The Buffalo Sabres got a much-needed win on Monday night over the Tampa Bay Lightning to get right back in the Atlantic Division race. On Tuesday night, it was a mixed bag as the Lightning would lose to the Ottawa Senators, but the Montreal Canadiens tied it with just over 20 seconds left before winning in a shootout.
Entering the games on Tuesday, the Sabres and Lightning were tied at 102 points, while the Canadiens were not far behind with 100. Both the Lightning and Canadiens had a slight advantage as they had a game in hand, but the Lightning squandered that advantage with the 6-2 loss.
Now, all three teams are essentially all tied up with 102 points in 78 games played. This is a race that is probably going to come down to tiebreakers, and that is why the Buffalo Sabres must get a regulation win over the New York Rangers.
Buffalo Sabres have a huge opportunity ahead of them against the New York Rangers
The Buffalo Sabres have clinched their playoff spot, but their work is not done as winning the Atlantic Division gives them their best chance of advancing in the playoffs. By finishing first in the division, they are guaranteed home-ice advantage, which includes the first two games of the series being played in Buffalo.
In addition, winning the Atlantic Division also means they avoid the Lightning and Canadiens in the first round as they play the first wild card team.
The Sabres have been in this position recently with what should be winnable games, but have struggled to match the intensity of their opponents. When seeing how they played against the Lightning, it just feels like the Sabres could be overlooking some teams, and the Rangers are one of those teams that could fall into that category.
The Rangers have already been eliminated from the playoffs and are last in the Eastern Conference with 75 points. However, the Rangers have won their last two games by a combination of 12-2, including an 8-1 win over the Washington Capitals.
When looking ahead in this race, the Lightning and Canadiens are playing on Thursday night in what is a must-win for both teams. For the Sabres, they can put pressure on them, not only with a win but a regulation win, as that is the first tiebreaker.
In terms of regulation wins, the Lightning and Sabres are tied with 39 while the Canadiens are well behind at 32. If the Sabres can secure regulation wins over the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday while the Canadiens find a way to win in regulation over the Lightning, the Sabres could have a two-point lead over Montreal and four point lead over Tampa Bay heading into the weekend.