It’s safe to go bold on the Buffalo Sabres these days. And while we can talk offseason, there are still four games remaining on the slate.
The Buffalo Sabres have not topped 76 points since 2018-19, when they logged 78. This season, they scored 219 goals, just 11 away from eclipsing 230 goals for the first time since 2010-11. Which was also the last time the team made the playoffs.
Before the 2021-22 NHL Season, the Sabres, on paper, were in such shambles it was bold to predict they would have even topped 70 points. And while it’s still possible they can lose out and confine themselves to just 69 points this season, don’t count on it.
If the Sabres lose out, you have a right to be disappointed following a stellar March and an above-average April. The Sabres have played like a different team in every decent way possible, and it would be a huge milestone to at least top the 75-point mark to finish the season.
They say the better you perform in a job, the more everyone, from employers to customers, expect out of you. The same holds true for professional hockey teams.
The Sabres, since March 2022, own a 13-8-3 record (29 points). This season, they averaged 2.8 goals per game. But in 18 of their last 24 games, they scored at least three goals per contest. Showing that they can score at will. Especially when they give themselves more opportunities to score.
And finally, their drastic improvement coincided with a few players stepping up late in the season. One of which earned their way to at least a part-time role on the top-scoring line. And it’s bold to predict that particular player will record at least one more multiple-point game this season.
What are we predicting for the final four games? Keep reading to find out.