Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

second last home game for the Sabres as they’ll be looking to better the atmosphere at home than it was Friday night after their blow out loss to the New York Rangers.

With the 8-4 loss to the Rangers, the Sabres playoff hopes are officially 6-feet under. With Ryan Miller and the First Niagara faithful not getting along, Jhonas Enroth will be between the pipes. Enroth will look to give Buffalo it’s first win against Winnipeg this season, but he will need to be stellar to do so. In the last 5 games against the Jets the Sabres have managed to score just 1 goal in each game. That must improve.

The Sabres had another three-game winning streak snapped with their loss to the Rangers on Friday night. Interesting to note the Sabres have not managed to string together a four-game winning streak at any point this season.

Despite not having anything to play for themselves, the Sabres have two things going for them. The chance to play spoiler for teams, like the Jets, who are battling for the playoffs. And wanting to end on a high note for the fans and the management.

The Sabres final three games will see them square off against the Jets, Penguins and Islanders. Two of those games are at home, in front of a somewhat hostile First Niagara Centre. The Sabres players and fans have not gotten along this season, both sides taking  jabs at each other for whatever reason. I guess they forgot they’re both on the same side.

If the Sabres could play three (3) solid games and finish the season 3-0, they could give the fans something to cheer about and end the season on a high note. In addition to ending the season on a high note, players like Brian Flynn, Kevin Porter, Mikhail Grigorenko, Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis and Jhonas Enroth will all want to finish the season strong to prove they deserve to stick around next season.

The best part of being eliminated from the playoffs is the ability to play spoiler and make other teams feel your pain. One of the Sabres final three games are against teams will be battling for their playoff lives. If the Sabres were to win against the Jets on Monday night, they could put a major dent in their playoff hopes.

The Jets will be desperate for two points against the Sabres as they continue to chase down the eighth spot in the East. They’re coming off a 5-0-1 record at home which has got them back in the playoff picture. The Sabres aren’t desperate and there’s nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to play for.

Robert Moyer – USA Today Sports

While they were able to get a point on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabres failed to continue their winning streak that saw them climb, at least momentarily a little higher in the Eastern Conference Standings and put a little space between them and the bottom.

Getting back on the horse after a shootout loss to the New York Rangers is going to be difficult, especially when playing the Southeast Division leading Carolina Hurricanes.  The Hurricanes are one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey Leage, putting up an average of 3.0 goals a game.

In two games this year against the Buffalo Sabres, the ‘Canes have outscored the Sabres 9-4 in back to back games in January.  With a win tonight, the Hurricanes could sweep the season series against the Sabres.

Any future success for the Carolina Hurricanes is going to have to come in front of their backup goaltender.  Cam Ward injured his knee against the Florida Panthers – and will miss six to eight weeks in recovery.  They are hopeful he will not need surgery.

For the Blue and Gold, the Buffalo Sabres are hoping to have sniper Thomas Vanek back in the lineup.  They Sabres need the Thomas Vanek of the first portion of the season, the one that was finding the net with ease.  Once a top of the league in several offensive categories – he is now nine points behind the league lead in points, and ranks sixth in goals.

The Sabres need to play smart hockey against the Hurricanes.  While their meager power play has been non existent, the Hurricanes have killed off 23 of their opponents last 24 power plays.

Buffalo currently sits 12 in the conference standings, and with a victory tonight, could pull within one place of the eighth spot.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD WATCH

Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils – Tampa sits just one point below the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils are just five points ahead of Buffalo – a difficult spot for a Sabres fan to pick and choose a winner.  New Jersey has a game in hand on the Buffalo Sabres – so if the boys can pull a win out against Carolina, hope for  Bolts win here, it will keep the Lightning behind you, but will keep the Devils close.

Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders – Lets go Red, White and Blue!  Sitting atop the Northeast Division and the top spot in the East – you want the Montreal Canadiens to steam roll the Islanders in regulation.

Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals – I never like saying this, it always feels like I need a shower afterwards, but go Bruins in this matchup.  There is little hope to catch the Bruins who sit just on the heels of the Canadiens.  Keep Washington as far in the basement as possible.

Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers – the toughest game of the night for the Buffalo Sabres to deal with the outcome of is this game.  Philadelphia is three points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres and in the final playoff spot.  The New York Rangers sit just two points ahead of the Sabres in ninth place. A Flyers win moves the Sabres closer to the Rags, but keeps them at the same arms length as the Sabres.  It pains my soul to say this, but I will be rooting for the Flyers to keep the point spread close between the Sabres and the playoff teams.  This game has to end in regulation either way.

Off course all of this hinges on Buffalo getting two points.