Week 15 Atlantic Power Ranking: Movement around Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres finished the week 2-1-1, giving them a solid five points, though it wasn’t enough to move them up the rankings. 

The Buffalo Sabres looked like their high-octane selves as the week progressed, winning 3-2 against the New York Islanders before they finally got it together in the third period in a 6-3 outing over the Anaheim Ducks. But they still struggled against the Florida Panthers and lost in the worst way possible to the Chicago Blackhawks, giving up a valuable point.

Therefore, the Sabres showed no movement in this week’s version of the rankings. As for the rest of the Atlantic, it was fair game.

8 – Ottawa Senators/20-23-3 (43 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6

The Sens dropped four of their last five, including inexcusable 7-0, 4-1, and 5-1 losses in the process. They also lost in a defensive struggle to the St. Louis Blues.

7 – Detroit Red Wings/19-18-8 (46 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 7

For the third week in a row, the Red Wings are seventh. The Yzerman-built squad is showing more and more that his route wasn’t the best in building a team as of midseason. And it’s also showing no signs of stopping after the team lost four of its last five outings.

6 – Montreal Canadiens/20-24-3 (43 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8

Other than their 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, this team has shown some grit, with just one goal deciding four of their last six contests. The Canadiens won’t win often as the season progresses, but teams are going to have to play some solid hockey to beat them.

5 – Buffalo Sabres/23-19-3 (49 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5

The Buffalo Sabres keep playing down to their competition, but a remarkable third period against the Anaheim Ducks is something to build on. Had they beaten Chicago last week, they may have had a better chance to move up a rung.

4 – Tampa Bay Lightning/29-15-1 (59 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2

The Lightning saw their five-game winning streak snapped, and if you go back to their last ten games, they are just 6-4-0, a cut below their in-state rival, the Florida Panthers. That said, with Florida having a better week and looking like the team they were last year for once, I’m knocking Tampa down a rung.

3 – Florida Panthers/23-20-5 (51 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4

For months, the Panthers have struggled, but they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, so tentatively, I’m going to say Florida has arrived. And with 51 points, they’re only eight away from the Tampa Bay Lightning. This race might get interesting.

2 – Toronto Maple Leafs/28-11-8 (64 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3

In four of the Maple Leafs last five wins, they scored four or more goals. In four of their last five losses, they scored three or fewer. As it stands, the Leafs need to score if they plan on winning hockey games, but they did enough to move up to #2 this week.

1 – Boston Bruins/37-5-4 (78 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1

78 points in 46 games is just unbelievable. Of the nine teams that managed to beat Boston this year, the Buffalo Sabres were one of them, so that’s pretty neat when you put things into perspective.

Overall, the Sabres stayed even-keel at #5 in this week’s rankings and in the Atlantic Division standings. But as it stands, they are only five points from finding themselves in the second wild card, and if they even find themselves there for a time, that alone will be an even more remarkable improvement over last season.

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