After a long decade plus a few years, it finally looks like Sabres hockey may be on the right path.
Dare I say the warpath?
By the Numbers đ
Record: 4-1-0 (8 points) | Division: 3rd | League: 7th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 51.5% (12th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 68.9% (3rd in the NHL)
Quick Hits
Henri Jokiharju has been placed on the injured reserve
Mattias Samuelsson is expected to be out âat least a few weeksâ with an injury according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News
Kale Clague has been re-called from the Rochester Americans
Hot Goaltending = Hot Start
I stumbled upon this chart from Micah Blake McCurdy on Twitter and I could not believe my eyes. The Buffalo Sabres, yes those Buffalo Sabres, have been getting the best goaltending in the NHL in terms of Goals Saved Above Expected and it has earned them a few extra points in the standings:
Heading into the season, their goaltending looked likeâŚsomething. The simplified description of their goaltending duo was a 41-year-old veteran and a 27-year-old goalie with only 28 NHL games to his name. Certainly not a group that instilled much confidence, especially after a mediocre preseason.
The duo of Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie has been borderline dominant some nights and two of their four wins (Ottawa and Edmonton) likely would not have been had without an outstanding performance from the net.
The biggest question with a hot start is sustainability. Will this level of goaltending the Sabres are currently receiving be sustainable over an 82-game season? Well, the quick answer is no.
According to MoneyPuck, the Buffalo Sabres goaltenders have been giving them 1.36 GSAx/60 (Goals Saved Above Expected per 60). Last seasonâs Vezina Trophy winner and Hart Trophy finalist, Igor Shesterkin, had a 0.66 GSAx/60. So do not expect the Sabres goaltending to be this good for the entire season.
But the question is not really whether or not they can keep up this current rate of puck-stopping, but rather can they just be good? I know goalies are voodoo, but the current start from the Comrie/Anderson duo is very promising for at least an average goaltending season if healthy, probably even a good one.
The Season of Dahlin
What a week it was for Rasmus Dahlin. He had a start for the record books, scoring a goal in 4 consecutive games to open the season, a feat that no other NHL defenseman has ever accomplished. Oh and then he decided to make that a goal in 5 consecutive games after this bounce against Vancouver:
Rasmus Dahlin wasnât done against Vancouver, he had to seal the deal with this very slick pass that found Victor Olofsson for the goal:
And then he was named the NHLâs 1st Star of the Week on Monday:
Down on the Farm: Amerks win two of the three, the veterans shine
The Rochester Americans have played three games since the last edition of The Charge, topping the Belleville Senators in one game and splitting the decision with the Syracuse Crunch in the other two.
Linus Weissbach was one of the Amerksâ key offensive players this weekend, recording 4 points in his last 2 games:
Prospects Update: Ăstlund heating up, Savoie stays productive
The Sabres' 16th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft had a bit of a slower start to his 2022/23 Allsvenskan season, only recording 3 points in his first 8 games. But the points are finally starting to show up for Ăstlund with 3 in his last 2 games.
Letâs talk about another one of the Sabresâ 2022 1st round picks, Matt Savoie. His was held off the scoresheet in his last WHL game, ending a 7-game point streak and a 5-game goal streak. Savoie has been putting the puck in the back of the net, heâs on pace for 40 goals over 64 games this season:
Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Seattle Kraken, 10/25/22, 10 PM ET
The squad looks to complete a âSabres After Darkâ sweep with a win tonight on their first western road trip of the season.
Taking a look at the Sabresâ money line odds on BetStamp, despite the 4-1 start, theyâre still underdogs across the board as they head to Seattle on the road.
The best value to place a bet would be on Wynnbet, where you can take their ML for +110.
Kraken by the Numbers đ
Record: 2-3-2 (6 points) | Division: 4th | League: 24th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 55.7% (9th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 48.2% (17th in the NHL)
Scouting the Kraken
Bad Goaltending: we just talked about how great the Sabres goaltending has been this season. The Kraken have not gotten that same luxury with 27 goals against on only 18.8 expected goals against
Improved 5v5 Play: the Kraken are not the Golden Knights 2.0, it may take them a bit longer to improve as a team. However, there are some encouraging signs at 5v5 (like a 55.7 xGF% this season) that has been drowned out by some poor goaltending
Players to Watch
Kale Clague/Lawrence Pilut (BUF): one of these players will get the nod as the Sabres 6th defenseman tonight and it will be interesting to see how they hold up. Clague had a rough season for Montreal and Los Angeles in 2021/22 and Pilut has not played in an NHL game since the 2019/20 season
Matty Beniers (SEA): the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft after Owen Power. Beniers has put together a solid season so far with 5 points in 7 games played. Just a smart, well-rounded hockey player