Buffalo Sabres rise in the Week 8 Atlantic Division Power Ranking

The Buffalo Sabres completed their latest homestand (with a roadie sandwiched in there) with a 2-1-1 record and securing five out of eight possible points. 

The Buffalo Sabres are barely out of the cellar in the tough Atlantic Division, but that doesn’t mean they are at the bottom of these power rankings. Given their recent performance, the Sabres have climbed at least a rung, and could ascend even more if they can figure out their defensive and goaltending woes.

Last night’s win against the San Jose Sharks was one step in the right direction, and now they need to prove they can do the same against playoff-caliber teams on a nightly basis. So where do they rank this week? Keep reading.

The Senators have won four out of their last five, but two of those wins came against San Jose and Anaheim. They also split a back-to-back with the so-so New York Rangers. The wins are impressive, but the level of competition was marginal as only the LA Kings, the fourth team they beat, is the only group residing in the top three of any division.

The Canadiens beat a few team either at or below their level since the Sabres wreaked havoc on them. Unfortunately, those wins came against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks. They also found a way to lose in shutout fashion to the Sharks.

Probably the most controversial ranking here, but I digress. The Red Wings recently dropped three straight in five games and allowed at least four goals per contest in that span. Their only two wins over the past 11 days have come against the Arizona Coyotes and Blue Jackets. Not entirely impressive.

The Buffalo Sabres are getting hot when it comes to scoring goals. That’s a given. And although their record pales in comparison to the Yzerman Red Wings, they had a better week, even defeating the Wings in that span. The next time these two teams play, I want to face Husso.

The Panthers outscored their last two opponents 10-2, indicating they may be on the verge of finally breaking out of their slumber after stagnating through the season’s first quarter. For example, before their blowout wins over the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks, this team dropped six out of seven.

The Tampa Bay Lightning snapped the Maple Leafs winning streak, a five-game run in which they allowed just eight goals. As much as those of us in the Buffalo Sabres faithful hate to admit it, the Leafs are getting hot.

The Lightning have won six of their previous eight, losing only to the Boston Bruins in that span. Like the Maple Leafs, this team looks like they are getting hot as we dive deeper into December.

This is the best team in the NHL, hands down. The Bruins will have one bad game, then between six and seven good ones. Until the other 31 teams in the league prove they can beat Boston, expect them to remain atop both our Atlantic Division rankings and the NHL rankings.

Some might argue that I placed the Buffalo Sabres too high, but as mentioned in the past, recent performance also factors into these rankings. And recently, the Sabres gave us about as good a homestand minus one as you could ask for.

Their only blemish? Blowing their 5-3 lead in an overtime loss to Tampa. Had they won that game, the Sabres may have climbed a little more.

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