The Buffalo Sabres were completely outclassed in an early-season loss to the dominant Colorado Avalanche. It was part of an underwhelming 5-8-4 start to the campaign for the Blue and Gold, who've suddenly transformed into one of the NHL's hottest teams.
Buffalo will carry a nine-game winning streak into a New Year's Eve clash with the Dallas Stars, who rank second in the league with 57 points behind only the Avs (65). Wednesday night represents a chance for the squad to show how much improvement its made since that Oct. 13 defeat at the hands of Colorado.
The Sabres' latest victory, a 4-2 road triumph over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night, continued to showcase a more sustainable brand of winning hockey. They dominated the final two periods, giving the Blues no space or time to create chances offensively.
"We have a lot of character in this room," Buffalo winger Zach Benson told reporters. "Everyone knows we have skill, but how many blocks we have on a night, pucks getting out on a wall, it's just little things like that and it adds up throughout a game. We're doing all the details right."
Benson added: "It's a pretty good vibe around here, eh? It's awesome to be a part of and just looking to keep going here."
It's certainly a different vibe from early December, when the Sabres lost three straight games and it appeared their playoff hopes would fade away before the calendar even flipped to 2026.
Now the question is whether Buffalo can keep up with the high-flying Stars, who've scored 139 goals in 39 contests (3.56 per game) during their impressive 25-7-7 start.
A strong showing against Dallas would go a long way to prove the Blue and Gold's recent hot streak is a legitimate illustration of progress and not just another mirage.
For now, let's analyze the latest installment of the Sabres player grades series, which sees a lot of high marks following the win over St. Louis.
Zach Benson leads the charge as the Buffalo Sabres continue their winning ways in a Dec. 29 victory over the St. Louis Blues
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Zach Benson | 9.5 |
Josh Norris | 9 |
Jack Quinn | 8.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 8 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 8 |
Michael Kesselring | 7.5 |
Beck Malenstyn | 7.5 |
Owen Power | 7 |
Bowen Byram | 7 |
Alex Lyon | 7 |
Jordan Greenway | 6.5 |
Alex Tuch | 6.5 |
Josh Doan | 6 |
Peyton Krebs | 6 |
Tage Thompson | 5.5 |
Josh Dunne | 5.5 |
Noah Ostlund | 5.5 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 5 |
Zach Metsa | 4.5 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Zach Benson
Benson delivered the game-winning goal early in the third period when he knocked the puck out of the air and into the net. It was a well-deserved moment in the spotlight for the 2023 first-round pick, who's usually doing the dirty forechecking work that often goes unnoticed.
The 20-year-old winger still hasn't found his finishing touch, as Monday's tally was just his fourth in 25 appearances this season, but that's essentially the only thing holding him back from becoming a dominant two-way force in the NHL.
He's a relentless worker who's constantly winning puck battles against taller, heavier opponents. He's not afraid to fight for space atop the crease, and eventually he's going to start capitalizing on those chances he generates in the inner slot.
Benson's play-driving metrics have been fantastic pretty much from the moment he arrived in Buffalo, which helped him stick in the NHL immediately. He's continued to make positive strides and has firmly established himself as part of the team's core moving forward.
The Canadian rising star is exactly the type of player who tends to thrive in playoff hockey.
Sabres quick hits
- Josh Norris delivered a picture-perfect pass to Noah Ostlund for the Sabres' first goal and continues to play at a point-per-game pace (five goals and seven assists in 12 appearances).
- It's a treat to watch Jack Quinn play when he's displaying an aggressive, attacking mindset in the offensive zone. He was a chance-creating machine against the Blues.
- Michael Kesselring took another step toward shaking off the rust from a pair of early injuries and should be far more productive in the season's second half.
- Alex Lyon looked shaky at times, especially in the first period, but he still rose to the occasion and kept St. Louis at bay until Buffalo locked down the win.
- Josh Doan played another strong game but he's got to start converting on his point-blank opportunities at a higher rate.
- Peyton Krebs' 5-on-5 offensive metrics remain modest at best, but his work rate never wavers and it's earned him an extended look on the top line.
- The Sabres (20-14-4) are tied for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as they prepare for the New Year's Eve visit to the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night (8 p.m. ET) to battle the Stars.