Will the Buffalo Sabres embark on their second winning streak tonight?
By Sion Fawkes
![Oct 23, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) controls the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (22) defends during the third period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports Oct 23, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) controls the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (22) defends during the third period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-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/4a5cd752100fc2c66e950aff6cab98df89692e336c511a2785297d874bfb6fe3.jpg)
It’s been nearly two months since the Buffalo Sabres regular season kicked off, and they have just one small winning streak.
The Buffalo Sabres haven’t won two games in a row in about 40 days if you’re keeping track at home. And although they are nearly two full months into the season, the Blue and Gold have, overall, not won more than two games in a row, nor have they garnered anything more than a three-game points streak.
Tonight, the Sabres face the Montreal Canadiens, whom they played a month-and-a-half ago and were mainly outplayed in the game’s biggest stat line – goals scored. Had Buffalo found a way to get the puck into the back of the net after recording 37 shots on goal, they may have parlayed that game into a win, and it likely would have led to a three-game winning streak.
In the game prior, the Sabres beat the New York Islanders in a near-shutout, and in the contest following their loss to Montreal, Buffalo defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-4. Such a streak also may have even changed the trajectory of their season, but let’s not speculate too much.
Buffalo Sabres have a good chance to embark on their second winning streak
Tonight, the Sabres are skating into almost the same situation that they did before their first game vs. Montreal: An upset win that also happened to boast a final score of 3-1, a day of rest, and an ensuing home game. The only real difference is that Buffalo won their previous contest on the road instead of at home, but nearly everything else is equal.
Will the Buffalo Sabres take advantage of a Montreal Canadiens team that should be at least one step behind them? Or will their struggles vs. their division rival north of the border continue tonight?
The Sabres should have laid their latest blueprint for winning games following their major upset against Boston. But then again, they should have laid it out after their victory over the New York Rangers, and a four-game losing streak followed.
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If they can play an identical brand of hockey tonight vs. the Canadiens that they displayed against the Bruins, then perhaps this team will finally give us another winning streak, even if it’s a small one. But as it stands, whether the Sabres can string together even two wins consistently remains their most burning question of the 2023-24 season.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)