Crunching Numbers

Teams regularly combined to score 2.2 or so goals per five minutes of overtime in the first three months of the season, and by late December it just dropped off a cliff, with goal-scoring falling about 40 percent on average.

Tactalytics: Using Data to Inform Tactical Offensive Zone Decisions https://t.co/K2FaaYofNo pic.twitter.com/S6SWrYB73z

— Ryan Stimson (@RK_Stimp) July 11, 2016

For fans of hockey analytics (aka fancystats), here's a piece you will enjoy, comparing two types of offensive strategies - Behind the Net (used by the Sharks), and Low-to-High to Net (used by the Kings) methods.

@Mr_Faded_Glory couldn't get full season to load right now, but 4/6 is pretty dang close. pic.twitter.com/AILABamUa0

— Carolyn Wilke (@Classlicity) April 25, 2016

Make of this what you will, but it's basically showing how many scoring chances against the Sabres D is on ice for, and how many of those are considered 'high danger'. It does not take into consideration Dan Bylsma's usage of his defensemen - zone starts, etc. What else does this graphic say to you?

Research says that refs make 'make-up calls' more often than you would think is fair.

and for you fellow kids out there, how does your team do? pic.twitter.com/Hpuf3oJrHC

— nobody (@petbugs13) February 24, 2016

The Buffalo Sabres are continuing to have less than 50% of the scoring chances for in games, and are also tied for worst in the League in goals for conversion percentage. (See comments for bigger image)

Buffalo was shooting...and then stopped? For some reason? pic.twitter.com/0OcWFjsFuF

— Carolyn Wilke (@Classlicity) February 12, 2016

The Buffalo Sabres have had their struggles offensively as the 2015-16 season has progressed, and it looks like a lot of that is because they stopped shooting. Check out the how the Sabres are trending against the League average in Scoring Chances (for/60) and Goals (for/60).

The Buffalo Sabres had been abysmal in possession stats over the last couple of seasons, but now Jack Eichel is here and he will change all that.

Today's chart pack 1 The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly 2 The Wheel of Misfortune 3 Motion chart https://t.co/g5GPSrqVZR pic.twitter.com/L3pnK5W4zg

— nobody (@petbugs13) January 27, 2016

The two graphs should show you that the Buffalo Sabres are pretty consistent, and they're trying.

Buffalo also lacks a team identity, but man that Pysyk kid is something. pic.twitter.com/jGtsK0Udio

— Carolyn Wilke (@Classlicity) January 27, 2016

Look in the top right corner, it's probably not someone you were expecting!

Updating @BuffaloSabres PDO components from @Classlicity's latest - both shooting and save pct climbing. #Sabres pic.twitter.com/51HxsqQZzF

— Calvin (@Mr_Faded_Glory) December 23, 2015

The latest data on PDO components - 5v5, score adjusted shooting pct and save pct - has the Buffalo Sabres headed in the right direction for both metrics.

The folks over at Hockey-Graphs dug into a topic that players and fans alike have always wondered - does coaching affect shooting accuracy? They broke down data over two seasons, and came to a conclusion that you probably didn't expect.

Updating @BuffaloSabres Scoring Chances vs PDO from @Classlicity's latest chart - getting luckier, but worse. pic.twitter.com/UTPuqYHaeO

— Calvin (@Mr_Faded_Glory) December 9, 2015

Here's the latest Scoring Chances vs PDO plot for the Buffalo Sabres, and it's not quite going in the right direction.

And Buffalo's Time Elapsed Scoring Chances. Hot start, trending in the wrong direction. pic.twitter.com/VqiE8tjy0P

— Carolyn Wilke (@Classlicity) December 9, 2015

As the time-elapsed Scoring Chances plots will show, the Sabres are regressing in the Scoring Chances Against department, while not improving much in the Scoring Chances For area.

The Buffalo Sabres have shown glimpses of what they could be as a hockey club: a high-flying, dynamic scoring machine that can strike at will. However, Buffalo’s regression in terms of shot metrics was one of the worst in the NHL from October to November. It’s clearly going to take patience for the Sabres to evolve as a complete team.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. 2015-11-20 pic.twitter.com/o1pB5g6qpQ

— nobody (@petbugs13) November 20, 2015

More stats for you. Here's how the Sabres match up with the rest of the NHL in Scoring Chance Consistency - Scoring Chances For (SCF) pct plotted against Inconsistency (std dev of SCF)

PDO components through 11/19. #freestevemason pic.twitter.com/f28xHCuQEO

— Carolyn Wilke (@Classlicity) November 20, 2015

The PDO is made up of team save pct and team shooting pct - the Sabres are currently in the less than 98% region for PDO, which likely signifies a team being better than they appear.

For all the Buffalo Sabres fans that endured through the horrendous 2013-14 and 2014-15 season, just know that General Manager Tim Murray's efforts were not in vain, and here are the stats to back that up too.