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Buffalo Sabres: 3 bold predictions heading into 2023’s penultimate week

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) reaches for the puck in front of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Brendan Lemieux (22) during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) reaches for the puck in front of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Brendan Lemieux (22) during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres find themselves in playoff contention. Can they inch closer to a berth?

The Buffalo Sabres are on the outside, and looking in. That alone is huge for a team that many claimed would likely finish seventh in the Atlantic, ahead of only the Montreal Canadiens. But here they are, fighting for a playoff spot with 81 points and seven games left in the year.

So will they play well enough to stay in contention for the final week? I might just make that one of my three bold predictions. Keep reading to find out more.

Bold predictions in next-to-last week of Buffalo Sabres 2023 season

1 – Sabres get PHYSICAL against the Panthers

While the Sabres have been more physical following their respective trades for Riley Stillman and Jordan Greenway, they are still a stagnant bunch in the physicality department. That will change for at least one evening when they skate into Florida and take on the hard-hitting Panthers.

This is playoff hockey, even if the game is still occurring in the regular season. So expect a hard-hitting affair, maybe fight (or two), and a level of intensity that you haven’t seen from your Buffalo Sabres since silver was still a main part of their color scheme.

2 – Tage returns with a vengeance

Tage Thompson missed the last three contests with an injury, but he will return at some point this week, seeking two things:

  1. To take the Sabres one step closer to the playoffs, and
  2. To inch closer to the 50-goal mark.

Guess what? Tage will accomplish both this week, scoring three goals, which will put him at 47 on the season, and yes, his return will catapult Buffalo into…

3 – Remaining in contention

Not saying the Sabres will enjoy the same week they had to end March, but they will do just enough to, for the first time in what feels like forever, stay in the wild card race in the final week. I’m not going to get so bold and claim they’ll be the front-runner here, and just a point or two behind Pittsburgh or the New York Islanders, but they will remain in proximity.

Related Story. Power Ranking Week 24: Buffalo Sabres peaking?. light

Overall, it’s been an exciting season for the Buffalo Sabres. And playoffs or not, they definitely gave us a reason to keep watching until the end. Now let’s see if they can bring this final prediction into reality.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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