Sabres’ Power Play Struggles Will Limit Playoff Potential

With an 0-for-5 performance in Game 3, the Sabres are now 0-for-14 on the series and 0-for-36 going back to the regular season. This is the kind of thing that cannot happen if you are a serious playoff team that expects to win more than a token game or two.

Zone entries have been abysmal. Though he has been a standout in the series, the over-reliance on Tage Thompson’s shot from the left hash has been obvious. Everything remains on the perimeter, where shots are either easily stopped by Jeremy Swayman or blocked outright. And their approach hasn’t changed since the start of the series.

A Larger Offensive Issue

The most concerning thing about the power play is that it is just a smaller part of a larger issue that has made life difficult for the Sabres. Despite offensive outbursts in both Game 1 and 2, the Sabres have been unable to generate much pressure in the middle of the ice.

Swayman has been good, but he hasn’t been otherworldly. Shots are largely kept on the fringes and, more often than not, he has a clear line of sight. A goalie at his level is going to stop 99% of those shots, especially in the playoffs.

The Sabres have had success when they create havoc in front, get in Swayman’s face, and make it difficult for him to track the puck. As physical as they have been, they need to inject some of that physicality to the front of the net and at least give Swayman something more to think about.

This Won’t Fly for Much Longer

The Sabres have taken a lead in the series for a couple of reasons. Their speed has allowed them to control the play, especially given the fact that they have mitigated the supposed physicality advantage that the Bruins had.

That said, they are an unlucky bounce or two away from being down 3-0 in this series. Late heroics have worked so far but the Sabres have squandered chance after chance after chance. If they convert even two of those chances, Games 1 and 3 may not have been so tight.

The Sabres may very likely walk out of this series with the win, but they won’t get much further if they can’t create consistent scoring chances. The good vibes will only carry them so far before the bottom falls out.