Atlantic Power Ranking: Buffalo Sabres stay in the Top Four – Week 11

The Buffalo Sabres are riding a four game winning streak heading into Week 11 of the 2022-23 NHL Season. Where do they stand this week?

The Buffalo Sabres have enjoyed a dominant December, and it has reflected itself nicely in the Atlantic Division Power Rankings. And while the Blue and Gold may have held steady, many teams saw volatility this week, especially in the bottom six and top three.

So who ranks where in this final week of 2022? Keep reading to find out.

8 – Florida Panthers/15-16-4 (34 points)

Last Week Ranking: 5

It was tough to decide who to put at #8 in the power ranking for Week 11, but since the Florida Panthers are 3-7-0 in their previous 10 games, the dishonor goes to them. Florida has also dropped their last three contests.

7 – Montreal Canadiens/ 15-16-3 (33 points)

Last Week Ranking: 8

The Canadiens are 3-5-2 in their last 10, and they continue to struggle. They have also dropped five of their last six, and things don’t get easier with the Tampa Bay Lightning on the schedule to start the week.

6 – Ottawa Senators/14-16-3 (31 points)

Last Week Ranking: 6

The Ottawa Senators may have dropped their previous three outings, but at 5-3-2 in their last 10, they hold even at #6 this week. The bad news, however, is that opponents outscored them 12-5 over their last three games.

5 – Detroit Red Wings/14-11-7 (35 points)

Last Week Ranking: 7

The Detroit Red Wings have shown us just how valuable overtime losses are, having compiled seven on the season. Those one-point outings add up, and it has put them ahead of the Buffalo Sabres in the division for the time being. But the Blue and Gold take the nod in the power ranking.

4 – Buffalo Sabres/16-14-2 (34 points)

Last Week Ranking: 4

The Sabres are riding a four-game winning streak, and they can realistically extend that streak to six with Columbus and Detroit coming up. Buffalo will have their work cut out for them on New Year’s Eve, however, when they faceoff with the Boston Bruins.

3 – Tampa Bay Lightning/20-11-1 (41 points)

Last Week Ranking: 1

The Tampa Bay Lightning enjoyed the top spot in the rankings last week, but a two-game losing streak saw them relinquish that lead back to the Bruins. To make matters worse, both losses came against division opponents that outscored them 11-5.

2 – Toronto Maple Leafs/21-7-6 (47 points)

Last Week Ranking: 3

Like the Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs have also shown us value in overtime losses, and it helped them become one of the more dominant teams in the NHL this year. This group has also won six of their last eight, and could be getting hot as we approach midseason.

1 – Boston Bruins/27-4-2 (56 points)

Last Week Ranking: 2

Riding yet another winning streak, the Bruins are back in the driver’s seat of the Atlantic Division once more. This team was so good in Week 10 that, from a scoring standpoint, they passed the Buffalo Sabres for the league lead in the category.

Overall, there was some volatility at the top and bottom of the Atlantic Division Power Rankings for Week 11. The Sabres have held even, but they could find themselves rising if they have a successful week to close out 2022.

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