Top 3 milestones the Buffalo Sabres can reach in last two games
The Buffalo Sabres may not have made the playoffs this season, but this was a year when they hit a chockful of milestones not seen in quite some time.
The Buffalo Sabres playoff drought will continue, unfortunately. But given the overall goal that they had this season, development, it’s safe to say the Blue and Gold succeeded in that endeavor.
And although we’ll be going six months without meaningful hockey from now until October, unless you count yourself in as one of those who will be cheering for the Amerks (as I will be), there are a few more milestones Buffalo can still hit.
Okay, so perhaps we will be watching some meaningful hockey. That’s if you realize the Sabres can still make this “development year” even more special.
3 milestones within the Buffalo Sabres reach
1 – Multiple 80-point scorers
As it stands, Tage Thompson is in the lead with 93 points, but Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner, 77 and 76 points, respectively, aren’t far behind the 80-point threshold. All three players who comprise the Buffalo Sabres normal first line are enjoying career seasons, and the exciting part is that they will only get better with more experience playing alongside one another.
While Casey Mittelstadt has taken the spot on the first line recently thanks to Tage’s upper body injury, the former eight overall pick has proven he too can build chemistry with Tuch and Skinner. So no, this isn’t a farfetched milestone.
2 – 90-plus points
With two games left, the Sabres have 87 points, and they’re looking to accumulate at least 90 for the first time since they hit 96 in 2010-11. They can do this in one of two ways: either through a win and an overtime loss, or more preferably, two wins.
Falling short of the playoffs is a bummer. But when you do the math, 90 points means they improved their total by 15 over the last year. Suppose that number continues to improve over the same pace in 2023-24, and you got 105 points. Even if it improved by just half next season, Buffalo would still have between 97 and 98, which could be enough to clinch a playoff spot.
3 – 300 goals
At 287 goals, this one will be a challenge unless they score six and seven, respectively, over the next two contests. But then again, the last time the Sabres played the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road, they put up nine, so I’m not ruling this one out.
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If Buffalo can manage just one more high-octane tear, then 300 goals is realistic. When was the last time they hit the milestone? You would need to go back to 2006-07, so although the Sabres fell short of the playoffs, it’s safe to say they’re in good company if they hit 300 across these final two contests.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)