Previewing a big Week 18 for the Buffalo Sabres (The Gauntlet)
By Zach Jezioro
The Buffalo Sabres have a huge week that awaits them, with a slew of tough challenges as they try to compete for a playoff spot.
If I said to you back in the Summer, “The Buffalo Sabres will be fighting for a playoff spot in mid February”, I bet you would think I was crazy. Well, that is exactly the case. It is the middle of February and the Sabres are only three points out for a spot in the postseason.
This is unfamiliar territory for the team who has the longest playoff drought in the NHL and was viewed as a team who was projected to finish at the bottom of the league or, at most, be average. Now I know we still have a couple of months to go and a lot can happen, but Buffalo is in a good spot.
Even though they have put themselves in that good spot, this week will be a challenge for the Sabres. Buffalo will play four games: Toronto at home on Tuesday, a back-to-back against Tampa Bay and Florida on Thursday and Friday, then will host Washington on Sunday afternoon.
All four games will be tough but those last two games against the Panthers and Capitals are going to be very crucial games as both of those teams are just two of the few teams competing with Buffalo for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo Sabres facing arguably their toughest week yet
For the second time this season, the Sabres will take on the Maple Leafs in Buffalo to start the week. The last time Buffalo saw Toronto, the Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-2 back in November. When the Sabres lost that game, they were in the middle of a eight game losing streak.
For this matchup, Buffalo is fighting for a spot in the playoffs and it’s always fun when the Leafs are in town. I expect the Sabres to be ready for this one. After the Maple Leafs game, the team will travel to the Sunshine State for a back-to-back. Up first, the Lightning.
Whenever the Sabres usually see the Lightning, Tampa Bay always seems to get the better of the matchup. The same goes for the Panthers as both teams have defeated Buffalo whenever they played them this season. We all know how tough the Lightning are but I want to focus on the matchup against the Panthers.
Buffalo will see Florida twice before the season is over. This week and then in April, both games could be vital if the Sabres make it into the postseason. The last two times Buffalo has seen Florida, the Panthers have won both times, while both games were in Buffalo.
Now, the last two games will be played in Florida. For some whatever reason, the Sabres have more success on the road than at home so maybe they can flip the script and defeat the Panthers. Florida and Buffalo are just two of the few teams in the race so both matchups will be critical for both teams.
On Sunday afternoon, the Sabres will take on another team who are fighting a spot in the playoffs, the Washington Capitals. Washington is in a bit of a funk right now, but I can see things changing for them between now and next Sunday.
Alex Ovechkin is away from the team for personal reasons so we don’t know when he’ll be back but the Capitals do miss him. Regardless of how the week plays out, both of these teams know the magnitude of this game and I expect it to be a battle.
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It will be a gauntlet week for the Sabres but if they want to earn a spot in the postseason and break the drought, these next four games could determine where they finish either in or out of the playoff picture, especially the games against the Panthers and Capitals. One thing is for sure, it’s exciting to see the team in this position for the first time in a very long time.
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