Buffalo Sabres: Ultra-bold predictions for the next month

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 13: Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 13: Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Sabres
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 17: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres during the game against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center on February 17, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres face a gauntlet beginning tonight against the St. Louis Blues

The Buffalo Sabres are facing the toughest stretch of their schedule yet, featuring playoff contenders everywhere you look. At the same time, the Sabres are also in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Their defense has played poorly over the past three games. And head coach Don Granato was forced to shuffle his forewards around in the previous tilt.

That said, things could go from bad to worse. Uglier than they’ve looked over the previous two games, in which the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens made short work out of them. But, with all bad hockey teams, there comes one glimmer of hope: Opportunity. 

And with that opportunity, comes perhaps an upset or two in the next 13 games. Or maybe a player breaks loose that we didn’t expect? Or even, the defense steps up and pitches a shutout? Here are bold predictions for the next month’s worth of games.