New York (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres went into New Jersey on Saturday against the Devils, looking like they may be turning a corner. They had gotten points in three-consecutive games, which was only the second time that had happened all season.
After getting pasted by the Devils, 7-2, on Saturday, it was obvious nothing had changed.
Back on Oct. 12, which was opening night for the Sabres at home, Buffalo lost to the New York Rangers, 5-1. It was the start of a trend that has bothered this team in the first quarter of the season: Getting behind early and chasing the game.
By the time the first period ended, the Rangers had a 2-0 lead. The lead had bubbled to 3-0 in the second period before JJ Peterka finally scored.
The Devils had a 4-0 first period lead on Saturday, and cruised the rest of the way.
Buffalo has trailed after the first period eight times, and have only led after one period in five games. Buffalo has been outscored in the first period this season, 27-17, while the Rangers have outscored their opponents 23-13 in the opening stanza.
Special teams have been a bright spot lately for Buffalo.
The Sabres are 5-for-12 on the power play in their last four games, and have killed 11-of-12 penalties in the last five games. That puts them ninth in the NHL on the penalty kill at 84.9%, and 23rd on the power play at 16.4%.
Sabres head coach Don Granato says there’s a pretty simple reason for the power play’s improvement.
"I think I said a couple of weeks ago the power play will be resolved when we’re more direct and more simple, and that’s the case," said Granato following Monday's morning skate. "We’ve been way more direct. We’re not looking to set up a pretty goal, we’ve been able to find just a 2-on-1 and attack the net."
Buffalo is still 25th in goal scoring, and that’s not likely to improve all that much with Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn out until late December or early January.
Mattias Samuelsson left Saturday’s game in the second period and didn’t return. He got hit in the mouth and needed stitches. He sat the rest of the game as a precaution, but is ready to play Monday.
Granato says defenseman Henri Jokiharju will also return after sitting out the Devils game.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played very well this season, and will be in net for the Sabres on Monday.
Luukkonen has easily been Buffalo’s No. 1 goalie this season, going 5-3-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. Luukkonen has only given up 10 goals in his last five appearances, going 2-1-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Granato feels there's a reasoning for his consistency as of late.
"It’s gained experience, which are the little things that help you be more consistent," Granato explained. "It’s your daily routine, your habits, your daily focus, you’re just taking in so much information that becomes experience.
"You start picking up patterns of that, and it helps calm you down. When you’re calmer, you see more. He works hard at it every day to absorb as much as he can, and then works to apply it."
Both Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen will be playing their second NHL games on Monday. It’s not fair to judge their play in that Devils game with the way their teammates performed.
After Friday’s Rochester Americans game against the Laval Rocket, head coach Seth Appert announced to the team those two were heading to the NHL. Kulich was stunned by the news.
"With 'Rosey', we were so surprised," said Kulich on Monday. "That was the best moment, and that’s always been the dream to play in the NHL."
Kulich knew why he was sent down after training camp. He didn’t have a good camp, and struggled in the preseason games. By all accounts, he’s already a better player.
"I had to improve on my [defensive] zone [play] and without the puck, because I just wanted to play in the offensive zone. But I knew I had to be better in the D-zone," Kulich said.
Kulich says the coaches were hard on both him and Rosen to be better in the defensive zone, and Kulich feels that’s why they are better.
Rosen agrees with his teammate, and thinks it’s worked for him.
"I'm playing a more complete game, and scoring more points too because I learned a lot last year," said Rosen on Monday.
Rosen and Kulich have become best friends, but they do push each other to be better players.
"It just comes naturally, I think," Rosen said. "We’re in the same spot, same age. We came over at the same time, and we push each other to be better every day, because we have the same goal and we want to reach it together."
The Rangers are the best team in the NHL, thanks to their recent streak of 13-1-1. Overall, they are 15-3-1, and have the best points percentage at .816.
The Rangers are ninth in the league in goal scoring, first in goals-against at 2.32, third on the power play at 30%, and seventh on the penalty kill at 85.7%.
New York is riding a 14 game-points streak against the Sabres, going 11-0-3, and are 14-2-3 in their last 19 games against them.
The Rangers are 12-2-1 when they score the first goal.
Jonathan Quick has shown that his career is far from over, although the Rangers are a very good defensive club. Quick is 6-0-1 this season with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Igor Shesterkin is 8-3-0 this year with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
It’s not shocking at all that Artemi Panarin is leading the Rangers in scoring with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 19 games.
Chris Kreider leads the Rangers with 13 goals scored this season.
Join Mike Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Granato, Kulich and Rosen.
Losi and Gangi
