Buffalo Sabres Opponent Outlook: Arizona Coyotes

Last season, games between the Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona Coyotes were essentially a battle for 30th place in the league, a battle for the best chance at the first-overall draft pick.

In the end, when 82 games were said and done, Arizona finished 29th to Buffalo’s 30th – but neither team got the coveted first-overall pick, and now both teams have to pick themselves up and get out of the basement.

Last season, the Sabres and Coyotes faced each other twice, with both games coming toward the end of the season.

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On March 26, the Coyotes beat Buffalo 4-3 in overtime. Tyler Ennis, Rasmus Ristolainen and Brian Gionta scored for Buffalo. It was a two-point night for both Ennis and Gionta, as each man put up a goal and assist. Matt Moulson and Johan Larsson also registered assists.

For the Coyotes, regulation goals came from Jordan Szwarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and David Moss, while Sam Gagner tapped in the game-winner.

Four days later, Buffalo took a 4-1 victory over Arizona. Andrej Meszaros had a pair of goals, while Gionta and Ristolainen also each put up one.

In all, 10 different Sabres players registered at least a point that night, with a host of them – Andre Benoit, Mikael Grigorenko, Nicolas Deslauriers, Zac Dalpe, Marcus Foligno, Mike Weber, Moulson and Gionta – notching assists at one point or another throughout the evening.

Only the Sabres finished below the Coyotes. Arizona ended their season with a record of 24-50-8 (to Buffalo’s 23-51-8) and with a measly 56 points, two more than the Sabres. Arizona had a minus-102 goal differential, worst in the Western Conference and second-worst to only – you guessed it – Buffalo. They went 11-25-5 at home and a slightly better 13-25-3 on the road.

Through the offseason, the Coyotes added several players, including former Buffalo Sabres netminder Anders Lindback. They also re-signed Antoine Vermette, who returns to Arizona after winning the Stanley Cup during his brief stint in Chicago, John Scott, Brad Richardson, Zbynek Michalek and Steve Downie. In addition, the team adds Nicklas Grossman via trade for Sam Gagner.

They also drafted Erie Otters forward Dylan Strome, but he’s expected to return for another season in the Ontario Hockey League – though there is a slight chance he could get his nine-game NHL tryout and then have his fate determined from there.

Among their losses over the offseason: Mark Arcobello, John Moore and Mike McKenna.

This coming season, the teams will first face off on Friday, December 4th as the Coyotes visit Sabres for a 7 p.m. puck drop. The teams will then meet again about a month and a half later, on Monday, January 18th at 9 p.m. EST.

Both teams should prove to be at least slightly better than last season, making for more exciting and interesting match-ups between the two during the 2015-2016 NHL season.

Next: Sabres Prospect Challenge Line Projections

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