Studs and Duds from Sabres Shootout Loss to Red Wings

The Buffalo Sabres earned a point, but the Detroit Red Wings handed them their seventh-straight loss by forcing overtime and winning a shootout, 6-5. The Sabres now find themselves one point out of the last place in the Eastern Conference. The tailspin is causing a huge mountain for Buffalo to climb, with seven teams between them and a playoff spot.

Zach Benson kicked off the scoring parade 1:38 into the game on a long wrister that beat Red Wings goalie Ville Husso clean. Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp responded to give Detroit the lead before Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker regained it for Buffalo in the first period.

Lucas Raymond tied the game up for the Red Wings early into the second. The Sabres responded again, this time on rookie goalie Sebastian Cossa, with goals from Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Zucker to reacquire the lead.

It was another blown lead in the third period for Buffalo, as Copp scored his second of the night and Moritz Seider tied the game with 4:28 remaining in the 3rd to force overtime.

The Sabres controlled the puck for most of the extra period, but the Red Wings kept them mostly to the outside. Dylan Larkin sealed the game in the third round of the shootout.

Sabres Grades

Last season, we implemented a grading system based on statistical computation. Letter grades are assigned to each player, taking into account the following factors:

• Production
• Quality of offense
• Quality of defense
• Volume of offense
• Volume of defense
• Powerplay performance
• Penalty kill performance
• Penalties drawn and taken
• Role
• Minutes played

This is an unbiased way to determine how each Sabres player performed against the Red Wings. Here’s the grading scale, for reference:

Studs

There were two Sabres who really stood out above the rest. With all four lines contributing to the scoresheet, the production scores were generally higher than normal across the board. Some played a more well-rounded game, including the two “stud” performances.

Jason Zucker

Grade: B

Production: B+

Offense: B

Defense: C+

Powerplay: A-

Penalty Kill: N/A

Jason Zucker was Buffalo’s best player against Detroit, registering two goals and an assist. He set up Thompson’s goal during a shift immediately following a penalty kill. His two goals were products of possessing the puck at the end of long shifts.

Zucker’s been the highlight offseason acquisition for Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. In a season where management isn’t providing many solutions, the veteran winger has been a consistent force and a calming presence.

Related: Sabres GM Adams’ Presser Gets Defensive, ‘We Don’t Have Palm Trees’

Zach Benson

Grade: B

Production: B-

Offense: C

Defense: A-

Powerplay: A

Penalty Kill: N/A

Zach Benson has picked up his play as of late, with points in three of his last four games. The production is great, but it’s the tenacity and effort that is driving Benson’s success.

Often the smallest player on the ice, the sophomore winger is winning battles in the corners of the offensive zone. This leads to extended possession time, keeps the puck out of dangerous defensive situations, and creates offense. While the Sabres need better from the majority of their roster, Benson joins Zucker as players who are consistently not the problem.

Duds

Jordan Greenway

Grade: D-

Production: F

Offense: D

Defense: D

Powerplay: N/A

Penalty Kill: F

The box score shows zeroes across the board for Jordan Greenway and a -2 plus-minus. The underlying statistics aren’t any better, with poor grades for Greenway on both ends of the ice.

The big forward returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with an undisclosed injury and immediately stepped into his usual shutdown role. Facing lots of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat proved to be a lot for Greenway to handle.

He’s had a very good season so far, so perhaps a game or two to get his feet under him is necessary before we see Greenway back in form.

More: Where Does Jordan Greenway Fit on the Sabres?

Alex Tuch

Grade: D

Production: D

Offense: D-

Defense: D-

Powerplay: A-

Penalty Kill: D

It was a quiet game for Alex Tuch, one of the Sabres’ top producers this season. Tuch only managed two shots on goal and was on the ice for a goal against as he and linemate JJ Peterka struggled to get anything going.

Tuch is also a part of Buffalo’s top powerplay unit, which went scoreless again versus Detroit. The Sabres can’t seem to get firing on all cylinders, as when the secondary scoring hits the top scorers fade. The same can be said vice-versa.

The Sabres need Greenway and Tuch to rebound quickly Wednesday against the New York Rangers if they want to snap the seven-game losing streak.

For the Detroit Red Wings’ perspective, head over to Detroit Hockey Now.