After the Buffalo Sabres lost 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings to start the season off a dismal 0-3, many fans were already starting to give up on the season as the team is already amidst a 13-year playoff drought that had fans getting restless.
Since that game, the team has completely turned it around, going 11-6-1 since then, including winning seven of their last nine. Buffalo is now sitting in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with an 11-9-1 record which is good for 23 points.
The team has gotten contributions from all three phases of play, as goalie Ukka-Pekka-Luukkonen has been lights out more recently after a slow start, and is now the 12th best out of 76 goalies in goals saved above expected with 6.3.
The offense has also been excellent, since the 0-3 start the Sabres are averaging 3.67 goals per games which would rank eighth in the entire league. Further, they look like they have regained their form from two years ago, as Tage Thompson was tied for the league in goals with 11 prior to his injury and Alex Tuch now has 21 points in 21 games while also playing Selke-level defense.
Defensively the Sabres have a three-headed monster with Rasmus Dahlin continuing his dominance over his past few years and Owen Power and Bowen Bryam both look to be breaking out amidst career years as both are top three in even-strength points from defensemen.
Shoutout to general manager Kevyn Adams as well, who got a lot of heat this offseason for not making a big move, despite the moves he did make seemingly paying off.
Jason Zucker and Ryan Mcleod, who were both criticized when Adams brought them in, are having career years. Also, this looks to be the best third and fourth lineups that the Sabres have seen during their playoff drought.
Fans are very optimistic about the team, as Head Coach Lindy Ruff seems to have found this teams identity as a fast pace, hard-hitting, aggressive team, and it seems to be working very well as of late.
The team looks to continue their winning ways as they take on two Western Conference contenders in the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks this upcoming week.