The Buffalo Sabres' remarkable and historic winning streak has finally concluded, shifting the team's narrative from record-chasing to urgent problem-solving. The most glaring issue now demanding attention is an ice-cold power play unit that has become a significant liability for the team.
Power Play in Deep Freeze: The Core Problem
The statistics reveal a shocking decline. The Sabres' power play has managed to score only three times in its last 27 opportunities. This inefficiency has played a major role in halting their momentum. The situation has deteriorated to the point where the team has failed to score with the man advantage in six consecutive games, indicating a systemic failure beyond mere bad luck.
Head coach Lindy Ruff has openly acknowledged that changes are imminent. The upcoming return of forward Jason Zucker from injury, suffered on December 8, is seen as a potential catalyst. Zucker, despite playing only 21 games this season, surprisingly leads the team with five power-play goals. He was in exceptional form before his injury, scoring a power-play goal in three straight games.
"We will look at it now that Zucks will be ready to go back in the lineup," Ruff stated after a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. "He was good on the power plays, good around the front, and could be the piece missing for us."
Current Combinations Failing to Deliver
However, simply inserting Zucker back into the lineup is not a magic solution. The current power play structure has fundamentally broken down. The primary unit since Zucker's absence—featuring Josh Doan, Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Zach Benson, and Rasmus Dahlin—has failed to generate consistent offensive threat. The secondary unit of Alex Tuch, Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram has been even less effective.
One necessary adjustment appears to be moving Josh Norris down to the second unit. While Norris has a proven track record, including 23 power-play points in the 2021-22 season, young gun Zach Benson has recently been Buffalo's most productive player with the extra man. Over the past ten games, Benson is the only Sabre with multiple power-play points, recording one goal and one assist.
Overhaul Needed for the Second Unit
The second unit requires a more drastic overhaul. Ryan McLeod has struggled immensely, registering just a single shot and zero scoring chances despite receiving substantial ice time. Analytics from Natural Stat Trick show McLeod has the team's sixth-most power-play minutes in the last ten games but has produced nothing with that opportunity.
This opens the door for giving a prospect like Noah Ostlund a chance. Ostlund has limited NHL power-play experience (just over 27 minutes this season) but scored once and was effective in the AHL last season. Furthermore, the Sabres should reconsider using two defensemen on this unit. While Bowen Byram has outperformed Owen Power lately, shifting to a single-defenseman setup would allow for an additional forward who can create scoring chances.
In conclusion, while Jason Zucker's return provides a welcome boost and a proven weapon, it is merely a first step. The Buffalo Sabres require a comprehensive restructuring of their power play philosophy and personnel combinations to reignite their offense and get their season back on a winning track. The end of the streak has exposed critical flaws that must be fixed immediately.
