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Buffalo Sabres have a trio of golden opportunities in upcoming slate of games

This time last season, we would have cringed at the Buffalo Sabres playing a trio of strong playoff contenders in three straight games. In 2023-24, it may be a good thing.

By Sion Fawkes

Dec 19, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Tage Thompson (72) looks to control
Dec 19, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Tage Thompson (72) looks to control / Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
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The Buffalo Sabres have lost to a pair of lesser-talented teams over their previous two games by a combined score of 11-4. Although it’s tough to call the Arizona Coyotes “lesser” these days, the Blue and Gold were supposed to be a rung ahead of them in their respective rebuilds, but at the moment, the script appears to have flipped. 

But then again, maybe that isn’t as much of a case as we may think, given the way Buffalo has beaten some of the league’s best teams in 2023-24, including all three upcoming opponents. For most teams, facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, and the Boston Bruins, they and their fan base would be cringing, but for the Sabres, it’s a golden opportunity. 

Buffalo Sabres should be excited for their upcoming trio of contests

Tonight’s contest vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs may have that road game feel, since Toronto fans love invading KeyBank Center. Therefore, the contest should resemble the November 4th matchup when they beat the Maple Leafs 6-4, so in a hostile home environment or not, don’t be surprised if the Blue and Gold prevail.

Through two games, the Sabres and Rangers have combined for an aggregate score of 6-6, as the Rangers won 5-1 when the two met at KeyBank Center, but in their most recent matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Sabres took it 5-1. 

Finally, there are the Bruins, who did beat the Sabres 5-2 at KeyBank Center, only for the Blue and Gold to tie the season series on the road. The two teams will meet at KeyBank Center again, so this one could be the toughest matchup and the one that, considering recent events, the Sabres are most likely to lose. 

Still, if the Blue and Gold manage to finish 2-1-0 in this next slate, perhaps they finally build some momentum for themselves and end the calendar year either inching close to or reaching 0.500. But they must take advantage of their recent track record of beating some of the NHL’s best to get there. 

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(Information provided by Hockey-Reference)

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