yahoo
The Buffalo Sabres have often needed to support their goaltenders this season, but they took that responsibility to new heights in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Buffalo recorded 30 blocked shots in the victory, a stark departure from their season average of 11.9 blocks per game, which ranked 28th in the NHL.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had endured a rough first month, entering the game with an .866 save percentage, a 3.56 goals-against average, and a .125 quality starts percentage. However, he faced fewer shots on net (29) than the Sabres blocked, and his 27 saves resulted in a .931 save percentage—one of his strongest performances of the year.
The takeaway for Buffalo is clear: getting in front of more opposing shots will make the netminder's job significantly easier.
Key Analysis
At 5-on-5, the Sabres' defensive numbers have been respectable. Their expected goals allowed (xGA) stood at 27.9, nearly a full goal better than the NHL average of 28.6. Their 26 actual goals allowed also beat the league average of 27. Buffalo limited scoring chances to 254, 31 fewer than the average of 285, and allowed just 82 high-danger chances compared to the league average of 100. However, they converted 8.9 percent of those high-danger chances into goals, just three-tenths of a percent worse than the league average of 8.6 percent.
Despite these strengths, invading scoring lanes had been a major issue. For one afternoon, they resolved it, allowing only two goals as a result. Considering Buffalo had allowed 46 goals in all situations heading into Saturday—ranking 22nd in the league—there is still clear room for defensive improvement.
The 30 blocked shots tie the Ottawa Senators for second-most in a single game this season, trailing only the Philadelphia Flyers, who recorded 32 blocks on October 1. While reaching that number again may be unlikely, the Sabres' season-long block total should begin to climb. The challenge will be maintaining that shot-blocking intensity against tougher opponents.
The Kings have struggled to score all season, managing just 34 goals heading into Saturday, which ranked 26th in the league. Their 5-on-5 numbers were even worse: an expected goals for (xGF) of just 22.7, with below-average scoring chances (241) and high-danger chances (92). So Buffalo wasn't facing a high-octane offense, but the Kings were the perfect opponent to start blocking shots. If the Sabres can replicate that effort against more dangerous teams, they will quickly climb the standings.
Originally reported by yahoo.