Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Prediction: February
Will the Buffalo Sabres be within striking distance of the playoffs in February, or will the wheels be coming off the bus?
Jack Eichel went and did it, folks.
When asked about what the team’s goals for the 2016-17 year were, Eichel responded, “for the most part I think we all have the same one and that’s make the playoffs.” (Courtesy of The Buffalo News)
It’s playoffs or bust for the Buffalo Sabres this year, according to Mr. Eichel – but will the team still be within reach of its big goal when February, the fifth month of the NHL regular season, starts?
For the record, I have the Buffalo Sabres standing at 22-21-6 when February begins, good for exactly 50 points. That’s only 4 points better than where the Sabres stood at the end of January 31 last season. If you’re using last season as an indicator of where the Sabres would need to be in order to compete for a playoff spot, there were 13 teams in the Eastern Conference who had 50+ heading into February.
The good news? The Philadelphia Flyers had exactly 50 points when February 1, 2016 rolled around, and finished the season with 96, good enough for a playoff spot. Philly picked up 17 points in February and another 12 in March, leap-frogging over many of the teams that sat ahead of it when February began.
With 28 points up for grabs in February, can the Sabres begin to make a push in the standings?
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Here is the slate of games for the month of my birth:
February schedule:
Thursday, February 2: New York Rangers vs. Sabres
Saturday, February 4: Ottawa Senators vs. Sabres
Monday, February 6: Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils
Tuesday, February 7: San Jose Sharks vs. Sabres
Thursday, February 9: Anaheim Ducks vs. Sabres
Saturday, February 11: Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Sunday, February 12: Vancouver Canucks vs. Sabres
Tuesday, February 14: Sabres vs. Ottawa Senators
Thursday, February 16: Colorado Avalanche vs. Sabres
Saturday, February 18: St. Louis Blues vs. Sabres
Sunday, February 19: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Sabres
Saturday, February 25: Sabres vs. Colorado Avalanche
Sunday, February 26: Sabres vs. Arizona Coyotes
Tuesday, February 28: Nashville Predators vs. Sabres
February definitely looks like a month in which the team could pick up some ground. Between 9 home games and the All-Star break, the Sabres will have some fresh legs at their disposal. You also have to assume that lines will be firing on all-cylinders by this point (injuries notwithstanding). If this is a team that wants to avoid being a lottery team yet again, now is the time for team to make the sort of late-season punch fans have been waiting for since 2011.
Prediction: 8-5-1
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Even though I don’t think the Sabres will make it to the playoffs in 2017, I see this team as being better than a mere four-point improvement over last season. Being a handful of points away from a playoff spot should spur this team to have its best month of the regular season – a little Valentine’s Day gift to itself!
Fun fact, Buffalo Sabres fans: the Sabres’ February 2 game at home against the New York Rangers will mark the third-straight month the blue and gold begin a month by facing the Blueshirts. Whatever that means, there it is!