Buffalo Sabres: Will Owen Power push the team over the top?

The Buffalo Sabres may be 0-2 on their current road trip, but they also played two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and fought valiantly. 

Before March 2022, just about every playoff-bound NHL team had written off the Buffalo Sabres as a guaranteed win. And while the Sabres still struggle against playoff contenders, they are playing the NHL’s best much better these days.

Sure, the heartbreaking losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers were tough to digest. But the Sabres kept things close until the end. And better yet, they played the Panthers much better than they played the Hurricanes, demonstrating their physical prowess while winning the face-off battle.

So the question is: Will Owen Power’s presence change things and help the Sabres score some improbable wins in April?

Owen Power has potential to push the Buffalo Sabres over the top

While Power probably won’t see a lot of ice time during this (at most) eight-game sprint, you can count on him to be a difference maker right away. This is because opponents will have little to work with on him next to his college film. No one knows exactly how the Sabres will use Power, and that puts Buffalo at a major advantage.

Sure, Power will need to adjust to the speed of the game and you can expect him to commit a few unnecessary turnovers and get caught out of position a few times during this run. But his presence as a two-way player, even early in his NHL career, will go a long way.

Look for Power to record his first few NHL points, most likely in assists, and to gradually adjust to the speed of the game. He will show off his blend of puck control and physicality often. And most of all, expect Power, especially against the lesser-talented teams the Sabres are ending their season against, to look like the top selection the Sabres knew they were getting.

Power will have good performances as April 2022 winds down. And he also has potential to make a huge leap this October.