The Buffalo Sabres are playing meaningful games in April for the first time in a while, and it’s a healthy Blue and Gold at that. Can they go the distance?
Here we are, with seven games remaining in the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres season, and this one could be stacking up to be a wild finish. Whether the Sabres make their triumphant return to the postseason remains to be seen, but they are in as good of a position as anyone above them to snag a wild card spot.
While the Sabres, with 81 points on the year, sit four behind the Florida Panthers (85) and five behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (86), they also have two games in hand over each, and that in and of itself can pay dividends. They are also six points behind the New York Islanders (87 points), but with three games in hand.
Tonight, Buffalo is playing one of those teams, the Florida Panthers, and it’s a road game at that. Typically, you may see this as a disadvantage, but few teams in the NHL have played better than Buffalo on the road this season.
Healthy Buffalo Sabres poised for season’s final stretch
Following their road affair against Florida, it’s onto another road game against Detroit, before the Blue and Gold return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes. Then it’s another pair of road games against the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, before Buffalo swings back home one more time for a tilt vs. the Ottawa Senators.
Finally, it’s back on the road for the final time season finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And hey, when you look at this schedule, the Sabres have beaten every team except for the Hurricanes.
They played the Rangers tough in both of their previous matchups, including a win in Devon Levi’s debut, and they also handled the Devils rather well. Buffalo’s in position to land the season sweep on Detroit, they’ve beaten Ottawa, and they’ve also topped Columbus.
Overall, it’s a tough, but manageable slate. And to be honest, it’s even more manageable now thanks to the fact this team’s finally got its key players back in Tage Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson.
So can the Buffalo Sabres rise to the occasion and win at least four of these games while snagging an OTL in another, finishing the season at roughly 4-2-1 (9 points) – 41-33-8 (90 points)?
That’s my prediction if this team stays healthy. And while there are no guarantees it will land the team in a playoff spot, it will at least keep them in contention.
Source: It’s full speed ahead with a stacked lineup as Sabres go on the prowl against Panthers by Mike Harrington, BuffaloNews.com
(Standings info provided by ESPN.com)