Special Team Struggles Lead To Sabres Loss In Season Opener

In spite of some changes to the unit's personnel, Buffalo continued to struggle on the power play in the season opening 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, as the Sabres went 0-for-4 on the night, including a full two-minute two-man advantage.

"We had our opportunities. I mean,.... just after the one expired, (Konsta) Heleinus scored, but (we had) a big opportunity with the five-on-three that we missed an opportunity," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. " I thought some of the puck decisions, five-on-four, we did have a couple good looks. Five- on- three, there were a couple times that I just thought, we deferred to the play that wasn't there. I thought our whole game, we tried to be a little bit too fancy."

The special teams struggles were also apparent on the penalty kill, where the club finished in the top five of the NHL last season. Columbus scored twice on the man advantage in three opportunities, something that Ruff blamed on some new personnel getting utilized on the short-handed units.