Buffalo Sabres: 3 bold predictions for the upcoming homestand
The Buffalo Sabres return home for a pair of games before they embark on yet another mini-road trip
The Buffalo Sabres return home to the KeBank Center for tilts against two of the NHL’s best before they embark on a another mini-road trip to close out March. The Sabres surprised fans and critics alike so far in March, winning games they otherwise wouldn’t have and showing they’re more than the perpetually bad team they had been for most of the last decade.
That said, what were bold predictions in the past aren’t as bold while the Sabres season reaches twilight mode. No, they won’t make the playoffs this season. But it’s likely they will both continue playing spoiler against playoff contenders.
And it’s also likely they will continue to watch their young players develop. So what are a few bold outlooks you can expect when the Sabres face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals? Keep reading to find out.
Can someone say, “Upset?”
The Sabres swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in March and they also handed Jack Eichel a loss in his return to KeyBank Arena. Add in the team’s first shutout since October 2019 and it’s possible the Sabres pull off another upset (or two).
The last time the Sabres played the Penguins, they took one of the NHL’s best teams into overtime They also beat Pittsburgh at home earlier this season, but fell twice to Washington, losing one game in a shootout.
And those Sabres were toiling amidst a 5-15-4 record in November/December 2021. Since the All-Star break, the Sabres are 7-9-1. And with five of their victories coming against potential playoff teams, expect them to at least split this upcoming homestand.
These Sabres are a tighter-knit group than they were in the waning moments of 2021. They’re healthier, and they’re a far more proven commodity. In early 2022, the Sabres have evolved into a team expecting to win on any given gameday.
Samuelsson shines against aging stars
Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson has come a long way this season. From a stint in the AHL to becoming a regular on the second pairing, Samuelsson has since introduced himself to star players like Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid.
Now, he gets to face future Hall of Famers in Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. And given his recent showings, the imposing Samuelsson is up for the challenge. He’s starting to regularly log over 20 minutes of ice time while amassing 19 hits and nine blocks over the past five games. He has also recorded four or more hits in each of the past three.
Expect Samuelsson to continue his disruptive ways against the star-studded Penguins and Capitals. No, he won’t give the Sabres much in the scoring department. But he will help create turnovers to give the team’s scoring lines a chance.
Goaltenders shine
Dustin Tokarski scored his second career shutout against the Calgary Flames while Craig Anderson remains up-and-down. But in the past three games against Pittsburgh and Washington, the Sabres allowed just five goals in regulation. The only outlier? Their November 8th meeting at Washington when they lost 5-3.
And with the Sabres defense showing signs of life in March, look for the goaltenders to shine once again against both clubs. So let’s go bold and say the Sabres, this time around, allow no more than four goals against Pittsburgh and Washington combined.
Expect grit-and-grind performances on both sides of the ice. And as stated in the first slide: Look for the Sabres to score at least one upset in one of these matchups. And they will once again embark on a small road trip with momentum.
The Sabres face off with the Penguins on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm. And expect the KeyBank Center to be booming.
(All statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)