Sabres upcoming game vs. Detroit means far more than you think

It’s still early in the season, but the Sabres already have an ultra-important game coming up this Saturday vs. the Detroit Red Wings. Over the past few years, Buffalo and Detroit have been seeking to keep pace with one another, and two seasons ago, the Blue and Gold looked like they were in full control. 

Flashback to 2023-24, and the Red Wings, not the Sabres, took the season series and nearly punched a ticket into the postseason, which would have ended their playoff drought. Unfortunately for both fanbases, their respective teams don’t just hold the league’s longest droughts - the Sabres currently have the longest - but they’re still among the “have nots” in the Atlantic Division. 

But if it’s still early enough to the point that both teams have more than enough time to make up ground, why is it so important? For the Sabres, it not only gives them a chance to get back to 0.500 but to officially go on their first roll of the season. After starting the year out 0-3-0, Buffalo is 3-1-1 in their last five games, and they can snag nine points in their last six matchups with a win over the Wings. 

Sabres need to stay ahead of Detroit, but there’s one overlooked factor

Right now, the Red Wings are among the best goaltending teams in the NHL. Yeah, big surprise, right? But it’s true, as they’re ninth in the league with just 17 goals allowed heading into Thursday night’s slate of games. Wings fans can credit general manager Steve Yzerman for taking a chance on Alex Lyon, who has become one of the league’s most formidable netminders. 

But the Blue and Gold are finally partying like it’s the 2022-23 season, or at least that’s the case for now. Before Thursday night’s matchups, Buffalo was eighth in the NHL with 25 goals scored, and it’s worth noting that this is all after they looked like one of the league’s worst teams from a scoring standpoint. 

So, if Lyon is in the net against Buffalo, and why wouldn’t he be, it’ll be another test for the Sabres that we all thought Jake Oettinger would bring. If the Blue and Gold again rack up four-plus goals on Detroit, they will either jump ahead of or at least keep pace with their Atlantic Division rival.  

Since only four points currently separate all eight Atlantic Division teams before Thursday night, every game early in the season counts more than we think. Eventually, that discrepancy will break up, so not only is this upcoming matchup vs. the Wings, but any game at the moment vs. an opponent from the Atlantic Division will hold a lot of weight.