The higher expectations were met the first month of the season, but the team has fizzled since that time. They started 9-0-3, but are 11-16-9 since Oct. 28, 2019. They started similarly last season, but eventually, the team cooled off, just as it has in the first half of this season.
There is no doubt that this team needs to focus on a few areas to improve and gain some fans back. One area would be to improve its special teams, which have been holding this team back. They're going to need the bottom six to step up and in a big way because they can't be a one-line team, and expect to make a playoff push. Consistency is a big key for the team heading into the second half, whether it is in-game or from game-to-game. Carter Hutton has to step up his game and make some saves, even when the team in front of him isn't playing very good.
It is a new half of the season, so just like when the new year begins, I have some second half resolutions for the Sabres to improve its play, and possibly even make a second-half run for a playoff position.
1.) Special Teams Improvement
The power play and the penalty kill are both struggling and in order to get back on track, this needs to be remedied quick. The special teams are an integral part of the game, and if they aren't clicking then it could be a long game. If one had to choose between the power play and penalty kill then the power play has been the better of the two so far this season. The man advantage has 23 goals in 130 opportunities, and is operating at 17.7% for the season. At home, the power play has converted on 10 of 57 opportunities for a 17.5% clip, and it has added a shorthanded goal. The Sabres have a slighty better power play while away from home, as it has converted on 13 of 73 opportunities for a 17.8% conversion rate. A way to improve the power play if for the second unit to start chipping in since do not produce at nearly the rate of the first unit.
The penalty kill has been disastrous all season long but has been especially bad while on the road. The penalty kill is ranked 27th out of 31 teams and is only killing off 74.6% of its chances. While shorthanded, the numbers are skewed big time because of the play at home versus the road. The home penalty kill has been pretty good for the Sabres and is ranked 14th in the League. The home penalty kill has only allowed 11 power-play goals against in 60 chances and has chipped in two shorthanded goals. The penalty kill while on the road is only operating at 68.6%, which is good enough for last in League. While shorthanded on the road, the Sabres have allowed 22 power-play goals in 70 chances.
2.) Depth Production
This is a reoccurring theme for the Sabres, as this was also a major issue last season. The addition of Victor Olofsson has helped a bit, but the bottom six has still lacked production this season. The team does have some of these players like Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons and Vladimir Sobotka coming off of the books in the summer, which should help them be able to get some fresh faces in the lineup. The problem has been evaluating that the Sabres can't seem to find the right players to contribute to the bottom six. They went out and acquired Jimmy Vesey and Curtis Lazar, but neither has really helped out much this year. Lazar has been in the minors for most of the first half.
The top five scorers of Jack Eichel, Victor Olofsson, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Dahlin, and Marcus Johansson have combined for 64 goals, 103 assists and 167 points on the season. Jeff Skinner is out injured and will miss a significant amount of time. The rest of the current roster has combined for 40 goals, 76 assists, and 116 points. The production goes down drastically by line. The first line has contributed 92 points, the second line has 48 points, the third line 30 points and the fourth line has only seven combined points. The depth players need to step up their game and find a way to contribute if the Sabres have a shot at making a playoff run.
3.) Carter Hutton Gets Back on Track
The team signed Carter Hutton to a three-year, $8.25 million contract in 2018 free agency thinking that he would be a short term solution to its goaltending woes. Well, he's playing for the Sabres, where goalies aren't exactly helped out by the team in front of them. In 16 games, he is 6-6-4 with 3.23 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage to go with two shutouts. Sure, some of the goals allowed have been due to bad defensive breakdowns in front of him, but he still needs to start making some saves to bail his teammates. No, the goals all haven't been a result of poor defensive play, but rather, some have been the result of poor goaltending.
To fix his game and get back on track, Hutton should start with tracking the puck better. Even if there is traffic in front of him, he needs to battle to get into position to follow the puck to make the save. The less flopping around in the crease area, the better for him. He can't commit too early and he needs to have the patience to wait out the opposition, if the chance arises. The goalie can improve his stats and game by being in position to make a timely save, or even to make the easy save. He also needs to come up with the big save when needed to help bail out his teammates and keep his team in a game.
The Sabres still have time to turn the season around, and by improving, in these three areas, it can happen. It may not lead to a miracle or a playoff run, but it would help the confidence of this team going forward.
