Greenway’s Role Expanding to Powerplay

Jordan Greenway has shown the ability to contribute at even-strength and on the penalty kill this season. His latest venture – becoming a presence on the powerplay – is just one more thing the 6’6″ forward can add to his resume.

In practice on Friday, Greenway worked primarily in the bumper role on a powerplay unit that included Alex Tuch net front, JJ Peterka and Casey Mittelstadt on the flanks, and Owen Power up top. The fluidity and puck movement looked in sync, almost like Greenway was set in the role all season.

“It’s his situational awareness combined with experience,” head coach Don Granato stated after practice. “You put him in the bumper spot on the powerplay, he knows exactly the key attributes a bumper needs to do.”

Granato went on to say that although there’s been more opportunity than in the past, it wasn’t for lack of trust. “He’s a role model for everybody on the team really…my trust in him has not grown, it’s been what it is. The trust has always been there because of those things.”

Other News and Notes From Practice

• The forward lines the last two days have remained the same as Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars. This most notably means that Kyle Okposo remains on the right wing beside Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson. Here’s how they lined up:

Jeff Skinner – Tage Thompson – Kyle Okposo

Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – JJ Peterka

Jordan Greenway – Casey Mittelstadt – Alex Tuch

Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Eric Robinson/Victor Olofsson

Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju

Owen Power – Connor Clifton

Ryan Johnson – Erik Johnson

Jacob Bryson (Rotated in)

• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen garnered the majority of the starter’s reps at practice. Meaning, he will likely be in net for tomorrow’s matinee against the St. Louis Blues. Luukkonen’s performance last game has vaulted him to third in the league in goals-saved above expected since the turn of the new year per Evolving-Hockey. He only trails Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner and St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington in that time.

Must Read: Luukkonen Tops Sabres Grades Again

• Speaking of the Blues, Granato stressed that when they’re evaluating a team, they focus on the characteristics of top players. “They’ve always been an exceptionally skilled transition team,” the coach explained. In reference to the Sabres’ last matchup against the team, Granato continued, “you let your guard down against a team that can execute specifically on the transition like they do, that was a mistake.”
• Tomorrow’s game at KeyBank Center will be nationally televised, as it is set to air at 1 pm on ABC and stream live on ESPN+. It will be the first of two ABC games aired Saturday. Bob Wischusen and A.J. Mleczko will be on the call.