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At the start of Wednesday night’s game, the Buffalo Sabres sat just one point out of the NHL cellar. While the Sabres weren’t expected to truly contend this season, the results to date in 2015-16 have to be a disappointment.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been bright spots, or that the future in Buffalo doesn’t look promising. Jack Eichel looks like he’ll be every bit the star he was predicted to be when he was drafted, and Rasmus Ristolainen appears to be a great building block for the blue line. Still, Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray were almost certainly expecting more in the standings in 2015-16.

They were also probably expecting more from certain players, particularly a veteran like Matt Moulson.

Through 49 games, Moulson has just three goals at even strength, and four goals total. To put this in perspective, Moulson has averaged 0.87 goals per 60 at 5-on-5 during his career. While he’s certainly seen a decline in production as he’s gotten older, his 0.22 goals per 60 this season still pales in comparison to his 0.62 goals per 60 over the previous two seasons.

Moulson’s scoring is far from the only issue hindering the team, but it would help the Sabres if the Ontario native could find his scoring touch after the All-Star break.

At first glance, it looks as if Moulson may be suffering from a run of bad puck luck in 2015-16. According to War on Ice, he’s an 11.2 percent shooter at 5-on-5 over the course of his career, but is shooting just 3.6 percent this season. Moulson has unquestionably suffered some bad luck this season, as rarely does anyone become a 3.6 percent shooter overnight, but there are other factors at play as well.

A look at Moulson’s individual shot attempt generation shows that he’s continued a steady decline in this department

While the lockout shortened 2012-13 is a bit of an outlier, Moulson isn’t doing himself any favors by firing the puck towards the net at the lowest rate of his career this season.

Looking at Moulson’s rate of individual scoring chances per 60 as defined by War on Ice, shows further evidence that Moulson’s lack of production is more than simply an unfortunate dip in shooting percentage. Moulson has averaged 8.5 scoring chances per 60 throughout his career, but in 2015-16 that number has dropped to 6.5. His individual high danger scoring chances per 60 sit at 3.7 this season, below his career rate of 4.3.

According to Sporting Charts, not only has Moulson been shooting less and generating fewer scoring chances, his average shot distance this season is further from the net than his career average. Over his career, his average shot has come from 26.7 feet out. This season, the average distance is 31 feet. This increased distance from the net explains the drop in scoring chances, and partly contributes to his drop in scoring.

The Buffalo Sabres are a team expected to become competitive again over the next few seasons. There are a lot of pieces in place that give the franchise hope that better days are ahead.

That said, despite some bright spots, the team hoped for better results this season. Moulson is one player who hasn’t contributed at the level that he’s capable. He’s shooting less and, when he is shooting, he’s creating less dangerous opportunities and firing from a greater average distance. A bounce back from Moulson after the All-Star break could give the Sabres positive momentum to close the season.