Shots all Around

The Buffalo Sabres are currently leading the league in shots per game. As a result of this new high flying offensive attack they are also giving up more a high number of shots per game as well. In the old NHL this was a prescription for disaster. Especially for the Sabres. We all remember two years ago when a 2-1 deficit at the end of the 1st period was reason to turn off the game because there was no way they were coming back.
The tradeoff for defense for offense only works because the new rules allow it. The Sabres are off to scintillating start right now but if the referees do not continue calling the games the same way throghout the year we could be heading for a reverse of the usual Sabres trend of starting the season poorly and finishing strong.
The NHL can't afford to not continue enforcing the rules. The game is more exciting. The last time NHL games were this exciting was when I was watching the Sabres Stanley Cup run of 1999. These are regular season games creating the increased heart rate.