Buffalo scored four first-period goals in a 7-3 win on Tuesday.
The Buffalo Sabres face a critical point in their late-season rally towards an Eastern Conference playoff spot after beating the Detroit Red Wings and NY Islanders at home this week, as they take on the slumping Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Sabres have won three straight and have climbed to within three points of the Wings and Isles this week, while Detroit may be reaching terminal velocity with seven straight defeats, including a 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
One key to Buffalo being able to best the Motowners is a repeat of their energetic opening period on Tuesday, where they scored four times and chased Wings starter Alex Lyon.
"That would be great, but if that's not the case, it's a 60-minute game. I don't think you're going to control momentum for 60 minutes in any game, but it's minimizing your down times," Sabres head coach Don Granato said before the club departed for Michigan. "The hope is you come out you have a great start, but if you don't, you don't."
Buffalo has appeared more confident and less burdened by expectation after last week’s NHL Trade Deadline with the club moving out leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt, team captain Kyle Okposo, and defenseman Erik Johnson, but even with them narrowing the gap, they still have only a 8.5% chance of making the postseason according to Moneypuck, based on them playing the most games of the six clubs competing for the second wildcard spot.
“(We can't look) too far ahead. These games start slipping by, so we're just sticking with the mindset (that) each game is a new contest and we're looking to get the two points." Sabres rookie Zach Benson said after the game on Thursday. "Within this room, we believe. We've got a skilled group, so that outside noise really means nothing to us. We're going out there every night and we're confident we can get two points.”
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