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The 2022-23 playoffs have started early for the Buffalo Sabres

By Sion Fawkes

Mar 7, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with the Buffalo Sabres bench during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with the Buffalo Sabres bench during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /
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Congratulations to the Buffalo Sabres for “snapping” their near 12-season playoff drought, as their final 19 contests will be playoff matchups. 

It’s true, the Buffalo Sabres, after 12 long seasons have snapped their playoff drought. In a manner of speaking, that is. See, following their controversial loss to the New York Islanders, the Sabres have found themselves playing playoff hockey from now until either one of two things happen:

  1. They stun the NHL world and sneak into the playoffs, despite the bleakness of their current situation, or,
  2. The dreaded lower-case ‘e’ sits beside their name

As of 4:00 pm, Buffalo finds themselves in a freefall, now six points behind the New York Islanders, and five behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re another two points behind their heated division rival, the Florida Panthers, and are, via tiebreaker, also behind the Ottawa Senators.

With 19 games remaining in their 2022-23 season, Buffalo has left themselves with zero margin for error. But unfortunately for them, there is no Alex Tuch for the foreseeable future, while two players who bring a physical edge, Riley Stillman and Mattias Samuelsson, have been day-to-day.

The shorthanded Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 playoffs arrived early

Right now, the Sabres are beaten, battered, and once again, this team is missing Mattias Samuelsson. While Samuelsson does little offensively, Buffalo is a much better team when he is in the lineup. Stillman has a small sample size, but we’ve already seen him batter opponents…at least until he forgets to defend himself during a fight. But hey, A for effort.

While Quinn filled in for Tuch and has been solid, there is no replacing the star winger. Buffalo is nowhere near the high-octane team without him, as they’ve shown time and again since he went down with a lower-body injury.

Must Read. Sabres: Granato got it wrong by scratching J.J. Peterka. light

So here we stand, with under 20 games left, staring at a five and six-point deficit, shorthanded, beaten, battered, and practically demoralized following back-to-back losses. I’ve heard fans of many hardluck sports cities tell me, “nothing comes easy” to their teams. But in Buffalo, nothing will ever come easy for this championship-starved city. At least as far as the four major sports leagues go.

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