN, 2.06)
--January: 2.78 (17th)...(WSH, 2.10)
--February: 2.79 (18th)...(WSH, 2.08)
--March: 2.79 (19th)...(WSH, 2.22)
--2015-16: 2.62 (15th)...(ANA, 2.29)
--2014-15: 3.28 (29th)...(MTL, 2.24)
Shots against/Game
--October: 30.6 (20th)...(WSH, 25)
--November: 32.5 (26th)...(LAK, 25.4)
--December: 32.6 (27th)...(LAK, 25.9)
--January: 33.3 (29th)...(LAK, 25.9)
--February: 34.1 (30th)...(LAK, 26.0)
--March: 34.2 (30th)...(LAK, 26.0)
--2015-16: 30.6 (22nd)...(NSH, 27.3)
--2014-15: 35.6 (30th)...(LAK, 27.0)
Powerplay
--October: 25.0 (7th)...(NSH, 35.7)
--November: 22.7 (5th)...(CBJ, 27.8)
--December: 21.6 (9th)...(CBJ, 27.4)
--January: 22.7 (5th)...(CBJ, 24.6)
--February: 22.2 (4th)...(TOR, 23.0)
--March: 25.3 (1st)
--2015-16: 18.9 (12th)...(ANA, 23.1)
--2014-15: 13.4 (30th)...(WSH, 25.3)
Penalty Kill
--October: 86.7 (7th)...(MIN, 96.2)
--November: 78.7 (25th)...(CAR, 89.7)
--December: 73.9 (30th)...(CAR, 88.8)
--January: 74.3 (29th)...(CAR, 87.8)
--February: 75.8 (29th)...(CAR, 86.0)
--March: 77.3 (26th)...(FLA, 85.7)
--2015-16: 82.6 (9th)...(ANA, 87.2)
--2014-15: 75.1 (30th)...(MIN, 86.3)
Faceoff Percentage
--October: 54.7 (3rd)...(ANA, 59.3)
--November: 51.5 (5th)...(ANA, 56.8)
--December: 51.1 (9th)...(ANA, 56.0)
--January: 50.6 (11th)...(ANA, 55.1)
--February: 49.9 (14th)...(ANA, 54.7)
--March: 49.7 (16th)...(ANA, 54.6)
--2015-16: 49.4 (21st)...(ARI, 54.7)
--2014-15: 44.9 (30th)...(BOS, 53.6)
By the time the calendar turned to March, Buffalo's playoff hopes were dimming fast. A 7-5-1 month of January got the Sabres to the outer fringes of the wild card race and heading into their bye week late into February they were on a similar path having gone 6-4-1 which included a loss to Chicago the game before their bye.
With two consecutive road games against the worst two teams in the league coming out of the bye, there was a good possibility that the team could head into March with some momentum. However losses to Colorado and Arizona and an overtime loss to Nashville to end the month put the kibosh on that. That trio of games pretty much ended Buffalo's playoff aspirations and although the Sabres began the month of March with a win the nail in the coffin was the 1-5-1 record after that.
It's often said you are what your record says you are and at 32-33-12 and through 77 games the Sabres are exactly that, a 24th place team. Statistically there are some highs, like the having leagues No. 1 powerplay and some lows as shown in their league-worst 34.2 shots-against/game but by and large they're statistically in that 18-24 range which makes them a below average team.
Sure the Sabres have struggled with injuries, but they've also had numerous opportunities to climb over teams ahead of them through the course of the season only to fail, sometimes miserably. Losing to both Colorado and Arizona in late February with the playoffs in sight is inexcusable and to follow that up with five losses in eight games to begin the month of March when there was a glimmer of hope showed little gumption on their part.
As we begin looking to next season in earnest, rays of light are shining through the darkness. Buffalo's powerplay is downright dangerous and has been that way in the 2017 calendar year. The Sabres went 15-for-36 (41.7%) on the power play in 14 games in March, including 7-for-10 mark in the last five games, according to Sabres PR. They also point out that Buffalo has not finished a season ranked in the top five in power-play percentage since the 2005-06 season (third, 21.2%) and the team has led the league only once (1991-92, 22.5%.)
Also on the upswing is the penalty kill. After bottoming out at 30th in the league through December, the Sabres have slowly creeped up in that category to 26th. They've also been getting more rubber to the net as their shots/game increased to 30.4 (13th in the league.)
Buffalo's next game is tomorrow as they'll start a five game in eight-day stretch with a matinee at home against a NY Islanders, a team that's trying desperately to stay in the playoff hunt. On Monday Buffalo takes on the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. The Leafs are in control of their playoff destination as they're third in the Atlantic Division, three points ahead of the Boston Bruins and four points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lighting who are just outside of the second wild card slot.
On Wednesday the Sabres finish up the home portion of the season with a visit from the Montreal Canadians before they head to Florida for a back-to-back season finale on the road. They'll play the Florida Panthers on Saturday before concluding the 2016-17 season with a stop at Amalie Arena in Tampa for a game against the Lightning with possible playoff implications.
Buffalo Sabres Team Stats/League Rankings...(Leader):
Wins
--October: 3 (T-23rd)...(MTL, 8)
--November: 8 (T-28th)...(MTL, NYR, 16)
--December: 13 (28th)...(CBJ, 26)
--January: 20 (T-27th)...(WSH, 33)
--February: 26 (T-23rd)...(WSH, 42)
--March: 32 (24th)...(WSH, 51)
--2015-16: 35 (23rd)...(WSH, 56)
--2014-15: 23 (30th)...(ANA, 49)
Atlantic Division Standing
--October: 7th...(MTL)
--November: 8th...(MTL)
--December: 8th...(MTL)
--January: 7th...(MTL)
--February: 7th...(MTL)
--March: 7th...(MTL)
--2015-16: 7th...(FLA)
--2014-15: 8th...(MTL)
Eastern Conference Standing
--October: 12th...(MTL)
--November: 15th...(MTL)
--December: 16th...(CBJ)
--January: 15th...(WSH)
--February: 13th..(WSH)
--March: 14th...(WSH)
--2015-16: 14th...(WSH)
--2014-15: 16th...(NYR)
League standing/Points
--October: 20th/8...(MTL/17)
--November: 28th/21...(MTL/34)
--December: 28th/34...(CBJ/56)
--January: 27th/49...(WSH/72)
--February: 22nd/63...(WSH/91)
--March: 24th/76...(WSH/110)
--2015-16: 23rd/81...(WSH/120)
--2014-15: 30th/54...(NYR/113)
Points Percentage
--October: .500 (T-15th)...(MTL, .944)
--November: .477 (26th)...(MTL, .739)
--December: .472 (28th)...(CBJ, .800)
--January: .500 (24th)...(MIN, .724)
--February: .500 (T-22nd)...(WSH, .734)
--March: .494 (24th)...(WSH, .714)
--2015-16: .494 (23rd)...(WSH, .732)
--2014-15: .329 (30th)...(NYR, .689)
Goal Differential
--October: -1 (16th)...(MTL, +17)
--November: -13 (25th)...(NYR, +29)
--December: -23 (27th)...(CBJ, +50)
--January: -21 (26th)...(MIN), +54)
--February: -24 (23rd)...(WSH, +73)
--March: -28 (24th)...(WSH, +75)
--2015-16: -21 (20th)...(WSH, +59)
--2014-15 -113 (30th)...(NYR, +60)
Goals/Game
--October: 2.50 (21st)...(NYR, 3.89)
--November: 1.95 (30th)...(NYR, 3.67)
--December: 2.14 (28th)...(CBJ, 3.46)
--January: 2.43 (24th)...(PIT, 3.55)
--February: 2.46 (24th)...(PIT, 3.46)
--March: 2.48 (24th)...(PIT, 3.36)
--2015-16: 2.43 (25th)...(DAL, 3.23)
--2014-15: 1.87 (30th)...(TBL, 3.16)
Shots/Game
--October: 27.4 (28th)...(TOR, 34.7)
--November: 29.4 (20th)...(PIT, 33.9)
--December: 29.5 (17th)...(PIT, 34.8)
--January: 29.8 (17th)...(PIT, 34.4)
--February: 29.7 (20th)...(BOS, 33.9)
--March: 30.4 (13th)...(PIT, 34.1)
--2015-16: 29.5 (17th)...(PIT, 33.2)
--2014-15: 24.2 (30th)...(CHI, 33.9)
Goals-against/Game
--October: 2.50 (12th)...(MTL, 1.44)
--November: 2.45 (10th)...(SJS. 2.09)
--December: 2.67 (14th)...(MIN, 2.06)
--January: 2.78 (17th)...(WSH, 2.10)
--February: 2.79 (18th)...(WSH, 2.08)
--March: 2.79 (19th)...(WSH, 2.22)
--2015-16: 2.62 (15th)...(ANA, 2.29)
--2014-15: 3.28 (29th)...(MTL, 2.24)
Shots against/Game
--October: 30.6 (20th)...(WSH, 25)
--November: 32.5 (26th)...(LAK, 25.4)
--December: 32.6 (27th)...(LAK, 25.9)
--January: 33.3 (29th)...(LAK, 25.9)
--February: 34.1 (30th)...(LAK, 26.0)
--March: 34.2 (30th)...(LAK, 26.0)
--2015-16: 30.6 (22nd)...(NSH, 27.3)
--2014-15: 35.6 (30th)...(LAK, 27.0)
Powerplay
--October: 25.0 (7th)...(NSH, 35.7)
--November: 22.7 (5th)...(CBJ, 27.8)
--December: 21.6 (9th)...(CBJ, 27.4)
--January: 22.7 (5th)...(CBJ, 24.6)
--February: 22.2 (4th)...(TOR, 23.0)
--March: 25.3 (1st)
--2015-16: 18.9 (12th)...(ANA, 23.1)
--2014-15: 13.4 (30th)...(WSH, 25.3)
Penalty Kill
--October: 86.7 (7th)...(MIN, 96.2)
--November: 78.7 (25th)...(CAR, 89.7)
--December: 73.9 (30th)...(CAR, 88.8)
--January: 74.3 (29th)...(CAR, 87.8)
--February: 75.8 (29th)...(CAR, 86.0)
--March: 77.3 (26th)...(FLA, 85.7)
--2015-16: 82.6 (9th)...(ANA, 87.2)
--2014-15: 75.1 (30th)...(MIN, 86.3)
Faceoff Percentage
--October: 54.7 (3rd)...(ANA, 59.3)
--November: 51.5 (5th)...(ANA, 56.8)
--December: 51.1 (9th)...(ANA, 56.0)
--January: 50.6 (11th)...(ANA, 55.1)
--February: 49.9 (14th)...(ANA, 54.7)
--March: 49.7 (16th)...(ANA, 54.6)
--2015-16: 49.4 (21st)...(ARI, 54.7)
--2014-15: 44.9 (30th)...(BOS, 53.6)
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Help on the horizon? Viktor Antipin scores game-winner, while some prospects shine
Published by hockeybuzz.com 3-31-2017
Russian defenseman Viktor Antipin, who may be joining the Sabres after his KHL team finishes their season, provided the game-winning goal for Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. Ak Bars last night. In watching some of Antipin's highlights one can often find him finding open space in the slot for shots and goals and last night's eventual game-winner was no different.
Antipin joins future Sabre Victor Olofsson (2014, 181st-overall) in the spotlight. Olofsson provided the series-clinching overtime winner to send Frolunda to the Swedish Hockey League semi-finals.
Other prospects garnering attention are goalie Cal Petersen (2013, 129th) who lead Notre Dame to the Frozen Four and Western New York native Sean Malone (2013, 159th) who's Harvard Crimson will also be in Chicago vying for college hockey's national championship. Defenseman Brendan Guhle (2015, 51st,) center Giorgio Estephan (2015, 152nd) and forward Brandon Hagel (2016, 159th) are all helping their WHL teams in the playoffs.
Although the Sabres themselves are out of the playoffs once again, there's intrigue with the prospects. Sabres fans won't need to travel overseas for to see youngins in action as recently signed forward C.J. Smith looks to be making his pro debut on Sunday vs. the NY Islanders at KeyBank Center. Over in Rochester 2014 third-round pick (61st) Jonas Johansson was in goal for his first North American professional game on Saturday vs. the Binghamton Senators and came away with the win despite giving up four goals on 32 shots. Linus Ullmark (2012, 163rd) is about to finish his second pro season in goal for the organization. Ullmark spent the entire season in Rochester, has played in 52 games for the Amerks (24-26-2 record) and has faced a league-leading 1558 shots against, nearly 200 shots more than the player behind him.
There are some promising players paying their dues in various developmental leagues for Buffalo and it would seem as if the Sabres are contented taking their time with their prospects. Although this season has been disappointing for the big club, if they stick to their plan and let their prospects grow at their own pace it should pay off handsomely in the long-term.
Thanks to DailyMotion via our good friend Kris Baker of sabresprospects/sabres.com, you see what I mean about Antipin.
Russian defenseman Viktor Antipin, who may be joining the Sabres after his KHL team finishes their season, provided the game-winning goal for Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. Ak Bars last night. In watching some of Antipin's highlights one can often find him finding open space in the slot for shots and goals and last night's eventual game-winner was no different.
Antipin joins future Sabre Victor Olofsson (2014, 181st-overall) in the spotlight. Olofsson provided the series-clinching overtime winner to send Frolunda to the Swedish Hockey League semi-finals.
Other prospects garnering attention are goalie Cal Petersen (2013, 129th) who lead Notre Dame to the Frozen Four and Western New York native Sean Malone (2013, 159th) who's Harvard Crimson will also be in Chicago vying for college hockey's national championship. Defenseman Brendan Guhle (2015, 51st,) center Giorgio Estephan (2015, 152nd) and forward Brandon Hagel (2016, 159th) are all helping their WHL teams in the playoffs.
Although the Sabres themselves are out of the playoffs once again, there's intrigue with the prospects. Sabres fans won't need to travel overseas for to see youngins in action as recently signed forward C.J. Smith looks to be making his pro debut on Sunday vs. the NY Islanders at KeyBank Center. Over in Rochester 2014 third-round pick (61st) Jonas Johansson was in goal for his first North American professional game on Saturday vs. the Binghamton Senators and came away with the win despite giving up four goals on 32 shots. Linus Ullmark (2012, 163rd) is about to finish his second pro season in goal for the organization. Ullmark spent the entire season in Rochester, has played in 52 games for the Amerks (24-26-2 record) and has faced a league-leading 1558 shots against, nearly 200 shots more than the player behind him.
There are some promising players paying their dues in various developmental leagues for Buffalo and it would seem as if the Sabres are contented taking their time with their prospects. Although this season has been disappointing for the big club, if they stick to their plan and let their prospects grow at their own pace it should pay off handsomely in the long-term.
Thanks to DailyMotion via our good friend Kris Baker of sabresprospects/sabres.com, you see what I mean about Antipin.
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