The season may have ended for the Buffalo Sabres in a thrilling 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, but two players may still see the postseason.
The Buffalo Sabres already sent defenseman Casey Fitzgerald to Rochester to spend the 2022 AHL Playoffs with the Americans. Mark Pysyk took Fitzgerald’s spot in the Sabres season finale while the Amerks snuck their way into the playoffs.
Now that Rochester locked up the final playoff seed following the Toronto Marlies regulation loss on Saturday afternoon, two more regular contributors for the Sabres are eligible to play for the Amerks: Mattias Samuelsson and Peyton Krebs.
Samuelsson, Krebs, eligible to play for Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate in the playoffs
The Amerks already have NHL-caliber talent on their roster that include AHL Rooke of the Year Jack Quinn and his line mate, J.J. Peterka. Both players made cameos for the Sabres earlier in the season, and each earned a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team.
Given Krebs’ and Samuelsson’s eligibility, the Amerks might just get hot and embark on a Cinderella run. Krebs joined the Sabres in November following the Jack Eichel trade and he did not disappoint, logging 22 points in 48 games.
With a shooting percentage of 15.7 percent, it is clear that Krebs is on the verge of making The Jump next season. And a few more games in Rochester will only give the rising star some valuable playoff experience. Something that will also give him a chance to shine at the AHL level.
Samuelsson ended up on the first line following Owen Power’s NHL debut. He formed a remarkable pairing with Rasmus Dahlin as the defensive counterpart to the All Star’s two-way approach.
Over 42 games, Samuelsson logged 100 hits and 60 blocks. At 6’4, 226lb, he also possesses a physically imposing presence. Something that could come in handy down in Rochester if he indeed plays in the postseason.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)