It would seem impossible that after losing seven straight games and the first four games of a five-game homestand, the Buffalo Sabres would still be in the mix for a playoff spot, but the logjam at the bottom of the Eastern Conference that surprisingly includes the New York Rangers — last year’s President’s Trophy winner and their opposition on Wednesday – still has the Sabres holding on to their postseason hopes by their fingernails.
The Sabres are one point out the bottom spot in the East with 26 points, but are only four points in back of Tampa Bay and Philadelphia for the two wildcard spots, but a regulation loss would dig Buffalo an even larger hole that may be impossible to dig out of.
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“When you look at (the) seven (game losing skid), you’re still getting points in some of those games. If you didn’t get points, we’d be in a lot of trouble.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said on Wednesday morning. “The fact that where we’re at, if you win a game tonight. The (standings posted in the locker room) tells you where you’re at.”
The Rangers are three points ahead of Buffalo, even after their recent death spiral of losing eight of the last 10 games, including a 2-1 loss to Chicago on Monday. New York has gone through an internal upheaval in recent weeks, trading team captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks to clear the cap space necessary to lock up goalie Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million deal, but
The Sabres opted for team meetings and video review on Wednesday instead of a morning skate, but Ruff indicated that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is available to return to the lineup on Wednesday. It is expected that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will face off against Shesterkin in goal after backup James Reimer allowed five goals against Detroit.
The Sabres head coach provided an update on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, saying that the team captain probably will not take part in practice on Thursday, which puts in doubt his ability to return for weekend games in Washington and Toronto. almost certainly missing Wednesday.
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