The Buffalo Sabres are a team that needs to make a playoff appearance this coming season. But in a continuing series, we're examining each of Buffalo's Eastern Conference-rivals that could be in the way of the Sabres making it into the post-season. And in this file, we're examining the rivalry between the Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
The Devils were victorious in two of the three games they played against the Sabres last season, but while New Jersey has largely retained most of its roster, Buffalo has made some notable moves to end their playoff drought at 14 years. Will the Sabres be able to change the results they had against the Devils this coming season? That's the focus of this column.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS
NEW DEVILS PLAYERS: Connor Brown, RW; Evgenii Dadonov, LW; Thomas Bordeleau, LW; Arseny Gritsyuk, LW; Juho Lammikko, LW
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-2-0, Devils 2-1-0
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: November 28 at Buffalo; December 21 at New Jersey; February 25 at New Jersey
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres and Devils began the 2024-25 campaign with a home-and-home series, and New Jersey outscored Buffalo 7-2 in winning both those games. After that, the teams met just one more time, with the Sabres salvaging the series by beating the Devils 4-3 in a game that took place at the beginning of February.
This season, the two teams again are going to be finished with one another before the NHL's trade deadline arrives. And this time around, if Buffalo intends on being a playoff team, they're going to want to at least win two of three games against the Devils -- even if two of those three games will be on the road for the Sabres this season.
Is that an unfair expectation for Buffalo? We don't think so. The Devils are a deep team that got deeper with the addition of wingers Brown and Dadonov, but New Jersey is far from a perfect team, and the Sabres need to push Devils goalies Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen to keep the puck away from New Jersey stars Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt. And Brown and Dadonov make an already-above-average Devils team all the more dangerous.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Sabres Could Be Battling Up-And-Coming Blue Jackets For Wild Card Berth
The Buffalo Sabres are one of the teams most desperate to make the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And one of the teams <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">the Sabres</a> could be battling for one of the two wild card berths next season is another team desperate to end a prolonged playoff drought -- the <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will always want a big performance from his players against a Devils team he coached not all that long ago. But Buffalo's defense corps will be tested by the waves of speedy Devils players. And if the Sabres' offense isn't able to pressure New Jersey's defense, the Devils are going to make them pay.
Buffalo was a terrible road team this past season, with a 13-24-4 record away from home. However, the Devils were a sub-par home team last year, with a 19-17-5 mark in their own building. If the Sabres can improve on the road, and if New Jersey still struggles at home, Buffalo will have a golden opportunity to change up the results they had against the Devils last season.
Many pundits have found the Devils to be a sexy pick to go far in the past few years, and New Jersey has found ways to consistently underwhelm. This time around, the Sabres need to exploit the Devils' weaknesses, and that's on Ruff to figure out. But if Buffalo doesn't do well against New Jersey this season, their woes against the Devils could be what continues their 14-year playoff drought.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres' Metropolitan Edition: Is Buffalo Anywhere Near The Same Level As Elite Carolina Hurricanes?
The Buffalo Sabres have missed out on Stanley Cup playoff hockey for the past 14 seasons. They intend on being a playoff team next year, but to do so, they'll need to be relatively dominant with every team they encounter. And while we at THN.com have just finished our series against <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">the Sabres'</a> seven Atlantic Division rivals, it's also a good time of year to focus on the Metropolitan Division teams Buffalo will take on.
And if that's how things shake out, Ruff's issues with his former team could be what causes the Sabres to dismiss him at the end of next season or sooner.