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A couple of the many "if's" included in our
2018-19 Buffalo Sabres preview centered around avoiding prolonged slumps and going on runs. Nine games into the season Buffalo has managed to stay away from a prolonged losing streak and banged out a couple of wins in a row twice. It's led to a 5-4-0 record in October, their best showing to start the month since going 5-1-0 at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.
The last two seasons the Sabres have not been able to avoid a rut in the opening month. Last year they lost four in a row after a shootout loss in the season opener and two seasons ago Buffalo split the first two games before going on a four-game winless streak (0-2-2.) Those early holes proved difficult to emerge from especially when their longest winning streak during that time was three games (once in 2017-18, three times in 2016-17) and their longest point streak was four games (once in '17-'18, thrice in '16-'17.) Add it all up and situations like that either won't get you to a playoff spot or, like last year, contains all the earmarks of a last place finish.
The prospect of Buffalo sliding into a three-game losing streak was a distinct possibility in California as they had lost two consecutive games (VGK and SJS) and were headed to Los Angeles for the fourth game of a five-game road trip. The Sabres avoided that with a convincing 5-1 win over the Kings then followed that up with a gritty come-from-behind win over the Anaheim Ducks the following night. They finished the trip with a 3-2-0 record and face division rival Montreal tonight as they host the Canadiens at KeyBank Center.
Teams coming off of a long road trip don't typically do very well upon returning home. Over the last three seasons when Buffalo was on a road trip of three games or more involving most or all teams west of the Mississippi, the Sabres are 2-6-1 in their first game back home. And not only do the Sabres have that to contend with that, but they've also had a lot of trouble with Montreal as of late. Buffalo is 2-5-3 over their last 10 vs. Les Habitants, according to Sabres PR, and only 3-4-3 at home.
The Sabres should be coming back with a lot of confidence as they managed to play two very strong games to finish their Pacific Division swing. Head coach Phil Housley juggled his lineup prior to the Kings game and he'll probably stick with that winning formula. His top line of Jack Eichel centering Jeff Skinner on the left and Jason Pominville on the right has been dominant. Skinner had four goals in those two games, including a hat trick against LA, and the entire line was good for 13 points (5+8) and a plus-14 rating.
Housley and assistant coach Steve Smith also have their defense-corps clicking. Six Sabres defenseman have netted a goal but Housley also was quick to point out yesterday to the gathered media, "I think a lot of this has to do with the forwards going to the net front and taking the goalie's eyes away."
Carter Hutton looks to get the nod in goal for Buffalo and has had four starts against the Canadiens. Sabres PR has him posting a 1-0-2 record with a .949 save percentage and a 1.37 goals-against average.
The Sabres head to Columbus after tonight's game for a Saturday night tilt against the Blue Jackets.
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