With the Buffalo Sabres taking on the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, its a huge week that is bigger then just a rivalry week and has potential to have playoff ramifications in April. Currently in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres trail Toronto by one point and are six points behind Pittsburgh. Ottawa is currently only two points behind the Sabres in 12th place. With a Senators win, the two teams could be tied by the end of Tuesday night.
The importance of these games is something that was acknowledged by both the team and the coaching staff in their post practice interviews today. Everyone is fully aware what is on the line this week. The Sabres can take a lot of pressure off of themselves before the holidays if they can pick up some wins this week. Now is as good a time as any for Buffalo to rise above their mediocre play at home and show that they are a contender for the Stanley Cup this season.
Like the Sabres, Ottawa has only won three of their last ten games but was able to get one more point from an overtime loss. The good news for Buffalo is that both the Senators and the Maple Leafs have not played very well against their division so far this season. The Sens are 2-4-1 and the Leafs are 3-6-0 against Northeast Division opponents. The Sabres, on the other hand, have played well against their division, posting a 4-1-1 record. It won't be an easy stretch of games for sure but there is no reason Buffalo can't pick up six points this week.
Of course they will have to find a way to contain a talented Senators' team including their point leader, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson who is always a thorn in the Sabres side. Then Buffalo will have their first opportunity to try and cool down the NHL goal scoring leader, Phil Kessel, and the red hot Maple Leafs on Friday. Finally despite the Penguins being without Sidney Crosby indefinitely, the Penguins still have a very strong team to contend with. The Sabres biggest challenge will be to get pucks past Pittsburgh's stone wall goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury.
It should be an entertaining week of hockey in Buffalo. Hopefully when the Sabres look back on this week in April, they can say it was the turning point for their season, where they rose above the injuries and committed to being a playoff contender.
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