Atlantic Division Power Ranking: Buffalo Sabres freefall in Week 21

The Buffalo Sabres at least ended their debacle of a week with a point in a loss against the New York Rangers. But what a rough one they had.

The Buffalo Sabres suffered through arguably their worst week since they were stuck in the middle of an eight-game losing streak in November 2022. Injuries have hit this team hard, and that trend seems to be continuing for Week 21.

So how far did the Blue and Gold drop in our latest Atlantic Division Power Ranking? Keep reading for more.

Buffalo Sabres lose ground in Atlantic Power Ranking

8 – Montreal Canadiens/26-34-6 (58 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 7

While the Buffalo Sabres struggled, they still didn’t compare to the Montreal Canadiens, who have now lost six straight. The good news for Habs fans? Five of those six losses came by one goal, and their most recent loss, two goals.

7 – Detroit Red Wings/30-27-9 (69 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8

I nearly put them a cut above the Sabres, but the Red Wings own recent massive losing streak is making me tread water carefully with them. If Buffalo flops again this week and Detroit wins a measly game, I’ll move them up another notch.

6 – Buffalo Sabres/32-28-5 (69 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4

Their debilitating 10-4 loss to the Dallas Stars put them in a massive hole. And while young teams like Buffalo could succumb to pressure of the ‘meaningful games in March’ stage, this team also had to toil without star winger Alex Tuch. Lots of misfortune all around.

5 – Ottawa Senators/33-29-4 (70 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3

Like our Buffalo Sabres, the Ottawa Senators have freefallen the second I give them a generous ranking. Also like our Sabres, this team has had a tendency of letting opponents beat them down – having been outscored 10-3 over their past two outings, and 19-8 over their last four.

4 – Florida Panthers/33-27-7 (73 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6

If one team was going to make a late-season push, it was the Florida Panthers. While it’s too little, too late to eek their way into a Top 3 finish in the Atlantic, they have the best chance of any team in the race to usurp the Pittsburgh Penguins or New York Islanders.

3 – Tampa Bay Lightning/39-22-6 (84 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been going back and forth lately, and they will likely end up playing (and probably defeating) the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For Sabres fans, watching these two older teams beat up on one another could be encouraging for the future.

2 – Toronto Maple Leafs/40-17-8 (88 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2

The Maple Leafs have won three of their last four, and our Sabres get to play them tonight. With a red-hot team facing an ice-cold group, things could get ugly for the Blue and Gold, and even prettier for the Leafs.

1 – Boston Bruins/50-10-5 (105 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1

As much as we don’t like the Boston Bruins, it is impressive to see teams embark on historically good seasons. And right now, they’re on pace for 132. Unless they start losing multiple games in a row, there is no way I’m moving Boston out of this spot.

Overall, the Buffalo Sabres should be jamming to Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits given the way they’ve freefallen in these latest power rankings. But they won’t back down, I can tell you that much. Let’s see what they can do this week with Tuch (presumably) back in the lineup.