The Buffalo Sabres have gone over 11 seasons without seeing a playoff appearance. My 2022-23 prediction has them in the hunt. Will it continue in March?
The Buffalo Sabres started off hot in my 2022-23 predictions, dominating the NHL in October and November 2022. Then, there have been problems ever since, and the Sabres struggled to remain over 0.500. So will they see another renaissance in March 2023?
The Sabres got a tough slate of games in March, featuring opponents like the Boston Bruins, the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, to name a few. But they also have a few winnable contests here. More than, to be accurate.
The Buffalo Sabres can turn the tide in March 2023 if they are healthy and able to pull off an upset or two…
Their first game of the month will come against the Bruins, who will unfortunately beat the Sabres in regulation. But the Sabres return home to face the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers, and I am projecting a win in the former and an overtime loss in the latter, placing the Sabres at 1-1-1 to start off March.
They will defeat the New York Islanders on the road before dropping two home games in a row, one to the Dallas Stars and the next, the New York Rangers. But once again, one will be an overtime loss, placing the Sabres at 2-2-2 for the month.
I am projecting a season sweep over those Maple Leafs in an overtime thriller before they drop their next game to the Washington Capitals. They will end the road trip with a win over the Flyers before returning home to face and defeat the Bruins. If you are doing the math, the Sabres are 5-3-2 at this point.
They will drop their next home game to the Nashville Predators before winning the following tilt against the New Jersey Devils. They will defeat the Islanders on the road before returning home to beat the Montreal Canadiens before they drop their final game of the month to the Rangers in overtime.
Record in March 2023: 8-4-3 (19 points)
2022-23 Record: 38-25-12 (88 points)
With seven games to go in the season, the Buffalo Sabres will be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs considering how good the Eastern Conference is. But, with 88 points, they will be entering April 2022 with optimism that hasn’t been felt for over a decade. While we won’t see a playoff appearance, April will bring them their first 90-point season since 2010-11.