After just over two months into the regular season, Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff believes he has a good read on his club. The Sabres have been remarkably inconsistent, going up and down like a roller coaster, but after returning from a successful three-game California road swing, the club has lost six straight and four points out of the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
Following a 5-2 loss to Utah on Saturday, Ruff appeared to come to some conclusions about his club.
"Our puck play, I thought was the worst I've seen(against Utah)….......coming from our end (and) out of the zone. I know when you're missing (Rasmus) Dahlin, and your puck play won't be as good, won't be as efficient, but we still make some poor decisions on where we put the puck." Ruff said. “I'm not gonna offer excuses. This is the NHL. When I look at (Tyson) Kozak, how well he played, and then he gets a goal. (Jiri)Kulich gets one, we just need more from other guys."
Buffalo is hoping to get back in the win column against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, but after a sluggish opening third of the season, Ruff is getting to the point where is preparing to press some buttons.
"If you look at the bulk of what a player does, I've got a pretty good understanding now after 20-some games, (of) what the player is (and) what he can give us.” Ruff said. “Can he dig in and give us when things are tough? Can you play when you're tired? Can you finish a shift? If you can't, and you can't maintain that for the game, then the next guy has to go in."
Ruff already began providing some negative reinforcement last week by benching struggling winger Jack Quinn (who is a club-worst -11 plus/minus) and indicated that he is prepared to decrease ice time of younger players like JJ Peterka if their play does not improve. He also hinted that if he does not see improvement from centers Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens, that a move to the wing is not out of the question.
"I've asked those guys personally, if (playing center) is too hard on you, I'll put you on the wing. Go play the wing." Ruff said. ‘(Tyson) Kozak coming in, is more accustomed to playing this way, hasn’t really made a mistake defensively. 20-some games is enough that if you can't make the read, then you gotta go to the wing."
