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3 X-Factors that will make or break the Buffalo Sabres season

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his hat trick with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his hat trick with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Tyler Motte (14) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

2 – Health

A couple weeks back, I said Mattias Samuelsson was the Team MVP. Of course, that’s always going to stir a debate, but when Samuelsson is in the lineup, the Sabres have won 30 of their 37 games. When Samuelsson is not in the lineup, Buffalo’s won just seven contests.

This past week, the Blue and Gold’s top ten power play unit, top five for the most part, struggled without Tage Thompson. And while the Sabres did just fine with Casey Mittelstadt sliding into Tage’s role at even strength, the power play has been nothing more than flat.

Once Tage returns, the Buffalo Sabres have got to stay healthy for these last seven games. Not that their playoff hopes completely diminish as strange things can happen, but it will put them even further behind the eight ball.

A healthy Sabres team can hang with anyone. But if just one or two of their regular starters miss time, this group’s on-ice performance, at best, may stagnate.

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