Buffalo Sabres Are in the Playoffs (For Now)

“If the season ended today, the Sabres would be in the playoffs.” 

Oh, how many times have we said that to ourselves?  

Hundreds?  Every day?  If you are one of the faithful who bleed blue and gold, you’ve done it enough times to make your head spin. 

As of today, the Sabres are in the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference and are in the playoffs. 

But what about the end of the season? Will the ‘Bres make it to the postseason? 

Here are some insights that should help answer that question:

The teams trailing the Sabres contain one big surprise—Ottawa.  Few thought that the Senators would have fallen so far and so fast after their Eastern Conference championship two years ago, but a lack of scoring has them in 12th place in the conference and last place in the Northeast Division. 

Just one point ahead of them are the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are playing much better than anyone would have expected without the leadership of Mats Sundin. 

Only two points behind Buffalo lurk the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes—each headed in different directions.  While the Panthers have been on a hot streak lately, with a record of 6-2-2 in the last 10 games, the Hurricanes have only managed two wins over the same stretch. 

Rounding out the bottom of the East are the New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.  All three will most likely remain where they are—fighting out for the first pick overall in next year’s draft.

Who is ahead of Buffalo in the standings?  Nobody could have guessed that the Boston Bruins would be in first place in the division, let alone the conference, but a good, sound all-around game has kept the Killer B's in first place with an impressive 46 points in 30 games. 

The New York Rangers found out what their Achilles heel was—Jaromir Jagr—and got rid of him. They are at the top of the Atlantic Division.  The Washington Capitals—the most underrated team in the league—are leading in the Southeast and will continue to do so. 

In spots four through seven, there is at least one team that the Sabres will catch and surpass—the New Jersey Devils.  Without Martin Brodeur between the pipes, the Devils aren’t the same team.  Not having adequately grooming a successor to No. 30 will ultimately lead New Jersey out of the playoffs. 

As for the rest of the conference, don’t look for much movement, although I have a feeling, or a hope, that Philadelphia will unravel and fall a few spots.

So where does that leave us?  The Sabres are in the playoffs, right now.  There are still 52 games left to play and much can happen—a hot streak or a slump could make or break a season. 

My picks for the Eastern Conference:

1. Rangers

2. Washington

3. Montreal

4. Boston

5. Pittsburgh

6. Philadelphia

7. Buffalo

8. Toronto. 

GO SABRES!