Buffalo Sabres Season Recap Vs. Central Division

The Buffalo Sabres faced Central Division opponents from the NHL’s Western Conference 14 times during the 2014-2015 NHL regular season.

Throughout the season, the Buffalo Sabres really struggled against these Central Division foes.

The team won just one of 14 games against teams from the Central Division, overall capturing three of a possible 28 points.

During the 2014-2015 NHL season, the Buffalo Sabres played two games against each of the Central Division teams.

Their lone victory came against the Dallas Stars, while their other point garnered came in a shootout loss to the Nashville Predators.

It was a losing battle for the Buffalo Sabres this season against the Central Division as they overall went 1-12-1. (Total season Sabres record: 23-51-8).

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Three times this season, the Buffalo Sabres were shutout by a Central Division team. That includes a 7-0 loss to the Wild as well as 3-0 losses to both St. Louis and Nashville.

Overall, the Sabres managed to put up just 22 goals against Central Division teams, an average of roughly 1.57 goals/game. In contrast, those teams put up 60 goals against the Sabres, an average of 4.29 goals against per game.

There really isn’t that much else that can be said about the Sabres’ struggles against the Central Division.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of their record against each team:

vs. Chicago Blackhawks: 2 losses
vs. Colorado Avalanche: 2 losses
vs. Dallas Stars: 1 win, 1 loss
vs. Minnesota Wild: 2 losses
vs. Nashville Predators: 1 loss, 1 shootout loss
vs. St. Louis Blues: 2 losses
vs. Winnipeg Jets: 2 losses

In the end, the Minnesota Wild had the best record against the Buffalo Sabres; not only did the Sabres lose twice to Minnesota, but they were outscored by a 13-3 margin. That’s the most goals the Sabres allowed to any Central Division team, and it’s also the widest margin between goals-for and goals-against.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo Sabres allowed the Blues to score nine times this season while putting up just one goal of their own. The Sabres’ best record came against Dallas; not only did the Sabres register a win, they allowed just as many goals (6) as they scored.

The Chicago Blackhawks outscored the Sabres 10-5; Colorado, 10-4. Nashville outscored Buffalo by a 5-1 margin in the pair of games between the two teams, while the Winnipeg Jets outscored the Sabres 7-2, allowing Buffalo just one goal in each of the two games between the teams.

Can the Buffalo Sabres find a way to be successful next season against teams in the Central Division? While these points given up to the teams aren’t as crucial since there’s not that divisional factor, it’s still important that the Sabres find ways to pick up points against these teams.

After all, games against Central Division teams amounted to roughly 17 percent of the Sabres’ schedule. While this is perhaps not the most sizable number, there’s no doubt that there is a good chunk of points to be found here. Can the Sabres find a way to quiet guys like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp? Or find a way to solve the Minnesota Wild and not allow them to completely crush the Sabres next season?

Next: Is Jack Eichel A Developing Talent?

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