Buffalo Sabres pull off major upset and other bold predictions in Week 8

The Buffalo Sabres are heading into Week 8 following what may be their most demoralizing loss of the year, but they can always bounce back.

Wow, the Buffalo Sabres have a tough schedule yet again as they enter Week 8, and this one could see them dropping three out of four. But I’m getting bold and saying it won’t happen; in fact, I’ll get ultra-bold and say they will win three out of four, including a major upset against none other than the Carolina Hurricanes.

After that embarrassing loss on Saturday, don’t think for a single second that this team, as injured, young, and demoralized as they may be, won’t enter this week with something to prove. Not that tonight will be a win, but expect a closer game with a hint of urgency. However, it will set the stage for a much better week than we all may be anticipating.

3 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 8

1 – Casey Mittelstadt earns a point per game

So far, Casey Mittelstadt is on a four-game points streak, or better yet, a four-game assists streak. And through 21 games, the 25-year-old is tied with Jeff Skinner and Rasmus Dahlin for the team lead with 17 – who would have thought that would happen this time last year?

He carries the momentum of the four-game streak he’s been riding and snags at least one in each contest, starting tonight against the New York Rangers. This means Mittelstadt will end the week with 21 points in 25 contests, continuing what could be his best season yet.

2 – Sabres win a pair of thrillers against St. Louis, Nashville

We already covered the major upset the Blue and Gold will pull off, but they fared pretty well against St. Louis and they also won big against Nashville in a game. This week, the Sabres get it together against both teams, and earn their first three-game winning streak of the season.

And before you claim it’s far-fetched for the Blue and Gold to win three in a row, it nearly happened between November 19th and November 24th when they embarked on their second three-game points streak of the month. But that gut-wrenching loss to the Washington Capitals prevented it.

3 – Jeff Skinner paces the Sabres power play again

With 10 goals and 17 points in 21 games, Jeff Skinner is once again showing us he’s one of the Buffalo Sabres most effective forwards. But his four power play goals also show that he’s carrying the team on the man advantage, and that will continue this week when he knocks down two more goals in the same situation.

It will give Skinner six total power play goals on the year, and he will also accord one assist on the man advantage, giving him three points for the week. And that doesn’t include what he will score at even strength.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)