The pall of doom and gloom has lifted slightly in Buffalo with the Sabres notching their third straight win yesterday, if only they hadn’t lost thirteen straight (15% of the season!) before that we’d be scoreboard-watching now and talking about playoff prospects and possible trade scenarios.
Instead, the Sabres will have to focus on taking one game at a time and winning them before we can dream of any such things now. There are some positives to talk about though. Captain Rasmus Dahlin is the first Sabre to notch at least 7 assists in a three-game span since Brian Campbell in 2007. The Jack Quinn redemption tour continues as the youngster now has 2G & 4A in the last three games, with Jiri Kulich chipping in with a valuable 3G & 1A in the same span. JJ Peterka and Dylan Cozens have five points apiece in the last five, with Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson getting four in that same window.
To put things in perspective, the three teams in front of the Sabres (Red Wings, Canadiens and Senators) have a combined one player with seven points, and a couple with five in the last five games. Buffalo has been talking about the importance of playing good defense and letting the offense build off that, and that is exactly what they’ve done in the last three games.
A daunting slate of three more road games awaits Buffalo this week.
TUE Dec. 31: Buffalo Sabres (14-19-4) at Dallas Stars (20-13-1) – 8:00 pm ET
THU Jan. 2: Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche (22-15-0) – 9:00 pm ET
SAT Jan. 4: Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights (25-8-3) – 10:00 pm ET
The Amerks meanwhile have embarked on a four-game win streak which has seen them climb to the top of the North Division.
FRI Jan. 3: Rochester Americans (19-9-3-0) at Springfield Thunderbirds (13-13-2-1) – 7:05 pm ET
SAT Jan. 4: Rochester Americans at Bridgeport Islanders (7-19-2-2) – 5:00 pm ET