The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the ‘meat’ of their 2024-25 NHL Season, and with a pair of homestands in their immediate future featuring some tough competition, they couldn’t have chosen a better time to go on a roll. But how elite have the Sabres been since they beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on October 19th?
Well, other than the fact that the W kicked off the first of a trio of three-game winning streaks so far this season, including a California road trip, you might be surprised with what we can call at least some near-elite play. Don’t believe me? Well, just check out the numbers and prepare to be amazed at what the Blue and Gold have done over their past 15 contests.
Let’s start with their 10-5-0 record, good for 20 points, and adjusted to 109.3 points at 82 games. Overall, with 23 points in 21 total games (between 89 and 90 when adjusted), it indicates the Sabres could be sailing beyond that latter average if they keep up this high-octane game. Oh, and speaking of high-octane…
The Sabres have scored 52 goals, or 3.46 per contest, so when we have fun and adjust those to 82 outings, we get 284. With 69 total on the season through those 21 total contests, the Blue and Gold are on pace for between 269 and 270, which also isn’t a bad number.
They’ve also allowed just 41, or 2.73 per game, since their October 19th win, which also isn’t a bad number. Let’s fast-forward to special teams, where 11 power play goals in 46 opportunities puts the Sabres at a solid 23.9 rate, and their 84.6 penalty kill percentage is another sensational number.
Buffalo Sabres have been playing elite-level hockey since October 19th
So, where does that leave the Blue and Gold as they head into a rough couple of homestands? Maybe their recent elite effort and results will finally give them the momentum needed to sustain it.
Part of me is having flashbacks to November 2018, and we all know what happened when that magical month ended. But the other part is also saying the following:
- Lindy Ruff was seemingly long gone from Buffalo
- Rasmus Dahlin was a rookie who was still learning the ins and outs of the NHL
- Jeff Skinner was the team’s best scorer
- The team’s second-best defenseman had a minus-41 rating
- The Sabres also weren’t supposed to do anything following a rough 2017-18 season
You look at this current team, and it’s twice as deep as that 2018-19 team. Rasmus Dahlin is one of the NHL’s best defensemen, and even when the team’s best forward is on the mend, there’s more than enough talent at forward to compensate.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been light years ahead of where Linus Ullmark was in experience and is consistent enough to be the long-term answer following last season’s breakout. That said, the similarities between the two teams are hard to find, and it’s a group that is in a much better position to play consistent hockey, especially judging from the numbers I shared.
So, Sabres fans, could it be? Hey, if they survive these next two homestands plus that lone road game against the Islanders with a decent points total, things will get very, very interesting quickly.