Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have strung together a three-game point streak over the past week, as the continue to find themselves following a slower start to the regular season.
As the Sabres approach the 30-game mark this season, the team has had struggles stringing together consistent enough play. However, some strong play in wins over the Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes, as well as a shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens is potentially enough to start helping Buffalo put together a run to return to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
It won't be easy, though, in the coming few games, as the Sabres get ready to embark on a Western Conference road trip that will see them play the Colorado Avalanche, the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, and then the Coyotes again in Arizona.
Sabres head coach Don Granato joined the "Jeremy and Joe Show" for his weekly appearance on Tuesday. Granato feels his team has looked much better in recent games, playing with more urgency.
"Those three games, last night included, are a stark contrast to how we played starting with mindset, playing with urgency," said Granato with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase on WGR. "My challenge a few weeks ago to the team, I felt we were comfortable on a plateau and trying to stay on it. That would be the guys liking the spot they are, the role they have. What they have accomplished in the past has got to do a certain title or position, and you're almost working to preserve that, rather than try to climb to the next plateau. My message was, 'You're going to fall off, we're going to fall off this plateau if we don't start climbing.' You can't hang on to what you have. You've gotta go for more."
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Granato also spoke on the changes in the Sabres' style of play over the past year, and how that's affected their look on the ice and with the fancy stats off the ice. He believes the product will soon show through in both categories.
"We looked at the game and what we've done in a different way in a defensive manner, which again, will tighten you up naturally. You're hoping to push and get through that. I think we've gotten past that, and are better defensively," Granato said. "I don't really care what the numbers show right now, because you're throwing so many psychological things at them. It might not bear out for a while, but I believe it will."
The Sabres made a trade last Wednesday, acquiring forward Eric Robinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Robinson netted his first goal with the Sabres on Monday night against Arizona, and also notched two assists.
Granato feels Robinson brings a much needed skill set to this Sabres group.
"I think what you're seeing through two games, very straight lines. He's always going to the front of the net, fighting for space in front of the offensive net with the defenseman. Strong along the walls, hard to pinch on if you're exiting the zone, good size at 6-foot-2, strong 28-years-old," Granato said of Robinson. "I believe he's up there, so he's got a lot of experience in that role. That's kept him identifying his skill set within the context of a role in the situation. He's got a mature level of that. You pair him with Okposo in the absence of Girgensons, who we've missed dearly in that regard, now we could put a line out the last three games [that is] very consistent, straightforward, chip the puck in and grind it out, and wear on the other team a little."
Hear more from Granato's appearance during the "Jeremy and Joe Show" available in the player below:
