The Buffalo Sabres have been on an incredible run over the past 40 games, and the rate at which they are winning is something that hasn't been seen in over 30 years, since the Detroit Red Wings did it back in the mid 90s. The 32-6-2 record the Sabres have over that period has pulled them out of the basement in the Eastern Conference, to a Wild Card spot, to the top of the Atlantic Division, and most recently tied with the Carolina Hurricanes atop the Eastern Conference.
During this recent streak, many fans have thought they can't keep this pace up, but they continue to do just that. If they are able to play at this level, the idea of the Sabres winning the Presidents' Trophy, which goes to the team with the best regular-season record, isn't out of the question.
Entering Friday, there are only two teams ahead of them in the entire NHL in points, with the Colorado Avalanche at 98 and the Dallas Stars at 96. Both of those teams have games in hand, with the Avalanche playing two fewer games to this point and the Stars playing one less than the Sabres.
However, there has been no team hotter than the Sabres over the last half of the season and teams like the Avalanche are starting to stumble. They have lost four of their last five, including three of them at home.
As the Avalanche have stumbled, the Stars have been very good and gone 8-1-1 over their last 10 games. However, they have some tough games down the stretch, including two against the Minnesota Wild, and one against the Avalanche, before ending their regular season on the road in Western New York in a game that could have huge implications on who wins the Presidents' Trophy.
Could the Buffalo Sabres be playing for the Presidents' Trophy in the final regular-season game?
The way the schedule is setting up, and if the Buffalo Sabres continue this pace, it is certainly possible that the Stars and Sabres could be playing for the Presidents' Trophy in the final game of the regular season. For a team that hasn't been in the playoffs in 14 seasons, for them to end that drought as the best team in the NHL would be remarkable.
It wouldn't be the first time the Sabres have won this trophy, as the Lindy Ruff-led Sabres won it back in 2006-07 when they tied the franchise record for points with 113. During this 40-game stretch, the Sabres have had a point percentage of .825, and if they continue that over the final 13 games, they will tie that 2006-07 team and finish with exactly 113 points.
At this point, it still feels like a stretch, but as fans have learned this season, they really shouldn't doubt what this team can do, and that includes winning the Presidents' Trophy.