3 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 4 of 2023-24
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.
2 – Sabres shut out the Flyers power play…twice
If there is one avenue that has been stellar for the Sabres across the first two weeks of the season, it’s the penalty kill, and they are currently sitting at 89.19 percent through nine games. As for the Flyers, their power play is nearly as bad as Buffalo’s, going just 4 for 27 so far in 2023-24.
Clearly, it’s a mismatch on paper, and if the Black and Red can shut out the Colorado Avalanche’s power play six times – okay, five times since the last one lasted about five seconds – then they can shut out anyone’s. Therefore, look for the Blue and Gold to take full advantage of Philadelphia’s weak man advantage, and post another pair of perfect performances while shorthanded.
The Sabres also have the Flyers beaten in shooting percentage and save percentage at 5-on-5. So if they play the same game that they played on Sunday, they have a good chance of winning at least one if not both of these games.
3 – Sabres force Maple Leafs to try and beat them at 5-on-5…and win
Last year, the Sabres lost the season series to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that’s just not going to cut it for a team that has historically had the upper-hand overall. Therefore, the Blue and Gold will skate into Toronto and immediately find a way to inconvenience the Leafs, and the best way to beat one of the NHL’s best teams is to keep them at 5-on-5.
While Toronto’s xGF sits at 18.5, and nearly three goals above the league average, their aGF is just 14, which sits one below. This means they probably have a great power play. While the Sabres PK unit can cancel out the Leafs big-time power play, the Sabres 5-on-5 game has been king when it comes to scoring goals, posting a 9.4 shooting percentage, and a 21 aGF – both above the league average.
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And yep, the Buffalo Sabres won’t just force the Leafs into playing them at 5-on-5, they will also edge them out. This would prove to be especially true if, presumably, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s, hot streak is still alive and well.
(Statistics and data provided by Hockey-Reference)