Sabres PP might be the best I have ever seen...literally a machine

[matter2003]

First unit...second unit....no Eichel...no Skinner...doesn't matter. Control the puck...sick puck movement...make the D scramble around for most of the penalty and score about 40% of the time.

Sometimes it looks like a shooting gallery with shots coming from all over the place...

I don't know if this pace is sustainable but holy crap they are really good at it.

Edited February 26, 2021 by matter2003

[Stoner]

The Sabres have led the league in PP twice in their history. They've never finished above 30%. The high water mark is 27.4% in 74-75, which was good for third in the league.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Sadly, the same can't be said of our 5 on 5 scoring which is the worst in the NHL at 1.42 g per 60.  According to Cbssports.com that figure is .5 g/60 worse then any other NHL team.

[Stoner]

6 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Sadly, the same can't be said of our 5 on 5 scoring which is the worst in the NHL at 1.42 g per 60.  According to Cbssports.com that figure is .5 g/60 worse then any other NHL team.

Is the answer simple enough that we have a mix of offensive players who need the time and space that a power play affords, but they can't function at even strength when the NHL game is tighter than %^&**'s &$$%^^?

[Marvin]

4 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Is the answer simple enough that we have a mix of offensive players who need the time and space that a power play affords, but they can't function at even strength when the NHL game is tighter than %^&**'s &$$%^^?

That is a really interesting thought.  When the league started to relax the rules after 2006-7, a lot of the players from those Sabres teams became far less effective.  We might be seeing here.

What we are also seeing is that whoever is coaching the power play is using the talent close to optimally.  For we in the anti-RK crowd, this should give us pause.

[GASabresIUFAN]

20 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Is the answer simple enough that we have a mix of offensive players who need the time and space that a power play affords, but they can't function at even strength when the NHL game is tighter than %^&**'s &$$%^^?

Which means they are skilled and talented but soft and unwilling to go to the dirty areas to score 5 on 5.  Is this coaching or players.  If it's players, then KA needs to make a move or two to shake things up.  

Edited February 26, 2021 by GASabresIUFAN

[matter2003]

1 hour ago, Marvin, Sabres Fan said:

That is a really interesting thought.  When the league started to relax the rules after 2006-7, a lot of the players from those Sabres teams became far less effective.  We might be seeing here.

What we are also seeing is that whoever is coaching the power play is using the talent close to optimally.  For we in the anti-RK crowd, this should give us pause.

 

Why does Tampa Bay seem to still flourish with this same mix of players?

[Marvin]

1 minute ago, matter2003 said:

Why does Tampa Bay seem to still flourish with this same mix of players?

They have a better GM who is better at amassing talent, is more flexible in his mindset, and pro-active in making needed changes.

[Trettioåtta]

If our shooting percentage was normal for the team it would translate to just under a goal per game.

We are low because we are unlucky so far in my opinion

[Drag0nDan]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Which means they are skilled and talented but soft and unwilling to go to the dirty areas to score 5 on 5.  Is this coaching or players.  If it's players, then KA needs to make a move or two to shake things up.  

There's a want by guys like thompson to get there - but thompson just isn't good enough along the walls, and seems to be constantly looking around to see where he thinks he should be.  He's just not natural out there and its coming to a point where I don't know that he ever will be.  He's the worst passer on a team of bad passers.  He needs to focus on checking, and passing.  It's tough to make offensive plays when you are with new linemates constantly.  Get the pucks to defensemen, and get in front of the net.  Simplify it

[bob_sauve28]

11 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

There's a want by guys like thompson to get there - but thompson just isn't good enough along the walls, and seems to be constantly looking around to see where he thinks he should be.  He's just not natural out there and its coming to a point where I don't know that he ever will be.  He's the worst passer on a team of bad passers.  He needs to focus on checking, and passing.  It's tough to make offensive plays when you are with new linemates constantly.  Get the pucks to defensemen, and get in front of the net.  Simplify it

He really should watch Curtis Lazar play and try and be more like him. Throw a damn check for once! He plays like he wants to Taylor Hall or something. The guy probably could be a good checking center but doesn't have the mentality for it. 

[PerreaultForever]

As much as he has not delivered like we hoped 5 on 5 Hall has made the big difference on the PP. He is a very good and quick passer and makes the right decision often. Adding that to what we already had puts enough weapons on at the same time that teams can't over focus on Eichel or any other one player. When they do, Olofsson is wide open or Sam is unchecked in front. We could still screen goalies a bit better but otherwise, it's a pretty lethal unit.

 

[SwampD]

It's definitely a machine, if only figuratively.

[jad1]

1 minute ago, bob_sauve28 said:

He really should watch Curtis Lazar play and try and be more like him. Throw a damn check for once! He plays like he wants to Taylor Hall or something. The guy probably could be a good checking center but doesn't have the mentality for it. 

The coaches would really help him by better defining his role and setting expectations. Throwing him out on the first line one game and then the 4th line the next isn't really setting him up for success.

[bob_sauve28]

3 minutes ago, jad1 said:

The coaches would really help him by better defining his role and setting expectations. Throwing him out on the first line one game and then the 4th line the next isn't really setting him up for success.

He's done. He got paid and lost his motivation. Krueger is right. 

[jad1]

13 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

He's done. He got paid and lost his motivation. Krueger is right. 

My comment was about Thompson, but I think your comment is about Skinner.

 

[matter2003]

44 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

As much as he has not delivered like we hoped 5 on 5 Hall has made the big difference on the PP. He is a very good and quick passer and makes the right decision often. Adding that to what we already had puts enough weapons on at the same time that teams can't over focus on Eichel or any other one player. When they do, Olofsson is wide open or Sam is unchecked in front. We could still screen goalies a bit better but otherwise, it's a pretty lethal unit.

 

Risto is pretty awesome at screening goalies...not sure why they don't let him do that more.

[IKnowPhysics]

Sabres have big PP at 34.8%, biggest in league.  They dangle it in your face.

Devils have micro-PK at 58.3%.  No team has ever finished a regular season with such a tiny PK.  Closest was '79-'80 LA Kings with tiny 68.2% PK.

[Drag0nDan]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

As much as he has not delivered like we hoped 5 on 5 Hall has made the big difference on the PP. He is a very good and quick passer and makes the right decision often. Adding that to what we already had puts enough weapons on at the same time that teams can't over focus on Eichel or any other one player. When they do, Olofsson is wide open or Sam is unchecked in front. We could still screen goalies a bit better but otherwise, it's a pretty lethal unit.

 

yeah, even if he hasn't been primary a ton.  He rotates well, knows where to go to help maintain the zone and kick it back out to jack or VO.  

[matter2003]

21 minutes ago, IKnowPhysics said:

Sabres have big PP at 34.8%, biggest in league.  They dangle it in your face.

Devils have micro-PK at 58.3%.  No team has ever finished a regular season with such a tiny PK.  Closest was '79-'80 LA Kings with tiny 68.2% PK.

A large part of that is because they played the Sabres a bunch of times.

[IKnowPhysics]

5 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

A large part of that is because they played the Sabres a bunch of times.

[Cascade Youth]

Sounds like the solution is to just pull Hutton and go goalie-less while Ullmark is out.

[gilbert11]

17 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

The Sabres have led the league in PP twice in their history. They've never finished above 30%. The high water mark is 27.4% in 74-75, which was good for third in the league.

The power play on that 74-75 team was really good.  Perrault, Robert, Martin, Korab and Stanfield.

[Curt]

16 hours ago, matter2003 said:

Risto is pretty awesome at screening goalies...not sure why they don't let him do that more.

Probably because, as is,  they are scoring on 35% of their PPs, and Reinhart is scoring like crazy from in front of the net, so why change that?

Maybe on the 2nd unit try Risto in front.

[Curt]

Sabres are on pace to have the best PP in the league, by %, and also be last in the league in 5-on-5 scoring.  That’s absolutely crazy.