The Buffalo Sabres return to the ice tomorrow in a matinee against the Calgary Flames before heading out west one more time this season.
Technically, the Buffalo Sabres matinee vs. the Calgary Flames occurs in Week 16, but since it’s the only game of the week, I’m instead considering it as part of Week 17 and by extension, writing my bold predictions piece a few days earlier. This week, the Sabres host the Flames before they head out west to face off against the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and the San Jose Sharks.
What can we expect for the upcoming week? Below, you will find my three boldest predictions not just for the week, but for the entire year to this point.
1 – Buffalo Sabres sweep the final road trip
In January, the Buffalo Sabres looked like a team who played to their competition. More recently though, they shed this moniker to a degree, and, combined with their success out west, it tells me they will sweep their final road trip.
The Sabres outscored the Kings, Ducks, and Sharks 18-6 in their respective home matchups this year, including a 6-0 dismantling of the Kings. The sweep will put the Blue and Gold in prime position to end the week sitting in one of the two wild card slots.
2 – Tage returns with a vengeance
An upper body injury hampered Tage Thompson before the All-Star break, and he was held scoreless in his final two outings before the “bye week.” However, recent reports say Tage is ready to roll for the upcoming slate of games, and I’m rolling with a 1.5 point-per-game average over the next four contests.
This would give Tage six points in four games, and 74 total on the season as he continues his quest toward the century mark. And with Tage’s resurgence, expect the Sabres to put up a few highlight reel performances on offense.
3 – Sabres end week in wild card spot
The Buffalo Sabres are currently three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and four behind the Washington Capitals. At worst, I’m (boldly) looking for seven points this week, which would give the Blue and Gold 63 on the season, cementing them into one of the two spots if they had some help and saw those ahead of them lose a few games.
But I will go out on a limb and say the teams ahead of the Sabres struggle just enough for them to inch one point ahead for the wild card come Sunday, February 19th. And that could provide quite a momentum builder for Buffalo across the second half of the month.
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