Sabres power play looks to build on strong finish to last season

Last season was a tale of two extremes for the Buffalo Sabres power play, and the turning point can be traced to Jan. 1.
From opening night through the end of December, the Sabres' had the least productive power play in the league, tying Columbus with a league-low 14 goals. They were among the best from Jan. 1 on, tying Boston with a league-high 35 goals in 44 games.
The latter performance was more reminiscent of the year prior, when the Sabres scored at a league-best 24.5-percent clip with the extra man. It came down to the same five players, too: Rasmus Ristolainen at the point, Sam Reinhart at the net-front and Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo and Ryan O'Reilly - now in St. Louis - between them.
The improvement, Sabres coach Phil Housley said, stemmed from the group's shot mentality.

"I think with the change you saw right around the Winter Classic, we put that group back together, and before that our five-on-five game wasn't where it needed to be, and individuals' games weren't where they needed to be," Housley said. "We made that change and I think that group really took off from that point because their intent was getting pucks to the net and a good net-front presence."

The Sabres spent a large portion of their practice on Monday working on special teams, and the four remaining members of that unit were back together. The one change: Jeff Skinner - with 98 power-play points under his belt in eight seasons - has taken the spot formerly occupied by O'Reilly.
Housley emphasized that the units can change between now and Thursday - the Sabres practiced with Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Conor Sheary, Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin on their second unit on Monday - but Skinner said he's already picked up on the chemistry between Eichel, Reinhart, Okposo and Ristolainen.
"Coming in as a new guy, you just sort of read off them," Skinner said. "Obviously, they've got some chemistry, they know where each other are going to be on the ice. For me, I just try and slide in and sort of be in the right spots for them, and when I have the puck know where they like to be and where they like to have the puck."
Okposo has said in the past that the unit's success is largely based on their like mindedness - they all think the game well and they all think it similarly. Skinner said he's picked up on that, but he's also come away impressed with their work ethic.
"I think that helps a lot, but also I think the compete and the battle level is just as important," Skinner said. "I think all four of those guys win a lot of battles. When you're on the power play you need to have the puck and winning the battle is sort of the start of that.
"I think that they've done a good job of that lately from what I've seen. And then once you have the puck, I think their skill and hockey sense kind of takes over."
That work ethic, Eichel said, could be a key to making this campaign more like the second half of last season and less like the first.
"We've got to outwork," he said. "I think at times last year we probably got outworked on the power play and you can never have that happen and think you're going to be successful. It's a new opportunity for us."

Eichel skates with PK

Housley began utilizing Eichel on the penalty kill last season, when he averaged a career-high 48 seconds of shorthanded ice time per game. We should see that trend continue, as Eichel was one of the players regularly practicing the penalty kill on Monday.
"I think it's a good role for me," Eichel said. "It's a good opportunity. Just trying to help the team out in more ways. The penalty kill's a big aspect of the game and being able to go over there and get the job done is important. I'm excited. I think it can get you into the game a little bit more."
Eichel has limited opportunity on the penalty kill during the preseason. When he did get a chance, he did this:

"That's the kind of tools he can bring to our penalty kill," Housley said. "I think that's going to help his defensive game as well."

Wilson misses practice

Scott Wilson did not skate after leaving practice on Sunday with an injury. Housley said the team will have an update on the forward's status Tuesday.

Lines at practice

53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
43 Conor Sheary - 10 Patrik Berglund - 72 Tage Thompson
17 Vladimir Sobotka - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 21 Kyle Okposo
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 29 Jason Pominville
92 Alex Nylander
6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
19 Jake McCabe - 26 Rasmus Dahlin
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 8 Casey Nelson
45 Brendan Guhle - 5 Matt Tennyson
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark