Buffalo Sabres: 3 bold predictions for the final week of 2022
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres are closing out 2022 with a lot of hope that 2023 will bring an end to an 11-season playoff drought. They may inch closer this week.
The end of the calendar year is upon us and the Buffalo Sabres just happen to be closer to playoff contention now than they have over the previous few seasons. That’s a huge improvement and with what is now the second-youngest roster in the league, the Blue and Gold continue to churn forward.
And this week, they have a remarkable chance to extend their recent success. So what can you expect from the Sabres in their final three games of 2022? Here are three bold predictions.
1 – Buffalo Sabres earn 5 points
Compared to December 2021, it is so much easier to have faith in the Sabres. They have beaten the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings by a combined score of 22-11 this season, and these are two teams the Blue and Gold can best once again in the late stages of December.
The Boston Bruins worry me, but then again, who don’t they worry? Overall, I’m looking for two statement wins against the Blue Jackets and Red Wings, while the Sabres hold their own against Boston.
2 – Sabres end 2022 as NHL’s highest-scoring team
As it stands, the Buffalo Sabres are now second in scoring, with 127 goals compared to the Bruins 130. This week, look for the Sabres to score four or more goals against the Blue Jackets and Red Wings, putting them in prime position to retake the lead heading into the New Year.
While I can’t see them beating Boston, I can see an overtime loss occurring here. And if that occurs, the Sabres will enter January 1st, 2023 as the NHL’s leader in goals scored.
3 – Luukkonen gives us at least one more elite performance
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got off to about as rough of a start as anyone can imagine, but he has been red-hot over his previous two contests. While his technique clearly still needs some refinement, it seems like the NHL game is slowing down for Luukkonen.
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That said, UPL is going to have at least another big game, if not two to close out the calendar year. And he will take a lot of momentum into 2023 and perhaps beyond.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
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