Sabres Do Not Need To Panic Going Into Game 4

It would be very easy for the Buffalo Sabres to start making excuses now and panic that they find themselves trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. However, if they want to find their way back in this series and make it as close as most of us expected, there are just a few adjustments to be made. Nothing drastic, just small tweaks to their game so they can get back to looking like the dominant team that had the confidence to run through the entire playoffs.

Change Up the Third Defensive Pair

It is just a simple fact that the Montreal Canadiens are a faster team than the Sabres. They have been running circles around them, and if they want to rein things in a little bit, running just their top four defenders is not a sustainable idea. They need to be able to use their third defensive pairing with more confidence, but when Logan Stanley and Conor Timmins cannot keep up with their foot speed, it makes things difficult. The Sabres need to make an adjustment to add one or more defensive options with some speed.

The simplest answer is to plug in Michael Kesselring, as he is the most experienced of the scratch group, and is definitely hungry to play. The Sabres could gamble with the likes of Zach Metsa, who had a solid regular season, but it would be less wise to put him in over a defender like Kesselring. If they took out Stanley and slotted in Kesselring, it would give Lindy Ruff some flexibility with his defensive pairings and allow him to spread out his top four a little more. Leaving the Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson pairing alone, he could pair Kesselring with Bowen Byram on the second pair, and Timmins with Owen Power on the third pair. This would allow the defenders with speed to keep up, and still have ice time spread out enough to keep everyone fresh.

Lock Down The Defensive Zone

The Canadiens have been running circles around the Sabres for nearly the entire series. The amount of time and space that they have been given is nothing short of extensive, and it is a big reason that they find themselves trailing. The Canadiens have averaged 30.7 shots per game, compared to the Sabres’ 24.3. Being outshot by that much of a margin is embarrassing for a team that was so good at defending in the regular season.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Canadiens are attacking with a purpose, and the Sabres refuse to adjust their strategy to try and lock them out of their zone. Their current philosophy of passive defensive play only lets the Canadiens set up and make the plays they want, and it removes a lot of the active defensive threats that the Sabres usually pose.

If the Sabres want to make it out of Game 4 alive, and possibly even tie up the series, then they need to ensure that the middle of their zone is locked down, that the Canadiens are forced to make errors when cycling on the perimeter, and that they are attacking the puck. Easier said than done when a team can move faster than you, yes, but they have shown that they can be positionally sound against fast teams before, and goaltender Alex Lyon has proven he can make the saves when he needs to. It is time to adjust and get back to what they are good at. Stop being so passive, and attack the puck carrier, and transition up ice.

Keep Things Simple, Don’t Panic

Alex Tuch said it perfectly after they dropped Game 2 and the series was tied 1-1, “…That’s why it’s a seven game series”. It is only Game 4, and they are one win away from tying things up 2-2, and being able to take that winning momentum back home to KeyBank Center just a few days after. They have found themselves in difficult situations all season long and have found ways to adjust their strategies and get out of losing streaks and tight spots before. They need to avoid letting emotions get the best of them, lean on each other to keep their morale high, and not panic just because the series is no longer in their favor.

Going in, it was widely speculated that these teams were fairly evenly matched, but it has become clear that the Canadiens are outclassing the Sabres in nearly every metric of the game except hitting. It is time for them to get back to the basics that helped them be the dominant team that they were in the regular season, and they will find a way to pull out a win in this series. Focus on possession, win some more faceoffs, get the power play going, lock down the defensive zone, and use the defensive momentum that they have to generate offensive pressure.

The Sabres have shown that when they try, they can keep up with the Canadiens, and even outwork them. They just have to want it more now. Show some fight. Get in the game sooner than the third period, and things will work out well. This is no time to panic. This is the time to buckle down and tie up this series.