Where do the Buffalo Sabres stand in the Atlantic after Week 2?
The Atlantic Division is showing early that they are the toughest in the NHL. Where do the Buffalo Sabres stand and can they uphold this momentum?
The Buffalo Sabres have so far been one of the pleasant surprises this season, winning four of their first five games and pulling off a couple of major upsets on the road. They swept all three Canadian teams on their respective road trip, outscoring them 15-6.
However, there were times the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames completely outmatched the Sabres; they just didn’t score enough goals. So despite the wins, Buffalo had some spotty performances. Was it enough to move them up in the rankings? Keep reading for more.
152. . 3-3-0. Previous: 7th. Montreal Canadiens. 8. team
Of all the teams in the Atlantic, the Canadiens are the only one on a current losing streak. They have also scored the fewest goals in the division, and are tied for the third highest goals allowed. Their (-2) goal differential is the worst in the division. And while these aren’t bad numbers, they are the worst in an otherwise tough division.
Tampa Bay Lightning. 7. team. 23. . 3-3-0. Previous: 5th
While it’s highly unlikely the Lightning hang out down here forever, they are just the only other team in the Atlantic to have a goal differential in the red. They are currently tied with Boston for allowing the most in the division. But unlike the Bruins, they are not finding the net anywhere near as often.
6. team. 116. . 4-2-0. Previous: 4th. Toronto Maple Leafs
It was close between Toronto and Ottawa, but I went with Toronto given the Senators three-game winning streak. One reason for the Leafs early season inconsistency stems from the fact they are not putting the puck into the net as often as they could be. Then there was that embarrassing loss to the Arizona Coyotes…
. 3-2-0. Previous: 8th. Ottawa Senators. 5. team. 91
Who exactly are the Ottawa Senators? After dropping their first two games, the Sens have been nothing but perfect. Their goals for to goals allowed ratio in those three games? 17 to nine. This team might just be getting hot after a rocky start.
. 4-1-0. Previous: 6th. Buffalo Sabres. 4. team. 12
Feel free to berate me here, but the Buffalo Sabres needed sound goaltending from Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie to be sitting at 4-1-0. The good news, however, is that they managed to pour it on a team with inferior talent.
. 3. Previous: 2nd. Detroit Red Wings. 3. team. 72
The Red Wings are one of just four teams not to have suffered a loss in regulation. They also lost back-to-back games to the LA Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. Overtime losses, which at the very least gave them a point, but for a team that’s supposed to be all-world in 2022-23, they can’t be losing to the league’s lesser-talented squads.
97. . 4-1-1. Previous: 1st. Florida Panthers. 2. team
Who is the better team in the Atlantic? The Panthers or the Bruins? Following their regular season loss to Boston, the Panthers have dropped to the number two spot in these rankings. They also dropped a game to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and have yet to score a convincing win this season. Nonetheless, they are still winning, and great teams find ways to win.
. 5-1-0. Previous: 3rd. Boston Bruins. 1. team. 70
So much for injuries, new coaches, and lack of depth in the prospects pool. The Bruins have 27 goals, which leads the NHL. A 7-5 loss to Ottawa is the only blemish in what has so far been a stellar campaign. What will this team look like when they are back to full strength? Nearly unbeatable. For an organization supposedly in turmoil, the Bruins have proven everyone wrong.
Related Story. Top 3 Buffalo Sabres stars from the first week of 2022. light
Overall, the Buffalo Sabres rank a little higher than many have expected. And while they are still a young team whose wins have at times been far from convincing, they have shown they can hang with a rough, tough Atlantic Division. The question now is, Can they keep it up?
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