Though they have finally ended the drought, clinching a long-overdue playoff position, the work is not over for the Buffalo Sabres. They enter the stretch run in a dog fight for the top of the Atlantic Division in what has been an open Eastern Conference.
In a matchup that many had been singling out since their last fight-fueled meeting, the Sabres hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Though there was some chippiness, the Sabres largely let their play speak for itself en route to a crucial 4-2 victory.
Luukkonen Cements Himself as Game 1 Starter
There had previously been some debate as to who the starter should be for Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs. With yet another solid performance, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seems like he has locked that spot down for himself.
Alex Lyon has been outstanding all season but has cooled of late. Luukkonen, meanwhile, has been nothing short of outstanding. Since returning from the Olympic break, Luukkonen is 9-2-1 with a .924 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average, firmly entrenching himself as the top goalie in Buffalo.
Goaltending has been a huge part of the Sabres’ turnaround this season. With the way Luukkonen has been playing, especially of late, the team has to be confident in its options heading into the opening round of the playoffs.
Monkey(s) Off the Back(s)
The Sabres are deep offensively but it had to feel nice for a couple of players to finally get back on the score sheet. Alex Tuch kicked off the scoring with his 30th of the season, his first tally in six games and a much-needed marker given some of his struggles of late.
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Likewise, Josh Norris got off the schneid by scoring his 11th goal of the season after going his previous nine games without one. It has been a largely frustrating season for Norris who has once again dealt with significant injury troubles.
It is nice to see both contribute for the Sabres and they will both be essential to any prolonged playoff push the team might have. Both were key in the victory over the Lightning, helping to close out the season series against one of the Stanley Cup favorites with a 3-1 record.
The Culture Change Can’t Be Discussed Enough
It has been talked about ad nauseum but the culture shift in Buffalo really cannot be overstated. Being linked to major assets is now becoming the norm as the Sabres shift from also-rans to being legitimate contenders.
Culture is a critical thing even for teams that have stacked cores (just ask the Toronto Maple Leafs). From top to bottom, the Sabres all seem to be working toward the same goal for the first time in nearly 15 years.
There is a lot ahead of them, but they have a chance to do something special with this group. With a wide-open playoff picture, it feels like the Sabres can do so much more than simply be content with making the playoffs.
The Drive for the Division
The stretch run is going to be as tight as it gets. The Sabres have four games left and sit tied with the Lightning (who have five games remaining) for the Atlantic Division lead. Just two points back (and also with five games remaining) are the Montreal Canadiens.
It is going to be a dogfight down the stretch. All three of these teams are very good and even one more loss down the stretch could be a difference-maker. The Sabres will need to take care of business but could be playing for the division when they host the Dallas Stars in the regular season finale on Apr. 15.
