2023-24 Prediction: Buffalo Sabres to have strong January? Part I

Heading into January 2024, the Buffalo Sabres are sitting at a projected 21-14-3 (45 points). What might Month 1 in the second half of the season entail?

The Buffalo Sabres play 11 games in January 2024, and we will cover the first six in our latest projection. This is a month the Blue and Gold need to take advantage of, since you are seeing plenty of projected weaker opponents during the early stages of the new calendar year, so expect some wins.

Things start off on the fourth in a road trip against the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo takes both it and their January 6th game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming road warriors once more against a pair of teams that they are at least one rung ahead of, or match rather evenly against – despite the average age difference.

It’s hard to see the Sabres taking too many over the Seattle Kraken just yet, considering the sheer talent on the NHL’s newest team, so a loss kicks off what will be a long homestand. However, they take the next one over the Ottawa Senators, a team that they had moderate success against last season, before taking their next two against another duo of weaker opponents – the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks.

Buffalo Sabres get rolling in January 2024 vs. projected weaker opponents

Overall, a 5-1-0 record in the first half of January 2024 will put the Sabres in a prime position to compete for a Top 3 spot in the Atlantic Division as the playoff race heats up. This is one of those months that, despite what appears to be an obvious bold prediction is one that the Blue and Gold should achieve success.

And better yet, the back half of the month featuring games against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks should also be successful. And it’s what we will discuss in our January 2024 Part II projection.

• Record in the first half of January 2024: 5-1-0
• Overall Record: 26-15-3 (55 points)