What If The Sabres Had Played This Well All Season?

by Andy Boron on Mar 23, 2011 2:28 PM EDT in What If Wednesday's

In honor of a very snowy Wednesday here in beautiful Buffalo, NY, I thought I'd dust off one of Dave's "What If Wednesday" posts for a bit of hypothetical fun.

In today's Daily Links post, we linked to an article from NHL.com saying that since January 1, the Sabres have the fourth-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference at .643, trailing only New Jersey (.714), Philadelphia (.682) and Washington (.662). But what if the team had avoided their abysmal start and had played at that clip since opening night?

Before we dive into those calculations, here's a quick summary of what "points percentage" is for those who aren't in the know -- points percentage is simply the number of points a team has earned divided by the number of possible points they could have earned had they won every game. For example, the Sabres currently have earned 81 points this year in 73 games played. If we divide 81 by 146 (the total number of possible points) you get .555, the team's current points percentage. By the way, .555 is good for 18th in the NHL.

So, using basic 7th grade math (don't worry, we won't get too complicated here) if we multiply their points percentage since Jan. 1 (.643) by the total number of possible points so far (146) then we get a grand total of.....94 points!

If the Sabres had 94 points they'd be leading the division for the second year in a row, and would be in third place in the Eastern Conference, only four points behind Philly for the number one seed. The blue and gold would theoretically finish the season with about 105 points and to celebrate, Terry Pegula would personally mail each fan a game-used deodorant stick.

So what does that mean for this year? Well, if the team keeps playing at that .643 points percentage over the last 9 games then they'll earn 12 points, putting them at 93 for the season, which should be enough to make the playoffs as the eighth seed. Though I don't think we'd complain if they played just a little better.

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Man that first month we stunk up the joint. It wasnt even fun watching them, outside the opener vs Ottawa… To quote twoeightnine from October, “Fuck this Im going to the bar.”

Thats how most of us felt about this team. They just looked like a team that was going thru the motions.

Post Jan 1st, this team is 100% different. Lets get in the playoffs and then anything can happen! The way this team is playing, watch out.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 23, 2011 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

Doesn't even feel like the same year.

Fuck this I’m going to the game.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Mar 23, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha.

It is crazy that this has all been the same season. The turnaround in the past 5 months have been a complete 180°

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 23, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I attribute it all to those major league references made during the daily links. Lol

"Who else but Chris Drury!" - 2007
"Who else but...... um... yea.. about that.." 2010

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 23, 2011 6:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Doesn’t even feel like the same year.

Ain’t that the truth.

by krytime on Mar 24, 2011 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Yup

As an out of market fan, it really effected how often I went the extra mile to find a stream and watch online.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 23, 2011 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't jump the gun

They still manage to blow leads. They may make the playoffs and then they may not. It really doesn’t matter, because they are not a playoff-quality team. There is just too little talent.

by Geolover on Mar 24, 2011 5:55 AM EDT reply actions

Shut up, Geo.

"Who else but Chris Drury!" - 2007
"Who else but...... um... yea.. about that.." 2010

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 24, 2011 6:20 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Huh?!

It really doesn’t matter, because they are not a playoff-quality team.

If they make the playoffs theyre not a playoff quality team? Since Jan 1st they have the 3rd or 4th best win% in the East. That statement is completely stupid.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 24, 2011 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Wow, since January 1st I’ve eaten less than before, I must be a genuine anorexic! Since January 1st, my dad has painted more rooms at his house than the past year, he must Sherwin Williams himself by now!
Your logic is the one in question! They are holding steady at 8th for a reason! They lost to a Crosby and Malkinless Pens 4 times this season for a reason. They are on pace to have every stat category below last year for a reason….they aren’t getting better! Every team goes through surges for a little bit, ours is over already!
To be happy that we may SNEAK into the playoffs is quite an abismal low standard these days, we weren’t in last all season, we were barely out, now we are barely in!
If we make it past round 1(should we get in) that will just shock me

by monk43085 on Mar 24, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

To be happy that we may SNEAK into the playoffs

Ask Philly fans if they were happy to sneak in last year…

Just get in, then anything can happen.

They are on pace to have every stat category below last year for a reason….they aren’t getting better!

Regular season stats mean jackshit in the playoffs.

Caps were a regular season power house, they didnt go far. Sharks were notorious for this…

Why cant you just enjoy this ride that we’re on? If this team gets in they can do damage. Sure they could also lost 4 games to 1 too… but they could also win. And all teams care about is getting to the playoffs, at that point nothing else matters.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 24, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd hesitate to compare our situation to the Flyers.

They were an underachieving team last year who also had some injury problems but got healthy and started to play up to their very high talent level in the playoffs. I’d say we’re much more similar to Montreal in that we’re not loaded but have talent and if the team works a solid unit that limits mistakes and has a hot goalie, we can make some noise.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 24, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes but...

You could also argue that we underacheived at the begining of this season. We were the division winner last year, and then started off 3-9-2 or some bullshit like that?

Either way you know the name of the game, get in and “anything is possiiiiiiible!!!”

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 24, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely agree with the just get in and see what happens approach.

But the Flyers talent last season was undeniable of a higher caliber than ours is. Richards, Carter, Giroux, Weasle, Pronger > Vanek, Miller, Myers, Ennis, Boyes.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 24, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Hell look at the NFL.

NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE believed the Seahawks belongs in the playoffs, and what did they do? Knock out the defending Champs.

To say that this team, if they get in, doesnt deserve it? Youve lost your mind. Theyve played their hearts out over the last 3 months, if they get in, they totally deserve it.

They lost to a Crosby and Malkinless Pens 4 times this season for a reason

And just to be an asshole:
Nov 24th: Crosby skated for 22:02 that night and assisted on the only goal of the game. Malkin played 19:57 that game with 6 shots on goal. We had Enroth in net and lost 0-1.

Dec 11th: Crosby played 21:00 minutes and had an assist.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Mar 24, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus even without their two biggest stars that team is still a playoff caliber team.

Fleury, Staal, and Letang with contributions from Jeffry, Orpik, Michalek, and Martin is nothing to sneeze at.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 24, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

They lost to a Crosby and Malkinless Pens 4 times this season for a reason.

Amazing! They’ve only played the Pens four times this year with both Crosby and Malkin playing in two of those games a piece yet they’ve somehow lost to the Pens 4 times with both of those players out. I guess that reason would be that every loss to the Pens counts as 2. Stupid NHL rules, I bet that was Bettman’s creation.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Mar 24, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions