3 reasons the Buffalo Sabres will keep winning and 3 reasons they won’t

The Buffalo Sabres, 7-4-0, are once again enjoying success early in the season. Will they sustain that success, or will they fade down the stretch?

The Buffalo Sabres have become infamous for collapsing after starting off several seasons with a bang or embarking on early-season winning streaks. While this is a different team with a strong nucleus, head coach, and front office, only time will tell whether the Sabres can keep up their winning ways.

While history is not on their side, the Sabres have several things going their way which could wind up with them continuing their winning ways over the next 71 games. But as a young team, there is also a good chance their success will once again be short-lived. Let’s explore why the Sabres will (and won’t) keep winning in 2022-23.

Why the Buffalo Sabres will keep winning

1 – High offensive output

While it wasn’t on full display in last night’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Sabres have become notorious for their high-octane attack. With 46 goals in 11 games (4.18 average), the Sabres have proven they can score anytime, anywhere, even in a game’s closing seconds.

2 – Increased team chemistry down the stretch

If the Sabres stay healthy, the longer they play together, the better their team chemistry will become. And better yet, it’s already been on display several times this season, leading us to wonder what it will look like come January if they keep the injury bug at bay.

3 – Youth equals endurance

While young teams can hit a wall, they are also better equipped for the rigors of an 82-game schedule. Youth equals endurance, since older teams that may have built more chemistry will naturally see more wear and tear on their bodies. That wear and tear won’t hit the Sabres as hard with their roster’s average age of just 24. This is also one reason they often play so well in the third period.

Why the Sabres will fade

1 – Lack of experience

The Sabres can build all the chemistry they want and given their youth, possess more endurance. But if they enter any playoff races this season, they could be short-lived since lack of overall experience in such a situation can end up causing a slew of mental errors given the stakes.

2 – Opponents can find answers

Older, more experienced opponents can make life tough for younger, lesser experienced teams. The Sabres are in the latter category, and as a young team, will have a tougher time finding answers against common opponents. On the contrary, those same opponents are better equipped to find answers to the Sabres high-octane attack as the season progresses.

3 – Opponents will exploit weaknesses

The Sabres are weak in several categories. Their power play is better, but still a work-in-progress. Opponents routinely outmuscle them, and they are often blown out in faceoff battles. The Sabres also occasionally find themselves out of position on defense, which has led to them allowing easy goals. Experienced teams will be quick to exploit these weaknesses during the mid-to-latter stages of the season.

Overall, the Buffalo Sabres are a better hockey team both on paper and during their first 11 games this year. But they have found themselves in this position several times in the past. This year, the vibes feel different and there are reasons to believe they can sustain their success. But there are also several reasons they will falter down the stretch.

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