Rollercoaster Season Taking Right Turn for Sabres in Standings

Twists and turns are a part of every NHL season, but the Buffalo Sabres have ridden uphill battles, had downfalls, and even threw us for a loop to begin the 2024-2025 season. Head coach Lindy Ruff went from “it’s good to be back”, to learning about the makeup of his team, to good old-fashioned Lindy. The doom-and-gloom season by the Sabres has resulted in a third-place division standings placement heading into the last week in November.

After firing Don Granato at the conclusion of last season, the Sabres marched into the new season with nostalgia, accountability, and optimism on their side. However, all three of those things were immediately in question following three straight losses to begin the season.

Buffalo dominated preseason action before heading overseas and putting on a clinic in an exhibition against EHC Red Bull Munich. None of that proved translatable to the regular season, as the New Jersey Devils dismantled the Sabres in both games in Prague, Czechia.

The Sabres came home and shockingly blew a lead heading into the third period to fall to the Los Angeles Kings. The writing on the wall started to say, “Same old Sabres,” as the 13-year playoff drought has loomed a dark cloud over the organization.

Sabres Rollercoaster

Much like one of those false drops on your favorite theme park rollercoaster, the Sabres recorded their first win of the season over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The victory was followed up by two losses, albeit one in overtime, on the road.

Then the fun really began, as Buffalo rattled off three straight wins. After averaging only one goal per game over the first three games, the Sabres scored at least four goals in their next six. Finishing offensive chances was no longer the problem. Defensive lapses and goaltending were the issue.

Then came three straight losses, followed by three wins. The ride up and down the standings for the Sabres was in full force. A big loss…a comeback victory…a no-show loss in Philadelphia…Buffalo’s season was still on the fritz.

California Dreamin’

The Sabres sat one game below .500 in point percentage heading out west. Star forward Tage Thompson was injured, starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was just returning from an undisclosed ailment, and key contributor this season Jordan Greenway was already deemed out for “weeks”.

It was easy for the team to fall into excuses and fold. Instead, something much different happened. The Buffalo Sabres seemed to catch a snag going uphill, and a chain helped them overcome a steep, bumpy hill.

The goaltending from Luukkonen and the reacquired James Reimer was outstanding. Alex Tuch was a force as he filled Thompson’s shoes. Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram clicked. Jiri Kulich helped Jack Quinn get on the right track.

They weren’t the prettiest of wins, but the victories over the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks in California vaulted the Sabres into third place in the Atlantic Division.

More: Best Player from Each Game as Sabres Sweep California Trip; Win Versus Sharks

Atlantic Division Uncertainty

While the Sabres were finding their footing, their Atlantic Divison foes were unraveling. The Panthers have lost three straight and join the Tampa Bay Lightning in going .500 over their last 10 games. The Boston Bruins fired their coach. The Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens have losing records in their last 10.

Only the Toronto Maple Leafs (7-2-1) and Sabres (7-3-0) are trending in the right direction. As of Monday, November 25th, Buffalo sits five points behind their rivals up north for the division lead. More remarkably, both teams are winning without their top centers, Auston Matthews and Tage Thompson, respectively.

Related: Sabres Star Deserves Early MVP Consideration

The uncertainty surrounding so many teams in the Atlantic provides a clear path for the Sabres to come out of the tunnel in a comfortable spot.

Sabres Standings Projection

American Thanksgiving is one of the biggest benchmarks of a team’s success throughout the season. Teams in a playoff spot by the last Thursday of November have reached the playoffs a remarkable 77% of the time in the salary cap era.

The Sabres have one more game before Thanksgiving, a tough matchup against the 13-3-4 Minnesota Wild. There are a couple of teams that displace the Sabres from a playoff spot in the standings, should they lose. Still, the goal is to be in contention around this time of year, and Buffalo is certainly that.

On top of that, the Sabres have a few components propelling them to wins. First, it was the finishing from the Thompson and Ryan McLeod lines. Recently, the powerplay and defensemen have joined in on the fun. The incredible goaltending is the latest installment.

The Sabres have found different ways to win, fighting through the ups and downs and banking on the twists and turns. They may speed through or slow down what’s next, and it’s certainly not always going to be smooth. However, they’re showing fans what it’s like to experience the ride of an NHL season again.

Buckle up.