Week 6 Atlantic Power Ranking: Buffalo Sabres find the basement
When you lose eight games in a row, you will probably end up dead last in a power ranking, as is the case for the Buffalo Sabres.
The bright spot with winding up in the basement of these power rankings is that no one has stayed here any longer than two weeks, so perhaps the Buffalo Sabres can keep that trend going. The bad? They are the first team I’ve put here without giving it a second thought. How far behind are they? Keep reading for more.
Previous: 7th. Buffalo Sabres. 8. team. 12. . 7-11-0
So far, the Sabres have had some lethargic showings over this eight-game losing streak. The upside? I saw at least a ray of hope from this team in their loss against Toronto. Perhaps they can build on it.
team. 91. . 6-11-1. Previous: 8th. Ottawa Senators. 7
Technically speaking, the Buffalo Sabres are still ahead of the Senators points-wise, but given Ottawa’s head-to-head win last week, I’m giving them the nod here. But overall, the Sens fared nearly as bad as Buffalo over the past 10 games.
97. . 9-8-2. Previous: 5th. Florida Panthers. 6. team
The Panthers are perhaps the most disappointing team in the Atlantic so far this season. At least the Sabres have an excuse given their age, but for the Panthers, this team had Stanley Cup hopes entering their 2022-23 campaign. They have some serious adjustments to make.
Previous: 4th. Montreal Canadiens. 5. team. 152. . 9-8-1
Had you claimed the Canadiens would have a better record than the Panthers at this point in the still young season, I’d have laughed. And since they get to play our Buffalo Sabres tonight, odds are, you may see Montreal surpass Florida in the standings, too.
Previous: 6th. Detroit Red Wings. 4. team. 72. . 9-5-4
The Yzerman-built Red Wings had a good week, but this team is far from the product many in the fanbase imagined them to be. If they keep up this pace though, they may indeed find themselves playing hockey in late-April/early-May as a wild card.
team. 116. . 10-5-5. Previous: 3rd. Toronto Maple Leafs. 3
The Leafs are that one team in the Atlnatic Division that, when you think they are turning another corner to supremacy, they end up taking a short step back. This is arguably the most talented, yet underachieving team in hockey.
23. . 11-7-1. Previous: 2nd. Tampa Bay Lightning. 2. team
Over their past ten games, the Lightning have done one of two things 90% of the time: They have either won or they lost in overtime. Each week, I say the Lightning are back on form, and each week, they continue to prove me correct.
70. . 17-2-0. Previous: 1st. Boston Bruins. 1. team
Once again, if you were to tell me the Bruins would be light years ahead of everyone in the Atlantic, I’d have laughed like none other. But here they stand, with 34 points, nine ahead of anyone else in the division.
Must Read. How can the Buffalo Sabres overcome slow starts?. light
Overall, the Buffalo Sabres have a lot of ground to make up. With just 14 points, they are now 20 behind the Atlantic-leading Bruins. But as they continue to discover what doesn’t work and take another step closer to discovering what does, then perhaps they will climb their way out of the basement sooner than later, just like many of our former basement dwellers.
Want your voice heard? Join the Sabre Noise team!