The Buffalo Sabres are on pace for another playoff-less season with a projected 78 points and 39 wins. It would be their 13th straight year of missing the playoffs. After a promising 2022-2023 season, finishing just 1 point out of a playoff spot and having their best record since 2010-2011, it seemed that the rebuild was finally over, and playoff hockey would finally return to the city of Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres: Another Year With No Playoffs?
Unfortunately for Sabre Nation, it’s looking like another year of being on the outside of the playoff bubble.
The Sabres currently sit 10 points out of a playoff spot with 48 points. It isn’t a lot, but time is running out on Buffalo with just about two months left of the regular season.
So what went wrong? All signs looked to be heading north for the Buffalo Sabres, with players like Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and phenom goaltender Devon Levi showing they were more than ready for the NHL. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin also kicked it into gear last year with a career-high 73 points, showing the hockey world why he was a number-one overall pick in 2018.
Buffalo Sabres Lackluster Offense
Many fans and analysts were also expecting the Buffalo Sabres to be an offensive powerhouse like they were last year when they finished 10th in the league in goals per game with 3.3. This year, it’s been a different story as they sit 22nd in the league, scoring only 2.94 goals per game. To begin the 2024 season, Buffalo had a mediocre October with a 4-5-0 record, giving up three or more goals in 6 of their 9 first games. The Sabres also couldn’t squander together back-to-back wins until Jan. 1st and 6th.
Buffalo Sabres Injuries
Injuries also haven’t helped the Buffalo Sabres. Their star forward, Tage Thompson, missed three weeks due to a wrist injury in December after blocking a shot against the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson was just put on the IR for the remainder of the season due to surgery on his upper body. Samuelsson is a key part of this team as he’s been playing on the 2nd defensemen pairing as well as special teams units.
Goaltending Woes
Goaltender Devon Levi has also not lived up to expectations this year. The rookie was electric last year, entering the team in late March, posting a 5-2-0 record, .905 SV%, and a 2.94 GAA. He was a huge reason why the Sabres were close to a playoff berth. Levi has not had the same luck this year. With a 9-7-2 record with a below .900 % and a GAA of 3.3, he’s been sent down to Buffalo’s AHL team, the Rochester Americans, multiple times because of his mediocre play this year.
So, with two months left of hockey, it’s gut-check time for the Buffalo Sabres. Can the offense bring back its juggernaut play from last year? Will Ukko-Pekka Luukkanonen backpack his team into a playoff spot? Will Don Granato be on the hot seat if he can’t bring his team into the playoffs?
For More Great Sports Content
Follow us @TotalApexSports. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL sports, click here!