Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have hovered around the .500 mark all season so far with a current record of 4-5 through the first two weeks of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Sabres found more of their scoring touch in the past week of hockey. They've picked up their production at even strength on offense, but their power play still lacks the firepower it has shown in the past.
Sabres head coach Don Granato says that part of the problem is how early it is in the season.
"They just have not been able to get into a rhythm, and even when they generated chances, they didn't score," said Granato on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on WGR. "You just don't feel good about it, and that can complicate it too. So I think that will resolve over time because of the skill we have, but that's one area that's not hitting rhythm or stride yet."
The past few seasons, the Sabres have had a scoring identity. Granato says this was always a focus, but needs to be revisited from time-to-time.
"We did that right from Day 1 of training camp. I said to the room, 'Listen, this group can score and you guys are going to score. We know that, but I need your attention and focus turned, and really concentrate on some things. If we get better at, or when we get better at them, they're really going to be difference makers for us. They're going to help us stabilize a bit more,'" Granato said during the "Jeremy and Joe Show".
When it comes to experience in the NHL, the Sabres have been on the younger side of things in recent memory. However, coming into this season, that has changed given the makeup of the team, and players are getting more of an opportunity in high stakes scenarios.
"I think it's a combination of new guys on the team, and the guys that were here last year having the hindsight of last season, they could reflect on it. They come into the year with greater experience, because of that hindsight," Granato said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "The guys - [Tage] Thompson, [Alex] Tuch, and even [Kyle] Okposo and [Zemgus] Girgensons - are better this year than they were last year. Then you add in Erik Johnson, [Mattias] Samuelsson's much better this year than he was last year. It's a combination of all of them."
Hear more from Granato's appearance during the "Jeremy and Joe Show" available in the player below:
