MONTREAL – In their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres’ top three centers – Tage Thompson, Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod – have combined to score just three goals and seven points in five games.
The pivots’ total rating, minus-12, is “led” by Thompson’s awful minus-9.
No wonder the Sabres, who trail the best-of-seven series 3-2, must win Game 6 tonight at the Bell Centre to prolong their season.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who recently moved McLeod to the fourth line when he inserted rookie Konsta Helenius, hasn’t lost faith in his centers.
“You get in a game like this, you have to believe in them,” Ruff said this morning in the 4 Seasons Hotel Montreal. “We got in Game 6 (in the first round in Boston), and I thought our centers really played a great game, and we got to go to go back in trusting what we’re doing and operating a high level.”
It doesn’t sound like Ruff is pondering any big lineup moves following Thursday’s 6-3 home loss. While he wouldn’t name his starting goalie, Alex Lyon, who replaced Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Game 5, will likely earn the nod.
Meanwhile, Ruff said defenseman Owen Power, who briefly left Thursday’s game after sliding into the end boards, has a chance to play.
If the Sabres struggle early tonight, expect Ruff to try mix up his lines and combos.
“If we’re not generating or we’re giving up too much, I think you automatically got to look at changes,” he said. “We’ve sat for a day and a half talking about a plan A and a plan B, and I think you have to have that in your pocket the whole time.”
The Sabres did not skate on Friday or this morning. Seven months and 92 games into the season, Ruff, who wants to take the pressure off his young group, said it’s not worth practicing.
“When you hit the rink, it’s game time,” he said. “This time of year, you don’t need to skate.”