Sabres know their defensive game must be better

San Jose, CA (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres are ranked 29th in the NHL with a 3.64 goals against. After Saturday's overtime loss in Washington against the Capitals, Josh Doan was as angry as I've seen him. He's getting tired of hearing everyone blame Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for all that's wrong with this team. Buffalo is also 27th in the league in penalty killing and 31st on the power play yet Lindy Ruff refuses to use his best power play player, Jason Zucker on the first unit.

On Saturday's postgame show Doan went on a mini rant. He said, "'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 and I think everyone in this room knows that we've let 'Upie' down and that's on us and 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 your goalie. A big reason is their best shot blocker, Conor Timmins has been out the whole season injured. Ruff said,

"Overall we've got to do a better job in shot lanes, 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 whether it's a defenseman not allowing that shot get to the net."

Tyson Kozak has always been a defense first 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. He said,

"It just comes down to buying into the system, staying committed to that system for a full 60 minutes. I think if we get away from our game, then pucks might end up in the back of our net, and last year we had a turning point in December where everybody bought into our team system and played the right way."

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 he 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,

"The goals will come, 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 and 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.'"

Ruff said Jiri Kulich is back in Buffalo in concussion protocol. He hasn't ruled him out from coming to California and playing.