Link: ESPN.com - NHL - NHL Standings.
The Olympic Break started today (dammit), and while it's obvious to everyone that the Sabres more than most teams really need this break in the season to get some people healthy and rested I can't help but think that this might not work to our advantage. When a team has been playing as consistently as the Sabres have, you hate to break that up with an extended layoff, regardless of how many injuries you're nursing. That said, though, at least the schedule affords us some hidden breaks.
Looking at the standings linked to above, the boys in the soon-to-be-replaced-if-the-rumors-are-true AGH sweaters have a couple of advantages over the two teams that they will be jostling for playoff position with, namely the Sens and the Flyers.
While the Sabres will play a balanced schedule of 13 games home and away the Sens have to play 14 games on the road, including a brutal stretch right after the break where they'll play 13 games in 21 days. Within that time they'll have a 6 games in 8 nights on the road. THe only good news about that trip is that it includes 2 games against Florida and 1 against Washington. Oif! Ottawa doesn't get 2 days off in a row until the 22nd and 23rd of March. If there was ever a time where the Sabres were going to be serious about a run for the Division Lead, it should be then.
The Flyers, on the other hand, have played 2 more games than Buffalo and trail them by two points in the standings comeing into the break. What's more, they still have 13 games on the road. The only road trip of note is a swing through the Southeast and Pittsburgh. Also of note is the 5 (yes, 5) games left against the Devils.
For the Sabres the schedule has nothing that stands out as being particularly brutal, just 26 games in 49 days like the Sens. The longest road trip is 3 games while the longest homestand is just 2 games. There are 5 more meetings between them and the Maple Queefs and 4 more matchups with the Sens.
Looking over the schedule I would say that every game is a must-win (no shock there) and that once the trade deadline passes I would hope that Lindy uses the expanded roster as a way to rotate people in and out to keep the team as fresh as possible. One of the other happy outcomes of finding out about all of this depth in the organization is that we have options as to who to dress and who to sit/spell.
Lasly, I've got to think that there is a significant trade coming. It won't be a headline grabber, like the Joe Thornton trade, but something vital like the Briere for Gratton deal. There's been some speculation amongst the HF faithful that the recent play of former 1st rounder Jri Novotny might make him an attractive bundle with either another forward or a goalie to pry loose a top-4 d-man from someone looking to get younger and cheaper...
I'll throw up some trade speculation in another post this week after I've given it a little more thought. But, now it's time to gear up for the Olympic Tournament.
Ta,
Comments