The Buffalo Sabres could realistically sweep the week, but we won’t get so bold as to predict it with a back to back against Pittsburgh.
In the two weeks since their infamous eight-game losing streak, the Buffalo Sabres are 4-2-1 (9 points), and have been one of the NHL’s most entertaining teams to watch. Yeah, they lost a heartbreaker, and nearly blew another game in the process. But young teams like the Blue and Gold can be ticky-tacky at times.
This week, the Sabres face two manageable opponents across three games in the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins. So what kind of crazy things can happen this week? Let’s make a few bold predictions.
1 – The Buffalo Sabres average 4.5 goals per game
Over their last seven games, the Sabres have scored 4.85 goals per contest, so this isn’t the boldest of predictions. However, it’s not easy for young teams to uphold such high-octane statistics in the scoring realm, so it will be a challenge for the Sabres to hit that number.
Since Buffalo snapped their losing streak, Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Cozens have been the hottest hands. This week, I’m going out on a limb and adding Alex Tuch to the mix.
2 – Sabres walk away with at least a point per contest, and five total
This means no regulation losses this week. One thing that concerns me is that it’s pretty much a given goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will face the Penguins in one of those games. And that one has the highest probability to end in an overtime loss.
If the Buffalo Sabres can walk away with another five points this week, it could bump them up a few rungs in the wild card hunt’s early stages. Even if I’m still iffy about the team actually sticking around that race throughout the season.
3 – The Sabres get hard-nosed this week
Not that they won’t be prone to allowing the occasional one too many goals over this next trio of games, but expect a more physical Buffalo Sabres team. Rasmus Dahlin’s big hit may have sent a shockwave not just through the NHL, but also through the team, and that could translate to a harder-nosed approach.
Look for more scuffles, more open-ice hits, and more aggression along the boards in this one. And it will pay dividends not just against Columbus, but against one of the NHL’s top teams in the Penguins.
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