Buffalo are seven points behind Detroit and the NY Islanders, who they face at home this week
Buffalo are seven points behind Detroit and the NY Islanders, who they face at home this week
The Buffalo Sabres have been playing a more consistent brand of hockey for two months, but they have not been able to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Only in the past two weeks, have the Detroit Red Wings slumped and provided the Sabres a faint glimmer of hope.
The Wings have lost five games in a row and are still without team captain Dylan Larkin as they visit Key Bank Center on Tuesday. The Sabres are seven points in back of Detroit and face them three times in the final 17 games of the regular season.
“It's a nice feeling. It's even a better feeling when you know your guys are excited and hungry." Sabres head coach Don Granato said. We've talked a lot since the beginning of January. That belief system is getting stronger and stronger and to still have opportunity to be successful and is what you want."
Buffalo’s improved play has coincided with the decision to go primarily with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their starting goaltender. The club has gone 13-10-1 since January 11, and Luukkonen has posted a league-best 1.94 GAA over that stretch, but the club has not been able to repeat their offensive success of last season, averaging less than three goals per game.
The Sabres are a longshot at best to climb back into the race after trading leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt, team captain Kyle Okposo and defenseman Erik Johnson last week, but they do have Detroit and the NY Islanders (tied with Detroit at 72 points) on home ice and the Wings on the road on Saturday.
"When you have players move on, roster spots open. That's an opportunity for other guys," Granato said. "We have lots of guys that are excited and they should be because there's obviously more opportunity."
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