San Jose, Calif. (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres are currently ranked 29th in the NHL with a 3.64 goals-against average. Buffalo is also 27th in the league in penalty killing this year, and 31st on the power play. However, head coach Lindy Ruff refuses to use his best power play player, Jason Zucker, on the first unit.
After Saturday's overtime loss in Washington against the Capitals, Sabres winger Josh Doan was as angry as I've seen him. He's getting tired of hearing everyone blame goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for all that's wrong with this team.
"'Upie's' been unbelievable. There's not much you can ask for on the goals-against tonight, and I think that's become a common theme that we've let him down," said Doan in a mini rant following Saturday's game. "I think everyone in this room knows we've let 'Upie' down, and that's on us. There's a reason that everyone in this room has faith in 'Upie'. We've all seen it, and I think we all owe him a huge apology right now."
After practice on Monday, Ruff was happy that Doan spoke out. The Sabres aren't blocking near as many shots as they did last season, which will always help out a goalie. A big reason is their best shot blocker, Conor Timmins, has been out the whole season injured.
"Overall, we've got to do a better job in shot lanes," said Ruff in San Jose. "It's an area we took a lot of pride in, and a lot of different players were giving us big blocks. Whether it's a forward going out, making sure they're in the lane with a defenseman, or whether it's a defenseman not allowing that shot get to the net."
Sabres forward Tyson Kozak has always been a defense-first type of player. That's what made him such a key part of the Rochester Americans' playoff runs that included a birth in the Eastern Conference Final.
"It just comes down to buying into the system, staying committed to that system for a full 60 minutes," said Kozak after Monday's practice. "I think if we get away from our game, then pucks might end up in the back of our net. Last year, we had a turning point in December where everybody bought into our team system and played the right way."
Sabres winger Zach Benson really upped his goal scoring late last season, and scored some big goals in the playoffs. This year in 11 games, he hasn't scored, but does have assists in 5-of-6 games, and has seven assists overall.
Benson was on the top line with Tage Thompson on Monday, and Ruff isn't worried about him one bit.
"The goals will come," he said. "You've got to keep doing the right thing. He's playing the right way, he's getting the opportunities. I think he's really played hard away from the puck. From the top of the circles down, he's been one of our best players. I even talked to him this morning about just keep doing the right thing.
"I've never really gone to a player unless they're not generating opportunities and said, 'You've got to score.'"
On the injury front, Ruff says forward Jiri Kulich is back in Buffalo in concussion protocol. However, he hasn't ruled him out from joining the team in California and playing, at some point.
Jiri Kulich is in concussion protocol
