Game 2 vs. Devils may set the tone for the rest of October for the Sabres

The good news for the Buffalo Sabres is that one bad season opener doesn’t always set the tone for the entire season. But losing two straight games with a rough upcoming schedule could make their first month of 2024-25 a rough one, and it’s what they don’t need. 

The opportunity is clear: Buffalo has a chance to redeem themselves when they face the Devils again tomorrow, but if they struggle through another poor showing, they’ll be playing catchup hockey early against teams like the LA Kings, Florida Panthers (twice), Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings. 

I also wouldn’t count out the Pittsburgh Penguins or even the revamped Chicago Blackhawks, so if they want to build momentum and best set themselves up for success in October, there’s no negotiating this one. The Sabres don’t need to make a statement just yet, but getting the best of New Jersey will help. 

It wouldn’t guarantee a solid month, hence the phrase ‘best set themselves up,’ but defeating what is a playoff-caliber team despite New Jersey’s poor showing in 2023-24 would boost any team’s confidence, especially if their upcoming schedule involves a pair of matchups against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. 

If the Sabres drop two straight early, a rough October may follow

Note the word ‘may’ in the subheading above because falling to 0-2-0 doesn’t guarantee a rough year, but it’s those two games vs. Florida and one vs. the Stars that worry me. The obvious good news is that all three matchups will occur in front of a home crowd that should be glad to see head coach Lindy Ruff back behind the team’s bench in a regular season game. 

So, what if the Sabres play the way they did today and fly back to the US with zero points to show for it? Again, it foreshadows a rough month, but there’s also an opportunity beyond the official Lindy Ruff Homecoming. For one, they’ll have a chance to prove they’re a better hockey team than what they showed while in Prague, and to upend the Stars or Panthers would be a great way to fully reinvigorate the fans. 

But, the best-case scenario would be snagging a win vs. the Devils tomorrow, stealing one from the LA Kings in the home opener, and heading into that game with the Panthers on October 12th full of momentum and with a (hopefully) capacity crowd ready to watch its team get the best of the defending champions. 

Buffalo will make the latter much tougher by losing momentum early with another big loss, even if opportunity knocks. But gaining some rhythm early almost guarantees an interesting matchup vs. Florida and the other playoff, near-playoff, or upstart teams on their October slate.