The Buffalo Sabres, coming off an electric 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, don’t appear to be resting on the fact that they will be a postseason participant for the first time in 15 years. In a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division, the final four games of the season are shaping up to be a dog fight.
Though they had a rough stretch in the second period, the Sabres found a way to fight back and claim a critical two points from the New York Rangers. With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Sabres may already be shifting into playoff readiness.
Zach Benson Will Have a Major Impact in the Playoffs
One of the key factors in the comeback win over the Rangers was Zach Benson. Benson has taken a large step forward in terms of his level of importance to the Sabres this season, and he plays the kind of game that should make him even more dangerous in the playoffs.
He scored twice on Wednesday, deflecting a shot almost directly in the goalmouth from Rasmus Dahlin to make it 2-0 and then the empty-netter that sealed the deal late. His offensive production isn’t eye-popping, but it is steadily increasing, especially as his role grows.
Benson currently plays on a line with Josh Norris and Josh Doan but can play literally anywhere in the lineup. His ability to get into the dirty areas and to frustrate opponents will be invaluable in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if he starts scoring at a more pronounced clip when play becomes rougher and tougher.
Special Teams Have Been Concerning
The Sabres gave up a pair of power play goals in three opportunities against the Rangers on Wednesday. Granted, the Rangers are third in the NHL in power play conversion rate, but the Sabres had been a top 10 penalty killing outfit all season until lately.
Related: Sabres Have Clinched Their First Playoff Berth in 14 Seasons
In the last month, however, the penalty kill has struggled. Since Mar. 9, the Sabres are 21st in the league with a 76.1% kill rate. They are trending in the wrong direction at the wrong time, and it should definitely be an area of concern for the coaching staff.
Equally as concerning is the power play. At one point, it was a league average unit. Since Mar. 9, it is 27th in the NHL. The Sabres cannot and will not go far in the playoffs if both special teams units are failing to do their jobs.
A Critical Note About Goaltending
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been a lot better of late than he showed against the Rangers. He’s still the clear Game 1 starter. He allowed three goals on 20 shots against a subpar offensive team but there is a clear positive to take out of this performance.
For starters, he really wasn’t all that bad. Only the second goal by Alexis Lafreniere beat him on a clean look and it was just a great shot. But more importantly than that, he fought off a rough stretch in the second period, locked in, and helped the Sabres get the win.
“Good” goaltending doesn’t necessarily mean stopping 40 shots or turning in a shutout. It means doing what is necessary to help your team win. If that means locking in after a rough stretch, then that’s what it requires. Luukkonen has done that in spades and did it again on Wednesday night.
Kings of the Atlantic (For Now)
With three games remaining, the Sabres sit alone atop the Atlantic Division. The Lightning and Montreal Canadiens clash on Thursday. All three teams have a few tough games left and no margin for error if they want to claim the top spot.
This could very well come down to the second-to-last day of the season. The Sabres host the Dallas Stars while the Lightning host the Rangers. No matter how things shake out, it will be an incredible end to an incredible regular season for the Sabres.
