BUFFALO – Owen Power understands his offensive numbers hardly illustrate confidence or growth. The Sabres defenseman recently ended a 24-game goal drought. At his current pace, he would produce just 25 points this season, eight lower than his career-low total.
Power, 23, doesn’t get wrapped up in his statistics. He believes he has recently enjoyed the best stretch of his four-year career.
Meanwhile, the Sabres enter Thursday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, their final contest before the Olympic break, having earned an NHL-best 44 points since Dec. 9 (21-4-2).
It’s no coincidence Power’s emergence – the development of a young, high-end defenseman can take years – and one of the best two-month runs in franchise history have gone hand in hand.
“I definitely think it’s the best hockey I’ve played,” Power told the Times Herald following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “You look at the numbers, it probably doesn’t say that. But being out there, the feel I have, I feel like I’m playing better than I have in years prior. And when you’re winning, everyone looks a lot better.”
Power has looked rock solid most games, showcasing confidence, assertiveness and more physicality.
“He seems to have more emotion in his overall game,” said one scout who has watched Power this season. “I believe this helps his intensity in defending as well. He is maturing and definitely has all the tools in his toolbox to be a dominant player at the NHL level if (this) trend continues.”
It all starts with Power’s skating. When his feet are constantly moving, he transforms into a sturdier, more reliable player.
“I definitely feel more confident,” he said. “I think I’m using my feet a lot better (than) what I have, and with that, I think my defending comes a lot easier when I’m able to use my feet defending rather than just kind of using my stick.
“So I think that’s kind of been a big thing. I’ve been able to close guys quicker and have tighter gaps. When you do that, the game’s a lot easier.”
That movement also helps Power utilize his 6-foot-6, 226-pound frame more frequently – “When I use my feet, it’s way easier to be physical,” he said – instead getting caught reaching.
That, of course, can get Power into trouble. His lack of physicality often been a knock on him.
“But when I’m able to use my feet defending, I’m able to skate through guys, and obviously it turns out being more physical,” said Power, who has registered 26 hits in 55 games this season, as many as he had in 79 outings last year.
Power, the first overall pick in 2021, and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff want defense to be the foundation of his game. Everything can grow from that strong base.
“With any defenseman, it starts with playing well defensively … and you’re not getting scored against and you’re skating well and you’re getting the puck up the ice,” he said.
Ruff said he has told several of his defensemen “it’s not about getting points.” Offense will materialize as “a result of doing the right things.”
“Break the puck out, don’t spend a lot of time in your zone,” he said. “… If you spent too much time or you don’t break the puck up well, by the time you get out puck out of your zone, you’re changing.”
Ruff clearly trusts Power more than he did last season. His defensive-zone starts are up from 48.6 percent to a career-high 53.3.
In two of the last three games, he has led the Sabres in five-on-five ice time. Overall last month, he averaged 23 minutes per outing.
“He’s got his game in a good place,” Ruff said.
Power’s solid defending allows him to exit his zone and generate offense.
“What he’s done well is he’s been able to skate it out of the zone,” Ruff said. “He’s been able to (be) that guy that jumps up the wide side that helps be an outlet. I think his physicality down low where he’s eliminated people has been a lot better. There’s a lot of part of his game that have really gotten a lot better since the start of the year.”
In Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Power scored on a delayed penalty, his first goal since Dec. 8.
In recent weeks, he has often zoomed in from his point position or attacked on the rush, sometimes looking like a forward.
While he hasn’t seen much of an uptick in production – he has registered four goals and 17 points this season – he knows he’s doing the right things to score.
“I’ve been creating a lot, but the puck hasn’t gone in for me,” Power said. “So to me, when you’re getting chances, you’re getting looks, you don’t really worry about it too much. It’s the times when you’re kind of doing nothing offensively where you got to look into it a little bit more.”
Owen Power scores on a delayed penalty and extra skater on the ice, 1-1 #LetsGoBuffalo #Sabrehood #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/xvaoTDCeOP
— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) February 1, 2026