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On Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres dropped their second straight game to the New Jersey Devils in Prague. After falling 4-1 in their season opener on Friday, the Sabres looked to bounce back in a big way on Saturday and even their season record at 1-1. While the team held a brief lead in the second period, Buffalo wound up letting up two third-period goals, marking their second straight loss.
After finishing the 2023-24 NHL season with a record above .500, the team is looking to make their return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in over a decade. While GM Kevyn Adams went to work during the offseason overhauling the bottom six forward group, it may not have been enough to end their playoff drought.
Three major takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres' second-straight loss to the New Jersey Devils
#1: Moves to bolster the third and fourth lines paid off
While the team has lost two straight, it hasn't been because of the bottom six forward group, which was overhauled during the offseason. Specifically, the Buffalo Sabres fourth line, which consists of Beck Malenstyn, Sam Lafferty, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, has delivered.
Although the group spent a limited amount of time on the ice, it was able to make their presence felt and it's certainly a step in the right direction for Buffalo. In addition, over two games where there weren't many high points for the Sabres, it's worth noting that Kevyn Adams' offseason moves in regards to the bottom six unit appear to be promising.
#2: Team may regret decision to stand pat on the first line
While the acquisitions of Malenstyn, Lafferty, and Aube-Kubel added depth to the team's forward unit, the Sabres may regret standing pat on their starting line of JJ Peterka, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch.
While the group continues to develop as they approach the prime of their careers in upcoming years, the Buffalo Sabres may not wind up making their long-awaited return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Although playing time is crucial for development, if the team wants to return to the postseason this year, they may regret standing pat on the first line.
#3: Wasted opportunities on the Power Play
Last year, the Buffalo Sabres' power play was, quite literally, the worst in the NHL. So far this season, it appears as though little has been done to fix the group's issues. In the team's first game against the New Jersey Devils alone, the Sabres' power play unit squandered four opportunities to score.
While improving the power play unit may not turn the Sabres into Stanley Cup contenders, continuing to waste opportunities during man-advantages could give them a long season filled with frustrations.
