What might a strong second half of January mean for the Buffalo Sabres?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres have reached the back half of January 2024 with a 4-2-0 record and a schedule that features the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, and a trip out west that comprises a pair of low-tier teams, plus a Los Angeles Kings squad that has just one win in their last 10 games.
Therefore, if the Sabres take advantage of these ultra-favorable matchups, every single one of them, that is, and skate away with two points in most, then it will boost their momentum as they head into the All-Star break. With five games to go in January, it’s premature to claim they will win all five matchups, even given the possibilities, but there are three games listed that they should win, and two that they should keep interesting.
And the Sabres need that momentum, and therefore, a strong end to the month, given what’s coming in February. They will open the 50th game of the season vs. the Dallas Stars, a team that beat the Blue and Gold by six goals the last time they visited KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres can surge their momentum if January ends well
The St. Louis Blues aren’t much better than the Sabres, but they are also no joke, something the Sabres saw firsthand back in November when they allowed six goals against them. Other opponents throughout the first half of February will occur vs. the Kings - who at which point could be back on track, and the always-threatening Florida Panthers. And that doesn’t include a busy second half, which includes seven games in 13 days.
Overall, a strong second half of January 2024 will work wonders for the Buffalo Sabres confidence given what’s coming when the All-Star break concludes. If the Blue and Gold continue to stagnate through the rest of the current homestand and the upcoming road trip, the first half of February will likely roll in the same direction this season has been heading in.
But again, if they finish the month with a record like 3-1-1 (seven points), it could set the stage for a strong first half of February 2024, even with tougher opponents. And if the Sabres keep that momentum rolling, they could parlay that into something even greater in that jam-packed back half of February.
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(Information provided by Hockey-Reference)