Looking ahead to Week 22 of the Buffalo Sabres 2023-2024 season

It was an average Week 21 for the Buffalo Sabres as the club went 1-1-1 last week. After an overtime loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres lost again but in regulation against the Nashville Predators. In a very strange ending, Buffalo avoided going 0/3 as they beat the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday afternoon.

As crazy as it sounds, Buffalo is still alive in the playoff race. Where they stand right now, the Sabres are 30-30-5 with 65 points. For the seeding, Buffalo is seven points out of the final wild-card spot. This week could tell whether or not the Sabres get closer.

They will need some help but if Buffalo can take care of business, then they could very well be in the discussion for the second spot. Buffalo will have three games this week, two of them against the same team. Up first, Patrick Kane and the Detroit Red Wings.

Why is this opponent crucial? The Red Wings are the team holding the final card spot. Detroit has 72 points and are two points back of the first wild card spot being occupied at the moment by the Tampa Bay Lightning who have 74 points.

Buffalo and Detroit have not seen each other since December when the Red Wings beat the Sabres at KeyBank Center. Tuesday's game will be in Buffalo and that will be the final time the two teams see each other in the Sabres home.

On Thursday, Buffalo will host the New York Islanders. It will be the third and final meeting between the Sabres and Islanders as each team has won once, so this will be the rubber match. Just like Buffalo, New York is in the playoff race with 70 points and they are right behind Detroit in the playoff race.

It is important to note that the Islanders are in action tonight as they are taking on the Anaheim Ducks. Regardless, they're in the race as well.

Saturday afternoon will be the final game of the week for the Sabres when they'll see the Red Wings once again but this time in Detroit. Depending on how the team does, that game could be crucial. Not only for the Sabres but the Red Wings as well.

For my predictions, I got Buffalo winning two games. They will win their first two games but lose in Detroit.