Power play
The Sabres’ power play has been poor, ranking 31st in the league for shot quality and 29th for goals per 60 minutes. Their finishing rate dropped from 4th in the league to 29th.
Goal scoring
The Sabres have 20 fewer expected goals at 5-on-5 compared to last season. They also have a significant drop in shooting percentage of unblocked shots.
Penalty kill
The Sabres’ penalty kill allowed 16% greater expected goals than the league average.
Injuries
Injuries to Zach Benson and JJ Peterka have affected their top six.
Roster
The roster wasn’t bolstered this summer, and it may take time for the players to gel with each other and Lindy Ruff.
Playoffs
The Sabres missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season, tying the league record for the longest active post-season appearance drought.