Math Not Looking Promising For Sabres Playoff Chances
Sabres fell short of the playoffs by one point last season
Math Not Looking Promising For Sabres Playoff ChancesThe Buffalo Sabres reached the NHL’s Christmas break with 32 points and a record of 14-17-4. The club’s only consistent trait through 35 games has been their inconsistency, and if you use last season’s standings as a gauge of their postseason hopes, the Sabres are mathematically a longshot to make the playoffs.
Last year, Buffalo finished with 91 points (42-33-7), tied with Pittsburgh, one point behind the Florida Panthers, and two points behind the N.Y. Islanders. At the break last season, the Sabres had a better record (16-14-2 – 34 points) in three fewer games and were eight points behind Washington for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot. Currently, Buffalo is seven points in back of Tampa Bay for the last playoff spot, but has five teams (Carolina, New Jersey, Detroit, Montreal, and Pittsburgh) in between them.
To get to 92 points this season after starting 14-17-4, Buffalo would have to accumulate 60 points (an average of 1.28 points per game) in their remaining 47 games, which equates to a 30-17 record or .638 winning percentage (not factoring in loser points for overtime or shootout losses).
Moneypuck has the Sabres with a 14.6% chance of making the playoffs, which does not make it an impossibility, but barring a long winning streak and showing a level of consistency not displayed at any point this year, Buffalo will be on the outside looking in for a 13th straight campaign.
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