Buffalo Sabres Opponent Outlook: Columbus Blue Jackets
By Tim Redinger
The Buffalo Sabres are part of the many games going on tonight across the NHL, facing off against another team looking to restock the roster for another go at things in the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This season is a bit of a mystery for me for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Things seemed to be on the rise for the Blue Jackets, who finally made it to the playoffs for the second time last year; winning the first playoff game in franchise history before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round 4-2.
This season, it appears as if the Columbus Blue Jackets will be looking at another period of absence from the post season. The Blue Jackets are rolling along at just under .500 this season. Remember the days when .500 got you close to the playoffs, long gone are those days with stronger teams pushing the point totals up to get into the playoffs. I blame the loser point for that.
The Blue Jackets currently sit with just 56 points in the standings, and are far back enough in the standings it would take a miracle for them to get into the post season.
Which is probably why they are trying to move defenseman James Wisniewski before the trade deadline this year. Defenseman are at a premium at the deadline usually, as teams with blue line injuries or holes that need to be filled heading into the playoffs look to solidify their back end. According to the most recent update on the Blue Jackets website, head coach Todd Richards said Wisniewski will be in the lineup tonight.
The Blue Jackets use to be in the shoes that the Buffalo Sabres are in. They had three first round draft picks in the 2013 NHL entry draft, and they used all three picks. Those guys are starting to make their mark on the Blue Jackets roster. The Buffalo Sabres have already traded one of their first round draft picks away, and could end up trading the other one, if the right deal comes along.
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Teams facing the Buffalo Sabres know they are one of the worst teams in the league, but have given some good teams fits before allowing them to walk away with a win, or even worse, walk away shaking their heads because they didn’t get any points. Blue Jackets head coach warns his players that just because they are facing the Buffalo Sabres at home it won’t be an easy game.
David Savard doesn’t want to take the Buffalo Sabres lightly either, this coming from bluejackets.com:
"“They’re a young team and they’re going to work, sometimes you can be on the other side of tight games and your record doesn’t show what kind of team you are. I think they have good players on that team and they’re going to come out and do their thing. And if you take this team lightly they’re going to make you pay.”"
Game time is set for 7PM tonight.
Next: Buffalo Sabres Weekly Three Stars
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