Stuart Skinner (left); Jason Zucker (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig , USA TODAY Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/48a4a3a9-5acd-4f34-a428-0c0ea0d4d86e.jpeg] Stuart Skinner (left); Jason Zucker (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig , USA TODAY Images) The Buffalo Sabres are a 14-year reclamation project, and losing so consistently is currently the norm for the franchise. But every year brings some hope that things will change for the better, and the Sabres [http://thn.com/buffalo] will have 82 opportunities to show they're an improved team that's finally going to make it into the Stanley Cup playoffs. And with that said, THN.com [https://thehockeynews.com/] is breaking down each of Buffalo's 31 NHL rivalries. We've been making our way through the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central division teams, and in this file, we're focusing on a Pacific Division team -- the Western-Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers showed last year they could do it all -- at least, leading up to being owned again by the Florida Panthers [http://thn.com/florida] in the Stanley Cup final -- but there's been notable change in Edmonton since then. So the Sabres will be taking on a significantly different Oilers team [http://thn.com/edmonton] this year. And below, we're going to break down Buffalo's chances against Edmonton. Let's get to it: "The Wraparound" BUFFALO SABRES VS. EDMONTON OILERS NEW OILERS PLAYERS: Andrew Mangiapane, LW; Isaac Howard, LW; Curtis Lazar, C; David Tomasek, RW 2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, Oilers 1-1-0 2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: November 17 at Buffalo; December 9 at Edmonton CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Oilers proved to be the Western Conference's best team last season before falling to the Panthers in the Cup final. But Edmonton and Buffalo were even in their two-game series last year. First, the Oilers won 3-2 in their first game in late January of this year; then, the Sabres won 3-2 in their second game in early March. The difference in the series last year might be Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The veteran netminder didn't play in the first game -- journeyman James Reimer played that game -- but in the second game, Luukkonen was stellar, turning aside 32 of 34 Edmonton shots. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Is Buffalo Better Than Rebuilding Flames? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/33005754-74d5-4d0b-b606-5151cb6046dc.jpeg] Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Is Buffalo Better Than Rebuilding Flames? The Buffalo Sabres were a major disappointment last season, and the 13 other seasons before that which ended without any Stanley Cup playoff action. The Sabres have been one of the NHL's worst teams, and they're now in a position where they desperately need to get into the post-season. Fans are exhausted with all the losing, and they won't be going on much longer as the same group if they miss the playoffs again next year. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/know-your-enemy-sabres-pacific-edition-is-buffalo-better-than-rebuilding-flames] Thus, Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff would be foolish not to play Luukkonen in both games against Edmonton this coming season. Until such time as Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl pick apart Luukkonen's game, Luukkonen needs to be in net against one of the league's top teams. And it doesn't matter that the two Sabres/Oilers games this season come just three weeks apart. If Luukkonen thrives in the Nov. 17 game, you ride him again against Edmonton. Presumptive backups Devon Levi and Alex Lyon can play another day. If you're Oilers brass and you really want to build confidence as a team, you put your very best up against an elite squad, and see what happens. That's why Luukkonen needs to be The Man in net when Buffalo takes on Edmonton. Because both games last year were low-scoring affairs, Ruff has to get his team playing well in their own zone. Because the Oilers are going to pressure opponents with their speed and skill, the Sabres need to match their intensity, and rely on Luukkonen to be sharp between the pipes. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Should Sabres Throttle Ducks Again Next Year? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f6e7175a-9259-4ee0-831a-cb8f9316dc3a.jpeg] Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Should Sabres Throttle Ducks Again Next Year? The Buffalo Sabres have failed in one consistent way in recent years -- namely, that they haven't played Stanley Cup playoff hockey in nearly a decade-and-a-half. Thus, there's an inordinate amount of pressure on the Sabres to be a playoff team this year. And as we've seen in the NHL's overtime/shootout era, teams can make or miss the playoffs by only one or two standings points, so it's not an exaggeration to say that just about every game is going to be important to Buffalo's playoff hopes. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/know-your-enemy-sabres-pacific-edition-should-sabres-throttle-ducks-again-next-year] Ultimately, the Sabres/Oilers games are going to be decided based on which team is disciplined in the heat of the moment, and which team can capitalize on the other team's errors. Buffalo doesn't have the experience Edmonton can draw upon, but the Sabres have much more to prove than the Oilers do. Buffalo can't be happy just splitting series after series. If they're to be a playoff team, there has to be a heightened sense of dominance, and there's no better way to send a message to the league than by beating a team that was only one of two teams still playing when games mattered most last spring. If you're the Sabres, nothing short of a series of sweeps is probably what it will take to get back in the post-season. And they're got two great opportunities to steal the Oilers' lunch and get into the win column both times.
