Buffalo Sabres will be a well-rested bunch heading into Columbus

In case you haven’t heard, the NHL postponed the Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game scheduled for December 23rd. 

The Buffalo Sabres were scheduled to play one more game before their mini-break, but a freak winter storm had other ideas, causing the NHL to reschedule the game until March 2023. This gives the Blue and Gold an extended period to rest up before their final three games of December, and they are going to need it.

Not only will the Columbus Blue Jackets seek revenge next week, looking to prove to Buffalo and the world that they are better than the team that lost 9-4 earlier this month, but the Sabres will also be facing the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. While Columbus and Detroit don’t look so strong on paper, they are teams I’m not taking lightly.

Boston, meanwhile, will be by far the toughest matchup on the slate as the Bruins continue to reign blows upon most of their opponents. And the Sabres are no different, having lost 3-1 to Boston earlier this season.

Buffalo Sabres have a major advantage with the seven-day break

As you know, the Sabres are once again dealing with injuries to their defensive rotation. Ilya Lyubushkin returned to the lineup against Vegas, and was nearly sent back to injured reserve following a vicious hit against Vegas on Monday night, though it didn’t look like the hit did too much damage.

Jacob Bryson, Owen Power, and Henri Jokiharju are on the mend. With the additional week off, Power could be good to go come the 27th, when the Sabres face the Blue Jackets, though it remains up in the air regarding Bryson and Jokiharju.

Overall, the Sabres have a chance to rest up before their final three games in December. And while they look better than two of those three opponents, by no means should they be taking the vengeful Blue Jackets and Red Wings lightly before their New Year’s Eve showdown with Boston.

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