The Red Wings aim to win three crucial divisional games over the Buffalo Sabres next season
The Red Wings will be battling this upcoming season to end their nine-year playoff drought and one of the biggest things they'll need to do to ensure that they make the postseason is win crucial games. The Atlantic Division is tougher than ever and with only three available spots plus a pair of wild card spots, they need to win these games.
One of their key divisional opponents is the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres. Detroit lost in their first matchup of the season last year but followed it up with three consecutive wins to end the season series. The Sabres and Red Wings have a moderate rivalry built over 161 matchups with Detroit holding an all-time 76-65-13-7 record.
Buffalo made some key moves in the offseason, adding depth with forward Josh Doan and defenceman Michael Kesselring in a trade for forward J.J. Peterka. The Sabres also built some depth in the crease by adding former Red Wing Alex Lyon and made another trade to add Connor Timmins for the backend. Their biggest move of the offseason was re-signing top pairing defenceman Bowen Byram to a two-year deal.
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Detroit will look to continue their run of success versus the Sabres with adds like all-star goaltender John Gibson as well as better depth options like James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton and bringing back Patrick Kane. The Red Wings would trade winger Vladimir Tarasenko to clear out his cap space and used some of their extra money to sign former first round pick and Buffalo Sabre Jacob Bernard-Docker.
These two squads will look very different heading into next season and will make for some complex matchups. Detroit has won five of their last six games versus Buffalo and will need to ensure the same level of success if they want to make the postseason. The Sabres are notably on the outside looking in as they attempt to continue rebuilding towards being a playoff contender but are still a year or two away.
Detroit will face off against Buffalo twice in the preseason on September 25th and 27th followed by regular season matchups on October 22nd, November 15th and March 27th.
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