3 bold predictions for Week 11 of the Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 season
By Sion Fawkes
![Dec 15, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) celebrates with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) and Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) after the Sabres defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports Dec 15, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) celebrates with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) and Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) after the Sabres defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-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/f3375ec6d4fc534ae55c3fc7b0399eb2d7b9c4fc5ddc98b2dd411367ee113b33.jpg)
The Buffalo Sabres gave us hints that their entertaining offensive game was still there, so perhaps that continues into Week 11.
The Buffalo Sabres are still in perpetual stagnation in 2023-24, evidenced by their 2-2-0 record this past week. But they also showed us they can still score, even against the NHL’s best hockey team, so despite what happened on Saturday night, there should be hope that they can finally rediscover that rhythm when they have the puck.
Despite playing a pair of surefire playoff contenders this week, the Sabres have also scored upset wins over both by multiple goals, and that trend may also continue in Week 11. Both aforementioned takes comprise some bold predictions for the Blue and Gold in Week 11.
3 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres in Week 11 of 2023-24
1 – Sabres average 3.67 goals per game
In their previous meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres scored six goals, and three-and-a-half weeks later, they scored five on the New York Rangers. Buffalo has a chance to repeat recent history, and they will put up at least three goals on both teams while finally getting it together vs. a team they should beat in the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lately, the Sabres have beaten some of the NHL’s better teams, only to struggle against those they should beat. But that won’t happen this week when they start things off the right way vs. Columbus tomorrow. Overall, the total number of goals will give them a number roughly close to 3.67 per game.
2 – Sabres win two games by multiple goals
With more projected scoring this week based on who the Sabres are playing and their recent track record against two of the aforementioned teams, they will win a pair of games by multiple goals. Buffalo only needs to play the Maple Leafs and the Rangers the same way they played Vegas, and those two games alone could end up with multiple-goal wins.
But Columbus will be that easy opponent that the Sabres finally take advantage of, so what’s not to say they take a trio of contests by multiple goals? Buffalo may have suffered a shutout loss on Saturday, but that should only give them motivation.
3 – Sabres embark on another three-game points streak
The Buffalo Sabres may be 3-5-1 in December, but they still had a three-game points streak this month when they beat the Boston Bruins, lost in a shootout to the Montreal Canadiens, and defeated the Arizona Coyotes during their first meeting. It may be redundant at this time, but it’s hard not to stress how manageable this schedule should be for Buffalo, so a three-game points streak shouldn’t surprise anyone.
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However, the Maple Leafs and Rangers are still among the best teams in the league and they can get hot any time. So although this seems like a slate the Sabres can more than handle, they still need to beat or at least lose in overtime to two of the better teams in the conference to get there.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)