Speculation: Let's Talk About... Penalty Killing

[Jim Bob]

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At 36.5%, the Sabres have the worst SH FO% in the NHL.

They do not have Home/Away splits. But, another thing that is really interesting is that they are significantly better with regards to FO% on the PP (53.8%).

And Dylan Cozens is the microcosm for that variability. He leads the Sabres in faceoffs taken at ES, on the PP, and on the PK. He is winning 48.7% of draws at ES, 57.3% of draws on the PP, and 44.9% of draws on the PK.

I would love to see why that is. I wonder if it is just that he faces much better faceoff guys on the PK than on the PP?

 

[TehDoak]

It's the player make up and coaching.

#1. We are terrible at faceoffs. Losing possession on a PK extends the PP opportunity.
#2. Too many one dimensional forwards.
#3. Giving key PK minutes to the kids. After Samuelsson, our 2nd highest TOI PK D-man is Joker. Highest forward in TOI per game is Cozens.

It's why I've banged the drum so hard for a 2 way center that can win a faceoff and help the PK. It was a need last year, it was a need this summer, and its a need now.

 

[Jacob582]

Per Duff the Sabres have the number 1 road PK over the last 15 games (since the losing streak) at 84.8%

 

[old kummelweck]

From last night: Simply clear/icing pucks when you win possession.

 

[Chainshot]

Bumping this back up rather than in the roster thread-

They have structural issues. Are they playing a 1-3? A box? A 1-2-1? Why is it that so often they have a defenseman sucked into space rather than by the net where the opposition already is outmanning their partner?

They worked the kids in for a bit, but that's noticeably not happened in about a month. The talk about having a settle defense pair of forwards who are the primary guys to start the in-zone kill and then a pair of disruptive guys to press on the next part of the kill is way beyond the specialization of this group.

Yes, they aren't great at faceoffs but that alone is not going to solve structure and personnel issues. I'd put that into a "nice to have" rather than a major factor.

And Wolford's work with the defensemen... they do know that they can look around at someone who doesn't have the puck right? That the back post play is coming because their stick detail is bad down low so the lane is often there AND no one is aware of the guy coming in at the same time? They lose their position on the ice while mesmerized by the puck - Fitz was the poster child for this, but it's something that afflicts all of them at times.

Whoever their coach is on this unit should be fired into the sun. Full stop.

 

[Zman5778]

Bumping this back up rather than in the roster thread-

They have structural issues. Are they playing a 1-3? A box? A 1-2-1? Why is it that so often they have a defenseman sucked into space rather than by the net where the opposition already is outmanning their partner?

Whoever their coach is on this unit should be fired into the sun. Full stop.

There is no structure. They really look like they have no idea what they're doing......nor do they have any idea about what they SHOULD be doing.

Donnie needs to completely overhaul his assistant coaching roster. And you're absolutely right that it starts with whoever is running our special teams.....with Wolford right behind.