The Sabres have won five of their last six games as last night they took down the Ottawa Senators by a score of 5-2. This game meant a lot for both teams surprisingly, Ottawa currently holds the Wild Card 1 spot and are on their way to the playoffs, but the Sabres are second to last now in the Eastern Conference as they passed the Bruins.
So why did this game matter for the Sabres? Yes, technically the Sabres are still in playoff contention as they sit nine points back of a playoff spot with eight games remaining. However, it was this specific win against the Sens that helped the Sabres accomplish a feat they hadn’t done in 32 years.
That you ask is sweeping the season series against the Senators, as the Sabres went 4-0 on the season against Ottawa. The last time they did this was the 92-93 season, which was Ottawa’s 2nd season as a team in the NHL. So it’s been a long time coming for the Blue and Gold as they finally swept their division rival.
Is this a momentum builder for the Sabres?
With just eight games left, the Sabres season most likely will end in the next few weeks. However, this could be a good sign of things to come for next season. The Sabres have a lot of current players under contract, and have only a few gaps to fill during free agency.
With a loaded AHL team in the Rochester Americans, who are filled with NHL-ready players, the Sabres could be on the brink of being a contender again next season.
Guys like Ryan McLeod and Tage Thompson have picked up the pieces for the Sabres in the tail half of the season. Other players like Mattias Samuelsson have started to step it up as they compete for a roster spot as well next year.
I think this Sabres team is just a few pieces away or some development away from being true contenders. If they can get their goalie situation under control, then this top-10 offense they have will carry them throughout the season next year, as it is right now.
The Sabres are averaging 5.5 goals per game over their last six games, and I don’t see them stopping anytime soon as they look to grind out the year on a high note.