Prediction: Will the Buffalo Sabres stay hot in December 2022?

The Buffalo Sabres can potentially enjoy a hot start to the 2022-23 NHL Season given a favorable October and November schedule.

Between October and November 2022, I have the Buffalo Sabres steamrolling to a 16-5-2 record, good for 34 points. And while the Sabres look like a domineering team, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. How many good first months or two have the Sabres enjoyed in the past?

Exactly. So, by looking at their December 2022 schedule, it will be tough to emulate the results of what I have them achieving in October and November. But if health remains on their side and they can build momentum, expect them to pull out a couple of extra wins. Let’s see what they can do.

The Buffalo Sabres have a tougher outlook in December, but they may surprise you if they stay healthy.

A home matchup against the Colorado Avalanche is first on the ticker. And I’m not going to lie, I think the Sabres are going to suffer their first blowout loss of the season. I am also going to project the Sabres suffer their first upset loss of the year to the San Jose Sharks, so things aren’t looking so good early on.

But they will rebound against Johnny Gaudreau and those underrated Columbus Blue Jackets before losing one in overtime to the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins. So right now, we’re looking at a 1-2-1 record, but there is still a lot of hockey left in 2022.

Unfortunately, we will see two more regulation losses, which will drop the Sabres to 1-4-1. The first loss will come in the back-to-back matchup with Pittsburgh, and the second, to the Los Angeles Kings. Then you will see a dance with the Avalanche in Denver and another blowout loss, putting the Sabres at 1-5-1 on the month. Yeah, I knew December was going to be a tough outing.

However, they will turn it around in the desert with a win against the Arizona Coyotes and an overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights. Sitting at 3-5-1 for December, the Sabres will return home and lose in an overtime nail-biter to the Tampa Bay Lightning before dropping their next game to the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting them at 3-6-2 so far. Hey, it’s not like we haven’t seen this before, right?

The good news? The Sabres will return home and take it to the Detroit Red Wings before flying to Boston and upsetting Bruins in overtime on New Year’s Eve. So while I’m seeing the Sabres suffer their first losing record in December, it’s still a vast improvement from the ghosts of years’ past.

December 2022 Record: 5-6-2 (12 points)

2022-23 Record: 21-11-4 (46 points)

Overall, it will be a lean month for the Buffalo Sabres. But with 46 points in 36 games, they will end 2022 on pace to put up 105 points. But, they will need to bounce back in January 2023.