Why Can't This Team Score?

[GASabresIUFAN]

Seriously, Why?

[Randall Flagg]

The current top six:

Moulson - ROR - Okposo

Foligno - Larsson - Gionta

 

Looking at the top line, we have ROR who has intense minutes against top opponents and has 8 points in 12 games, which is his usual pace. Okposo has 5 goals and 8 points in 13, around where I expect him as well. Those two have performed up to expectations. Moulson has 4 goals and 1 assist, which may be in line with the worst player on a top line on an average team. 

Line two is a defensive specialist line. Nobody on this line has or is relied on for offensive skill, but they've been as productive as you want a bottom six line. They're getting defensive minutes too.

Then we have:
Ennis - Reinhart - Girgensons

This is a line consisting of a player who didn't play last season and is still trying to remember how, a 2nd year player that can't yet elevate the play of those around him unless they're already very good, and a guy whose hands turned to stone and can't stay on his feet. Ideally when everyone is healthy these guys are spread out with more talented players, but they're taking situations that the Larsson line should be thriving with and doing a very poor job with producing, though their possession hasn't been bad by my eye. They're all snakebit at the same time and aren't gelling much. 

 

Lastly, a mix of Des/Grant/Baptiste/Schneider/Bailey. There are like 5 career goals spread between these guys. 

Looking at the whole thing, we have 2/3rds of a decent top line, a third line, and a bottom six consisting of maligned players and people who've never scored in their life, which sum to give no depth scoring whatsoever. 

Then half of our defense has no points, and we've scored no goals from our defense yet this season, which is weird given Daniel's perimeter strategy. Perhaps no one is getting to the front of the net to screen?

 

Injuries need to get better and we need to see what we have offensively then.

[Hank]

The reinhart line cycles the puck really well imo, I like that. The more time spent in the opponents zone while the top line is resting the better.

[GASabresIUFAN]

So basically we have 2.5 players at forward who can score, our D doesn't activate and create any offense. Pitiful.

[Randall Flagg]

The reinhart line cycles the puck really well imo, I like that. The more time spent in the opponents zone while the top line is resting the better.

I agree, but the combined 4 goals between those guys through 13 games is part of the reason why we are near or at dead last in the NHL in goal scoring

So basically we have 2.5 players at forward who can score, our D doesn't activate and create any offense. Pitiful.

Yes. Luckily, Risto/McCabe/Kulikov are activating more now than at the start, theoretically almost every Sabre should start producing at a higher rate, Eichel's return comes closer each day.

 

We aren't yet built to be an offensive juggernaut, but we are not a bottom-5 goal scoring team when healthy, IMO.

[PromoTheRobot]

And why do we suck at shootouts?

[pi2000]

And why do we suck at shootouts?

Same reason, and Lehner is not good at stopping them. Consider Sabres players practice shootouts on Lehner. That means Lehner is facing tougher competition than he faces in practice, and the Sabres players face tougher goaltending than what they see in practice.

[inkman]

Because the Sabres only shoot directly at goalies. :wallbash:

[kishoph]

Not having a single goal from the backliners certainly doesn't help.

Even though he hasn't really contributed yet, having Ennis out for weeks now isn't going to help either.

Edited November 11, 2016 by kishoph

[PASabreFan]

Taking a much wider view, in consideration of the fact this same thread has always been pinned on the Overlook Hotel forum, this is a small market and offensive talent costs money to acquire and retain. See Devils, New Jersey. Scoring goals costs money, and if the fans will show up for 2-1 losses and an occasional 3-2 win, that's great. Now, this has not always been true, but generally it has been. No reason for this attitude to exist with Pegula as owner; it's more of a carryover at this point. Retaining Ruff and eventually landing on Bylsma hasn't helped. Throw in the state of the game and it is what it is. Enjoy!

[SwampD]

Luckily, we're 4th in GA/G. That sure makes for some exciting hockey. Ugh.

[bob_sauve28]

It's because ROR and Samson are not playing together, IMO

[TrueBlueGED]

Well, losing our best offensive player is certainly a part of it. Though O'Reilly, Okposo, and Reinhart are quality offensive players, they can't make something out of nothing the way Jack can. So we're left needing to manufacture offense structurally, but the structure installed by the coach isn't designed to do that. So here we sit.

[darksabre]

Well, losing our best offensive player is certainly a part of it. Though O'Reilly, Okposo, and Reinhart are quality offensive players, they can't make something out of nothing the way Jack can. So we're left needing to manufacture offense structurally, but the structure installed by the coach isn't designed to do that. So here we sit.

You mean I can't just stuff my offense under the mattress and it'll grow into wins? Possession = value right? 

[TrueBlueGED]

You mean I can't just stuff my offense under the mattress and it'll grow into wins? Possession = value right?

Shocking, right? Maybe what Bylsma is doing is the best way for this roster to win (that's an argument I disagree with, but it's for another thread), but I don't think anyone can reasonably argue his approach is conducive to the generation of offense.

[wjag]

No blueline scoring is the culprit.  Why, they shoot into skates.

[Jacque Richard]

The head coach

[pastajoe]

There's a lack of team speed which results in not winning the dump in battle, so there's a lack of consistent offensive cycling. Kane is the only current forward that gets in quick on the opponent's D. Eichel has the speed, but also the ability to carry in and sustain control. Without him the opponent's top D can concentrate on the slower Sabres. The offensive revolves around Eichel.

[Kruppstahl]

Seriously, Why?

Not much in the way of scoring talent on the team.

 

Fairly simple really.

There's a lack of team speed which results in not winning the dump in battle, so there's a lack of consistent offensive cycling. Kane is the only current forward that gets in quick on the opponent's D. Eichel has the speed, but also the ability to carry in and sustain control. Without him the opponent's top D can concentrate on the slower Sabres. The offensive revolves around Eichel.

Our transition game is horrible and the D to F gaps have been huge all season, which hurts the breakout.

 

No speed as you mention through neutral ice and the attack never gets going a lot of the time.

 

Once it does, we have very few finishers on the roster.

 

Add in the fact that our talent level is greatly overinflated by many posters here (normal for most fan bases) and you can see why our 5 on 5 scoring is pathetic.

[Jsixspd]

And why do we suck at shootouts?

Lehner's shoot out stats over the past 4 seasons are not good at all.   He's well below average in that regard.   So, the team needs to win in regulation or OT and keep the game from shoot outs; especially when we have a team with mostly poor shots.    Lehner's poor shoot out record is definitely a liability.  

Because the Sabres only shoot directly at goalies. :wallbash:

A friend of mine calls them "The Buffalo Belly Shooters"  because he jokes they aim directly at the numbers on the goalie's jersey;  like they'll shoot so hard they'll knock the goalie backwards into the net. 

[inkman]

A friend of mine calls them "The Buffalo Belly Shooters" because he jokes they aim directly at the numbers on the goalie's jersey; like they'll shoot so hard they'll knock the goalie backwards into the net.

Is he joking? Many posters here seem to think the players are actually aiming at the goalie.

[Jsixspd]

 

Then half of our defense has no points, and we've scored no goals from our defense yet this season, which is weird given Daniel's perimeter strategy. Perhaps no one is getting to the front of the net to screen?

 

 

 14 total points in 14 games.  Take away Risto, and the remaining D players have a total of 6 points scored.    That is just pathetic.   Brent Burns of San Jose already has 13 points by himself.  Ottawa's Karlsson - 12 pts.  Chicago's Keith - 12 pts.     Those 3 guys each have 2x the points of the bulk of the Sabres' D. 

 

Gorges' stats sucked last year,  but he's on a pace for an even worse season this year.  I can't stand to see him out there on the ice - to me he's like the Leino of D-men.  $4 million a year for very little.  

Edited November 12, 2016 by Jsixspd

[GASabresIUFAN]

Something is simply wrong with this team. Losing Eichel shouldn't stop an entire team from scoring. After reading everyone's comments, and watching the last few games, I've reached some conclusions.

1) Even with Risto, we don't really have a true puck moving D to QB the offense. We needed to acquire Fowler in the off-season and we need someone like him sooner then later.

2) we have no real snipers besides Moulson and his lack of speed makes him only effective on the PP. Kane, in theory has the skill set, but he can't hit the net; the goalies pads yes, but not the net. Maybe Eichel is that guy. Maybe.

3) We also don't have a pure playmaker. Most of our top talent are really balanced players, guys who really are 20g, 30a guys, but no one who is pass first and makes his teammates more effective. My biggest disappointment so far is Reinhart. I expected another step forward with or with Eichel. He has supposed to be the playmaker, is his lack of top end speed the problem.

 

So how do we fix this? I'm not sure, but I think the first step is to find a puck moving D.

[Jsixspd]

I don't think Kane can be fixed.  He's a seven year veteran hockey player.  He is what he is;  poor scoring skills, poor decision making.    What you see is what you get.  

[inkman]

I don't think Kane can be fixed. He's a seven year veteran hockey player. He is what he is; poor scoring skills, poor decision making. What you see is what you get.

Yeah I thought this was the consensus. Skates, hits, shoots. Little else.