Statistics alone paint a positive picture for the Buffalo Sabres through the first five games of the season.
The Sabres are plus-26 in 5-on-5 shot attempts (an indicator of offensive zone time), which ranks sixth in the NHL. Natural Stat Trick has their scoring chance percentage at 56.9, which ranks seventh.
The six teams with a better percentage of scoring chances at 5-on-5 - St. Louis, Minnesota, Carolina, Calgary, Tampa Bay and Toronto - are above .500 and rank among the top four in their divisions.
The Sabres were back to work in Washington on Saturday, coming on the heels of a shootout loss that dropped them to 1-3-1. Their mission now is to translate the positive statistical trends into points in the standings.
Sabres searching for results despite strong statistical start
Plus Krueger on his conversation with Dahlin and numbers behind McCabe and Ristolainen's hot start
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