Storylines
1. The Zucker-less power play
The Sabres have certainly missed Zucker’s production at all strengths – 13 points (8+5) in his last 12 contests – but especially on the power play, which has gone 0-for-8 these last two games.
“A lot of poor decisions,” Ruff said Friday of the power plays in Calgary. “A lot of poor puck decisions. We tried to put the puck in places that we didn’t need to try to put it, when we had full control. We dealt with it this morning and we’re moving on.”
This season, Buffalo’s first power-play unit – the one with Tage Thompson – has scored 9.94 goals per 60 minutes with Zucker compared to 2.02 without him. And a steady net-front presence has yielded nine power-play goals for Zucker, individually, which is tied for sixth most in the NHL.
The penalty kill is one of few weak points for the Oilers, who rank 24th at 75.9 percent, so Buffalo will need to better capitalize on its man-up opportunities this time out.
2. Scouting the Oilers
McDavid’s absence undoubtedly weakens the Oilers. The superstar forward has 65 points (20+45) and is on pace for a fifth straight 100-point season, but he’ll be serving the last of a three-game suspension. McDavid has excelled against the Sabres like he has most teams, totaling six goals and 12 assists in 15 games.
That said, the Oilers remain plenty dangerous even in their captain’s absence. With Thursday’s 6-2 win versus Vancouver, they improved to an NHL-best 17-5-1 since Dec. 5.
Forward Leon Draisaitl recorded a goal and two assists Thursday for his fourth straight multi-point game, and with 74 points (35+39), he sits one behind Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead. His 35 goals lead the NHL by seven.
“He really can do it all,” Ruff said of Draisaitl. “He can score from no-man’s land down around the goal line, the sharpest of angles. He can physically dominate you from the dots down. So, we’ve got to be well aware of where he’s at.”
Zach Hyman managed just three goals in his first 20 games this season, but he’s scored 14 in the 23 games since – including two on Thursday. Defenseman Evan Bouchard has heated up as well, tallying 11 points in his last 13 games to improve his season total to 36 (8+28).
“They’ve got a group up front there that’s dynamic offensively, so we know how well we’re going to have to play against them,” said Ruff.
Longtime Sabres forward Jeff Skinner, who signed with Edmonton in July, has seven goals and eight assists in 43 games this season.
The well-rounded Oilers rank sixth in the NHL in goals scored per game (3.31), sixth in goals against per game (2.73), second in shots per game (31.9), fourth in shots against per game (26.1) and seventh in power-play percentage (24.8).
Buffalo and Edmonton have alternated wins in their last six matchups, and the Sabres are 4-3 at Rogers Place since it opened for the 2016-17 season.