Special Team Struggles Lead To Sabres Loss In Season Opener

One of the few areas where the Buffalo Sabres did not excel last season was on the power play. In spite of a unit that has one of the best offensive blueliners in Rasmus Dahlin, and one of the most consistent scorers in the NHL in Tage Thompson, the Sabres finished last season 21st in the league on the man advantage. 

In spite of some changes to the unit’s personnel, Buffalo continued to struggle on the power play in the season opening 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, as the Sabres went 0-for-4 on the night, including a full two-minute two-man advantage.  

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“We had our opportunities.  I mean,.... just after the one expired, (Konsta) Heleinus   scored,  but (we had) a big opportunity with the five-on-three that we missed an   opportunity," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. " I thought some of  the puck decisions, five-on-four, we did have a couple good looks.  Five- on- three, there were a couple times that I just thought,  we deferred to the play that wasn't  there.  I thought our whole game, we tried to be a little bit too fancy." 

The special teams struggles were also apparent on the penalty kill, where the club finished in the top five of the NHL last season. Columbus scored twice on the man advantage in three opportunities, something that Ruff blamed on some new personnel getting utilized on the short-handed units. 

The Sabres will hope to get a win against the Chicago Blackhawks in the home opener on Saturday. The Hawks have opened the season with two lopsided losses against Vegas and Utah without star center Connor Bedard, and have allowed 11 goals, while scoring only twice.  

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