Buffalo Sabres 75 Bold Predictions for 2023-24: Prediction 53

We made one huge prediction about Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner in the past, but there is room for one more with Bold Prediction #53.

The Buffalo Sabres won more than a few thrillers last season, and three times, it came off of a game-winning goal from Jeff Skinner. In 2022-23, Skinner’s most memorable game-winner game during the closing moments of Devon Levi’s unforgettable debut.

During the contest, the Sabres were doing what they do best: Allowing teams back into games after building two-goal leads. Only this time, with a rookie goaltender making his first career NHL start, this was a game where losing the heartbreaker would be beyond unacceptable – well, when are they ever acceptable?

But this was a special case, with it being Devon Levi’s first game as a professional hockey player. Skinner drilled the puck home that night vs. the New York Rangers, and everyone went home happy. This year, Skinner’s bringing even more smiles to the faces of those who follow the Blue and Gold, as he will attain a career-high TEN game-winners in 2023-24.

Jeff Skinner catapults the Buffalo Sabres to new heights this season

In 2018-19, Skinner cashed in on seven game-winning goals, tying his career-high from his days in Carolina. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Skinner scored one measly game-winner, before he snagged four in 2021-22 in what was his career renaissance season.

We don’t know what Skinner’s goal song will be in 2023-24, but since this is Bold Prediction #53, why not project that we will hear it a lot toward the end of those hard-fought games? Ten times, to be exact, plenty of which will be highlight-reel worthy.

Jeff Skinner may be 31 years old and heading into his 14th NHL season, but so far, age has more than eluded him, and that will be the case this year. Skinner leads the Buffalo Sabres with ten game-winning goals, and his goal song will be on every fan’s playlist.

(Statistics and data provided by Hockey-Reference)