BUFFALO – Prior to Tuesday’s practice, the Sabres’ power-play units and coaching staff could be found across the street at LECOM Harborcenter working on the man advantage.
“I don’t know if that mock resistance by the coaches was any good, but I felt the speed coming at us was pretty good,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cracked.
When the regular session began at KeyBank Center, the Sabres focused on their power play for the first 43 minutes, this time with real penalty killers.
In losing their first two games this season to the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia, the Sabres’ power play went scoreless in six tries.
If that’s a harbinger for the season, the Sabres, of course, are in deep trouble. That’s why there’s so much urgency to fix it.
Last year, the power play converted at just a 16.6 percent clip, often getting outworked while finishing 29th in the 32-team NHL.
This season, the Sabres have a new coach, Ruff, and a new assistant running the man advantage, Seth Appert. Players need to adapt to different expectations and philosophies.
If the Sabres want to contend in the crowded Eastern Conference, they must get the power play humming like it was in 2022-23, when it ranked ninth overall (23.4 percent). In captain Rasmus Dahlin, center Tage Thompson, winger Alex Tuch and others, they possess the personnel to have potent units.
Right now, having lost wingers JJ Peterka (concussion) and Zach Benson (lower body) to injuries, they have two notable absences.
“(We’re) trying to generate a little bit more speed, get connected on the entries and, obviously, both units changed when both those guys went out,” said Ruff, whose Sabres host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. “So I thought we felt a little disconnected and we didn’t make the next play.”
In Saturday’s 3-1 loss, the Sabres utilized rookie Jiri Kulich, who possesses a wicked one-timer, and Peyton Krebs as replacements up front.
Ruff said New Jersey’s killers attacked the Sabres “with all-out pressure.” Tuesday’s work, including a morning meeting, “was to get them comfortable where if this is a unit, we’re going to use, that next play has to be automatic.”
Dahlin said in Prague, the Sabres possibly had trouble entering the zone against a stacked blue line because they tried too hard.
“Maybe sometimes you got to do the simple stuff and maybe work a little harder, even in the power play,” he said. “And saying that, we got some details we worked on today, and today was way better. It’s a process. We’re fine.”
Part of that process involves developing a mentality.
“First of all, you can’t be frustrated,” Dahlin said. “It’s part of it, and these two games (are) two good learners. We won’t do that same mistake again. We got to have a little bit more speed on the entries. That was our main focus, and then just keep it a little simple and finish our routes.
“Just small details, but overall, just not being frustrated.”
Krebs believes the power play has the right work ethic to succeed.
“It’s just the execution, finding that balance of making sure you’re fine on your details but not overworking at the same time, right?” he said. “I think Apps has done a good job of getting everyone on the same page and knowing where we got to be.
“As the days go on here and we get more consistent with it, you’ll see that the power play’s going to be great.”
On Tuesday, the top unit featured Dahlin, Thompson, defenseman Owen Power, center Dylan Cozens and winger Jason Zucker. The second unit featured Krebs, Kulich, Tuch, defenseman Bowen Byram and winger Jack Quinn. Tuch usually plays in the top group.
Tuesday’s practice marked the Sabres’ first time on the ice as a group since Saturday. After arriving home early Sunday morning, they had two days off as their bodies adjusted to a six-hour time difference. Ice, however, was available to players Monday.
Thompson said he felt a little jet-lagged for two days.
“You’re a little exhausted from the back to back in less than 24 (hours),” he said. “But we had a couple days off and now a really good skate today, so I think as a group we’re really happy with where we’re at.”
Dahlin and Krebs both said adapting to a time difference is easier on the way back.
“You get a good night’s sleep, wake up early, feel good,” Dahlin said. “So it’s been easy coming this way, for sure. So no excuses.”