The Sabres are leveraging their squad depth, giving them options when constructing their lineup. This allows them to tailor it to their opponent in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Metsa Debuts in Game 6
Rookie defenseman Zach Metsa made his debut in Saturday’s 8-3 come-from-behind win in Montreal. He became the 27th player to skate for the Sabres in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Metsa had sat out the first 11 games as a healthy scratch. He also became the 16th Sabres player to appear in his first postseason game this year.
Metsa played in Game 7 against the Canadiens in KeyBank Center. Coach Lindy Ruff said the Sabres had a “couple question marks,” including defenseman Owen Power, whose status for Game 6 was a bit unclear after he slid into the end boards on Thursday.
Power played on Saturday and Ruff thought “he gave us a hell of a game”. Dressing Metsa, a right-handed shot, gave Ruff options. He replaced veteran Luke Schenn, a right-handed shot who gave the Sabres toughness and experience.
The Sabres have often been giving their fifth and sixth defenders – Conor Timmins has established himself in the fifth spot – special-teams duty and spot work alongside some of his top defensemen.
Ruff likes Metsa’s ability to break the puck out of his own zone. Ruff said that Metsa playing a shift with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power or Bowen Byram, gives them that left-right connection.
He felt that if Owen Power couldn’t get through the game, they’d need a right defenseman, a guy that’d be comfortable to be playing over there and thought he gave them a strong game.
Metsa, 27, scored a late power-play goal in Saturday’s win and skated 12 minutes, 19 seconds.
Thompson Moved to Wing
Among the changes the Sabres made up front in Saturday’s win, Tage Thompson, their top center, shifted to right wing. He played alongside center Josh Norris and Zach Benson.
Thompson has spent parts of the last seasons playing the wing. He recorded one goal and one assist at even strength in Game 6 and one goal and four points overall.
Ruff said that putting Thompson on the wing “kind of frees him up a little bit, and he doesn’t have to put a lot of energy into playing in his own end, which frees him up to get going the other way.”
Sabres Rely on Depth
The Sabres have used all but one player on their roster, winger Tanner Pearson, this postseason. They even added center Konsta Helenius after the Rochester Americans’ season ended.
Helenius, 20, quickly morphed into a key contributor after sitting out some games.
Ruff said that as a staff, they make decisions on what gives them the best chance to win. He felt that whoever they dressed would give them the best chance.