The Sabres season is, well, let’s just say it’s going. After a tumultuous week of false-positive COVID tests, a goalie suspension, and a defenseman at forward, the Sabres look to bounce back with another W on their west coast trip.
By the Numbers 📊
Record: 14-23-7 (35 points) | Division: 6th | League: 27th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 44.3% (30th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 44.1% (25th in the NHL)
The top line that just works
The Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch combo in Buffalo has just been fun. On a team that has been yearning for any type of offensive production, these wingers have fulfilled that need regardless of who the center on that line happens to be.
The duo has skated together for 98 5v5 minutes. 60 of those minutes have come with Tage Thompson down the middle, creating a line that has a respectable 49.1 xGF% on a bad team.
However, the real magic has come in their (very small, albeit impressive) 30-minute sample with Dylan Cozens down the middle. That line has outscored opponents 4-0!
They also have the best 5v5 xGF% (63.6%) of any Sabres line with at least 30 minutes of ice time (via MoneyPuck):
We can just take a quick glance at this heat map from HockeyViz to see the obscene amount of danger that line has created:
4.24 xGF/60 at 5v5 is very impressive on a team that is rocking a 1.99 xGF/60 (!) at 5v5 on the season.
Will this line be running this red hot forever? Probably not. Will this be the top line for the next 5 years? No, probably not. They have, however, deserved a much longer look together. This trio could provide a huge boost to Dylan Cozens’ development.
Just keep that line out there as long as they keep getting to the dirty areas like this:
Don’t mess with Okposo
The fans that love to see a good fight and some fiery attitudes every once in a while probably loved seeing Kyle Okposo go after Logan O’Connor during Sunday’s night game vs. the Avs:
Even the ref wanted no part of having to break that thing up:
I was surprised to find out that the fight was actually Kyle Okposo’s 5th of his NHL career. The last coming against Tony DeAngelo in 2019 and the first coming against Matt Niskanen in 2013.
Craig Anderson Appreciation Post
Let’s talk about Craig Anderson. 40 years old, bouncing back from an injury with a multi-month recovery time, and tossed into a start vs. Arizona on Saturday due to some unforeseen circumstances.
He stopped 27 of 28 shots and only gave up 1 goal on 3.89 expected goals against. He really helped the Sabres earn that W and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish over the remainder of this season.
Prospects Update: Matteo Costantini impresses for North Dakota
Most remember Matteo Costantini as the player the Sabres selected directly from the Jr. Sabres’ OJHL program in the 2020 NHL Draft. However, you may have not heard much about him since.
He has quietly been piecing together an impressive freshman campaign over in Grand Forks, netting 15 points in 20 games for the University of North Dakota.
Costantini has recently moved up to the team’s top line which has been rolling over the past few games. He managed to pick up 4 assists in a 7-1 win against St. Cloud State on Friday.
Just check out this nice little feed from #18:
Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Vegas Golden Knights, 2/1/22
Sabres After Dark: Weekday Edition (a.k.a. battling to stay awake 10 minutes through the 1st period)
Golden Knights By The Numbers
Record: 26-16-3 (55 points) | Division: 1st | League: 12th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 51.9% (12th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 53.3% (12th in the NHL)
Scouting the Golden Knights
Fast and Furious: Vegas is a team that loves to push the pace on their breakouts and they have the talent to do so effectively. They have one of the top rush offenses in the NHL
High-Event: the Golden Knights create a good amount, but they also give up a decent amount defensively. Expect more of a high-event game than usual
Players to Watch
Alex Tuch (BUF): it’s going to be a homecoming game for the former Golden Knight. He played 315 games in a Vegas sweater and was always a fan favorite. Maybe he can continue his hot streak at his old home rink?
Mark Stone (VGK): just sit back, watch this guy play, and enjoy. He’s high-end on both ends of the ice and has finally gotten the respect he deserves around the league