Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres are out on the West Coast this week to start a three-game California road trip on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. Buffalo will also play the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday before wrapping up the trip on Saturday in San Jose against the Sharks.
Following the three games out West, the Sabres will embark not just on the NHL All-Star break, but also their "bye week", where they'll be away from game action until Tuesday, Feb. 6 when they host the Dallas Stars.
Buffalo just wrapped up a six-game homestand that saw the Sabres going 3-3-0 and securing 6-of-12 possible points in the standings. However, as of Tuesday, the Sabres continue to sit nine points back of the final two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.
Despite Buffalo failing to come away with another win or two during their homestand, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luuukkonen has put up an impressive run of play, allowing just five goals-against over his last five starts. He even posted back-to-back shutouts in that span with wins over the Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.
"He gave me confidence by his daily routine a year ago. The practice intensity, the focus, ability to learn, the speed of learning. Those are all signs that pointed to his ability to get back up after maybe a bad game or a lousy performance, his ability to reset," said Sabres head coach Don Granato on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR.
While the team has played solid defensively in front of Luukkonen in goal recently, Buffalo's offense continues to struggle compared to last season. Granato feels the team has made a few slight adjustments that will affect the offense, but believes it should come back with time.
"We have not changed our system, I can tell you that," Granato said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "We brought attention to areas that we needed to improve, areas that will help us. We're asking them to do some things that now they have to tap into conscious level thinking, processing, within an NHL game. That would be defending shot lanes, good stick position. Sometimes when you're conscious, that free flowing offensive feel can take a hit. and you play a little bit tighter because you're thinking a little bit more."
Related
Hear more from Granato's appearance during the "Jeremy and Joe Show" available in the player below: