The Buffalo Sabres’ season came to an abrupt end when Alex Newhook scored the Game 7 overtime goal to bring the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Buffalo’s season is over, but it was a year of triumph and memories that will stick with the Sabrehood.
In the playoffs, some players stood out, while others fell short of meeting their expectations.
Zach Benson, Buffalo’s Playoff Engine
Throughout the playoffs, Zach Benson was consistently the hardest-working player on the ice.
Benson plays all kinds of roles for the Sabres. He excels as an offensive weapon, but also thrives being a rat who can get under the other team’s skin. In the playoffs, Benson recorded five goals, which tied with Tage Thompson for the most on the team. He also led the team with a plus/minus of six.
Benson showed flashes during the regular season. In the playoffs, he established himself as one of the team’s best players. When Buffalo needed someone to step up, Benson was the guy. His playoff efforts earned him a promotion to the first line. A big contract extension could follow.
Lindy Ruff Made All the Right Calls
Head coach Lindy Ruff’s track record speaks for itself. But this playoff run showed just how instrumental he was in snapping Buffalo’s 14-year playoff drought. Every decision Ruff made during the playoffs was the right one.
He changed up the starting goaltender multiple times, and every time he did, it ended up working in his favor. In Game 6 against Montreal, Alex Lyon allowed three goals on just four shots before Ruff pulled him in the first period. After that, Buffalo would go on to outscore the Habs, 7-0.
He also made several lineup changes that improved the team. One of his best decisions also came in the second round, when he inserted rookie Konsta Helenius into the lineup. Helenius quickly became an important part of the Buffalo Sabres’ late success.
Additionally, when the first line wasn’t living up to expectations, Ruff moved Benson and Josh Norris on a line with Thompson. In their first game together, they combined for seven points, which carried the Sabres to victory.
Ruff’s postseason performance landed him a two-year contract extension. Without this playoff run, that deal does not happen.
Goaltending Let Buffalo Down When It Mattered Most
In the regular season, the Sabres’ goaltenders played a key role in getting the team to the playoffs. However, when the playoffs began, both Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen were inconsistent and off their game.
Both goaltenders had their good moments, but the inconsistency is what led to the team’s demise. Luukkonen’s save percentage was .876, and his goals against average was 3.18, which are extremely poor numbers, especially in the postseason. Lyon’s numbers were somewhat better, finishing with a .904 save percentage and a 2.59 GAA, but still not ideal.
If Lyon played the way he did against the Boston Bruins in the Montreal series, Buffalo would probably still be playing. Erratic goaltending is simply not sustainable in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Alex Tuch May Have Played His Way Out of Buffalo
To say Alex Tuch’s performance in the playoffs was disappointing is an understatement. Since arriving in Buffalo, Tuch has been one of the team’s most important players, which made expectations high.
Tuch failed miserably to meet those expectations, recording zero points and a plus/minus of negative eight in the second round, even though he was top five on the team in time on ice. This led to him being removed from the first line.
Not only did Tuch hurt the team, but he hurt himself. He’s set to become a free agent at the end of the season and has been in contract negotiations with the Sabres all season. It’s safe to say he lost millions of dollars during the playoffs, as it is unlikely Buffalo pays him what he’s asking for. His poor performance in the playoffs may have been his last performance with the blue and gold.
If Tuch had been able to play the way he has his whole Sabres career, Buffalo would have had a much stronger chance of defeating the Canadiens.
Nonetheless, the drought is over. Regardless of how the postseason ended, the Sabres proved they are a team built to be back.
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