3 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 4 of 2023-24
By Sion Fawkes
![Mar 13, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju (10) battles with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) for the puck during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports Mar 13, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju (10) battles with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) for the puck during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c9c0d0f5ad3f9f6dc630592196833ccce11d7a10cdb126a9d751e4beb7c7aa07.jpg)
The Buffalo Sabres have three games in Week 4 on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, against the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Buffalo Sabres sit at 4-5-0, but they should have some much-needed momentum heading into November 2023. An 0-2-0 start caused some panic, as did the 2-4-0, and 3-5-0 start. But Buffalo can reach 0.500 if they beat a team that doesn’t figure to be in the playoffs any time soon in the Philadelphia Flyers, who they play on both Wednesday and Friday in Week 4.
The Sabres schedule gets a little rough this Saturday, when they head over to Toronto and face their biggest rival, the Maple Leafs. This game should be a memorable one, as the Sabres would love to gain ground on the Leafs and the two teams their cross-border rivals are tied with at 11 points (probably more by the time that game rolls around) in the Atlantic.
So let’s get bold on how this week will play out for the Sabres, with some epic predictions coming in both of their games against the Flyers, and the weekly finale against the Leafs.
3 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 4
1 – Sabres post at least a near-shutout once this week
Hey, why not, right? Buffalo had the New York Islanders shut out in their most recent game’s first 58 minutes, and this past Sunday, they got their shutout win over the Colorado Avalanche, so let’s have fun and say the Sabres at least get close again. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen showed us he can indeed post shutout performances, and chances are, he’s getting two starts this week, so if he remains hot, it’s more than possible.
While such a game probably wouldn’t occur against the mighty Toronto Maple Leafs (but then again, who thought it would happen vs. Colorado?), the Sabres have a more manageable opponent in the Philadelphia Flyers. Even if things didn’t go Buffalo’s way in two of the three games in which they played Philadelphia didn’t go their way – the power of the Goatheads didn’t even help!
But still, if there is a team such a game is most likely to happen against, it’s the Flyers. The Buffalo Sabres and Maple Leafs game could be one epic outing.