Buffalo Sabres have an opportunity to regain momentum

Jan 30, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates a goal in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates a goal in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres have split their recent road trip at 1-1, with one more game remaining before the All-Star Break.

They can regain momentum with a strong showing in Vegas, a team who is just over .500 at home this season with a record of 13-10-2 at T-Mobile Arena. The Buffalo Sabres and Golden Knights are also almost evenly matched over their last ten games, with the Knights sitting at 4-4-2, and the Sabres, 4-5-1. And with the Sabres getting healthier at goalie, it’s safe to say they will give the Knights all they can handle.

If the Sabres regain momentum following their 4-1 loss to the high-octane Colorado Avalanche, they will improve to 2-1 on this road trip heading into the All-Star Break with an opportunity to get healthier and become a competitive team over their final 37 games.

If the Buffalo Sabres get healthier over the All-Star Break, watch out

Not that they will embark on some magical playoff run, but anything is possible. At the very least, the Sabres can get healthy and they will give fans at the KeyBank Center and across the NHL something fun to watch as the winter months give way to spring.

And it’s not just the “getting healthy” part that will make this team competitive. Sabres fans need to ask, “Will we see more of J.J. Peterka? Jack Quinn?” It’s also a possibility. A healthy Sabres team that has already seen goalies Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski return to the lineup, plus Kyle Okposo, coupled with its most talented young stars will provide much-needed thrills in what has otherwise been a long season.

Look for the Sabres to get healthy over the All-Star Break and if they can win in Vegas, they will receive some much-needed momentum. Yeah, the playoffs are all but out of the picture, extending the team’s drought yet another season.

But the Sabres proved back in October they could play when they jumped out to a 5-2-1 mark. So just imagine what a healthy Sabres team with talent rising through the ranks will look like. We won’t be saying “wait until next year” much longer.