Buffalo Sabres catapult in the Atlantic Division power ranking

The Buffalo Sabres may not be going anywhere this season, but it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a rise in the power rankings following a few thrilling wins. 

The Buffalo Sabres have been on fire lately. Literally for the first time since October 2021. In the process, they extinguished a few Flames, stifled their expansion brethren (Vancouver Canucks), and froze some Penguins.

And they did all of this in overtime, something that until the previous three outings were a bane for the Sabres. So it’s no surprise they have risen in the Atlantic Division power rankings for at least one week.

How high did they get? Keep reading to find out.

Buffalo Sabres rising in Atlantic Division power rankings

8. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings scored a win against a hapless Philadelphia Flyers team. But it doesn’t erase their recent struggles and two shutout losses earlier in the month, plus an embarrassing 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

7. Ottawa Senators

The Senators look like they’re finally rightening the ship following a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. However, opponents outscored them 8-1 in the previous two contests. The deciding factor rests in their upcoming matchup with the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers.

6. Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens returned to Earth having lost six of their last eight. However, they retain the sixth position for another week given respectable performances against the Panthers and Boston Bruins. They also recently dominated the Senators.

5. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have had their best month of a tumultuous season in March, and their recent three-game stretch against three playoff contenders has swung momentum in their favor. Three games, three overtime wins, one of which being a shutout and another, a shootout, has put the NHL on notice.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning have hit a three-game skid so they drop to the fourth position for the week. However, they lost all three games by one goal apiece against the NHL’s stronger franchises, so odds are, the Lightning will bust out of this slump.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs won three of their last four, the only blemish being a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators. The highlight of the team’s most recent stretch included a big win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

2. Boston Bruins

The ‘Kardiac Bruins’ might be the NHL’s hottest team right now. Six of their past seven wins have come by one goal, and their only blemishes included losses to the contending Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings.

1. Florida Panthers

The Panthers eeked out a 3-2 record on their most recent road trip, but they maintain a seven-point lead in the Atlantic. Expect them to remain hot for another week.

Overall, the Sabres could easily have passed the Tampa Bay Lightning if these power rankings judged teams by their weekly performances. However, since the rankings judge on weekly and seasonal performances plus strength of schedule, it’s hard to justify placing the Sabres too high via the teams’ point differential.

If the Sabres remain hot and one of the contending teams in the Atlantic slide, the Sabres may wind up in the top four. But they must continue their winning ways well into the regular season’s final month.