Sabres Should Consider Benching Alex Tuch for Game 7

The Buffalo Sabres forced Game 7 in their action-packed series with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. The vibes were immaculate after posting eight goals in front of the opposing crowd and getting the Montreal Canadiens to try to take cheap shots to get something going.

Ahead of Monday’s Game 7, there may need to be a big decision made. Just a round ago, we were talking about how much more money Alex Tuch may have earned. Now, it feels like the right move may be to bench him ahead of Game 7.

This Isn’t an Indictment of His Overall Contributions

It should be said right off the bat that this isn’t some “get him outta there” kind of rant that you would hear a fan make. Tuch has been a crucial part of this team, and they would not be here without him, both for his regular season performance and how he did against the Boston Bruins in the first round.

That said, something is clearly off. Tuch has been almost completely non-existent aside from a chance here or there, like his breakaway in Game 6 that was turned aside by Jakub Dobes. To go from being one of the most vital players to being an afterthought isn’t soothing that just goes unnoticed.

He’s so good that having him in the lineup is a benefit in itself because he requires attention paid to him. That said, he just hasn’t been an effective part of the Sabres lineup at a time when they need him most.

The Performance Simply Isn’t There

One need look no further than his performance in this round against Montreal versus his performance against Boston. Against the latter, he was excellent. He scored in four of six games, had a point in five of them, and finished plus-eight. Simply put, he was a force in every sense.

In this series against Montreal, he has been invisible. Not only does he not have a single point in this series, but he is an absolutely horrifying minus-nine. The only positive you can look to is the fact that he is still shooting the puck, having 21 shots through 6 games.

Tuch’s style of play doesn’t help him in situations like this, either. He plays a smooth, almost effortless style that doesn’t jump out in the same way that a more frenetic player like Nathan MacKinnon would. So, when things aren’t going well, it can look like he’s simply coasting. Given his play this season, that seems unlikely. There aren’t any reports about an injury, but his performance gives that kind of feeling.

Sabres Finding Contributions for Fresh Blood

The Sabres have done well throughout these playoffs in finding fresh contributions. Noah Ostlund was excellent in the Boston series until getting injured. Alex Lyon came in and gave the Sabres an immediate boost after a tough start from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and vice versa. Konsta Helenius recently stepped into the lineup and has become a difference-maker.

Stick with what worked last game but with minor tweaks. Put Peyton Krebs alongside Ryan McLeod and Tage Thompson, for starters. If Sam Carrick can go, he plays in Krebs place on the fourth line. If not, Josh Dunne or Tyson Kozak work well between Beck Malenstyn and Jordan Greenway.

If Tuch really is hurt, this gives him a chance to heal. It also gives the Sabres lineup something different while allowing head coach Lindy Ruff to continue rolling four lines. It would normally be preferable to have a player like Tuch in there, but he just doesn’t have it in this series.

Do-or-Die

The Sabres could do a few more things to make life easier on themselves in Game 7, which could negate the negative impact Tuch has had without having to remove him from the lineup. That being said, they need everything they can get on home ice if they are going to move on.

Tuch has been incredible as a Sabre through some of the darkest times. He helped drag this team here. But it might be time for him to take a seat, figure things out, and cheer his teammates on in the biggest game for the franchise in 20 years.