Why the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres had a “what if” season

With the Buffalo Sabres regular season over, what if the Sabres won one more game? Here are some “what if” scenarios from the 2022-23 season.

Since it’s officially the offseason for the Buffalo Sabres, I thought I would change it up a bit. Unfortunately, the Sabres missed out on the postseason once again by a point. Even though the team showed growth, it’s awesome they had a good season and it’s heartbreaking they missed it by one point.

With them being a point out, I am going to go back into the season where one game could’ve made the difference. This is why this season is the “what if” season. For the first what if example, let’s go back to November. What if the Sabres didn’t lose eight games in a row? In that span, Buffalo lost to Carolina, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Vegas, Boston, Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto.

The Sabres fell to some pretty good teams, but losing to Arizona and Vancouver was frustrating. What’s interesting is Buffalo was able to beat all of these teams at least once during the season. Unfortunately, another win against Vancouver or Arizona could have helped them get into the playoffs.

There was one game in particular that frustrates me. Buffalo was facing the Tampa Bay Lightning and had multiple two goal leads and still lost in overtime. What if Buffalo doesn’t blow those two leads?

The month of December was very good to the Sabres. In the 11 games they played, Buffalo went 8-2-1. In two of those losses, the Sabres were playing in a back to back against the Pittsburgh Penguins. But I want to focus on the first game that took place in Buffalo.

After tying the game up in the dying moments of the third period, Buffalo would find themselves on the penalty kill in overtime thanks to a boneheaded move from Jeff Skinner. The Penguins would end up winning the game and Skinner would be suspended. What if Buffalo won that game at home?

Buffalo Sabres had plenty of “what if” moments in 2022-23

In the month of January, the Sabres lost some games they should have won but the loss that hurt them the most was the overtime loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. Buffalo had a 3-1 lead late in the third when the Blackhawks would score two goals in the last two minutes and would eventually win the game in overtime. What if the Sabres hold on for the last minute and a half?

In February, the Blue and Gold found themselves in a playoff spot, meaning they would be playing meaningful games in the month of March. Well, March was not so good to the Sabres. Getting blown out, losing to bad teams.

March 15th against the Washington Capitals is the loss that hurt them the most. Once again, the Sabres had two goal leads twice and found a way to lose the game. At that time, the Capitals were one of the teams battling with the Sabres for a playoff spot. It makes you think, what if Buffalo could just hold on?

They also lost to the Montreal Canadiens at home in the shootout. For some reason, the Sabres had a bad habit of losing to teams they should have beaten. I wonder if they took care of business against lower tier teams then they could be in the postseason.

Lastly, the month of April. Yes, the Buffalo Sabres were playing meaningful games in April. Unfortunately, the Sabres lost a crucial game to the Florida Panthers. I’m sure that is the game that every Sabres fan refers to when it comes to a game that could have propelled them into the postseason.

So there you have it. If you ask me, that Panthers game is the biggest reason why they didn’t make the playoffs. That Blackhawks and Capitals game as well.