Buffalo Sabres reach the 81-point milestone for first time since 2016

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, giving them 81 points on the season, something they haven’t accomplished since 2015-16.

The Buffalo Sabres haven’t attained 80-plus points since the 2015-16 season. Want more fun? That year, they finished seventh in the Atlantic, and 14th in the Eastern Conference. So yeah, it goes to show you how badly this team has played over the past decade.

But here in 2022-23, a win over the Philadelphia Flyers has put them within striking distance following the Pittsburgh Penguins loss to the Boston Bruins earlier today. And ironically enough, the Sabres will be rooting for the Flyers, who are playing the Penguins tomorrow in Pittsburgh.

And to make matters more interesting, Buffalo plays the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, in a game that could put the Blue and Gold closer to that coveted WC2 spot. But for now, let’s take a moment and appreciate the progress our Sabres have made over the past year, where many experts and pundits didn’t see this team going anywhere except the Connor Bedard Sweepstakes.

No, 81 points is nothing to brag about. But for a developing team like the Sabres that haven’t been there in a while, it’s a milestone nonetheless.

Buffalo Sabres attain 81 points for the first time in seven seasons

It’s also clear the Sabres have proven just about everyone wrong. And while they are still in outer orbit as far as the playoffs are concerned, to be in the conversation with just seven games to go in the regular season should serve as yet another measuring stick to show us just how far this team has come in such a short time.

Sure, reaching an 81-point milestone definitely shows us how bad this team has been in recent years; and it’s only the second time since 2012 since they reached it unless you count the 2012-13 season, where they accumulated 48 points in 48 games, putting the team on pace for 82.

You may find this article laughable. I mean, how many NHL teams should be celebrating 81 measly points after 75 games? But as for me, I’m taking a different approach, happy to see 81 this season even if I expected the Blue and Gold to reach it.

For a team that’s been perpetually attaining under the 81-point mark for ages, especially one expected to do nothing in a developmental season, it’s a milestone. And while it won’t happen this year, it’s time to figure out how they can get 90-plus for the first time since 2010-11, when they finished the year with 96 and made those elusive playoffs.