The magic number is four. If the Sabres gain four points over the Hurricanes over the next few days, Buffalo will have secured a playoff bid.
The Sabres enter tomorrows game against Tampa Bay with a three point lead over the Canes. A Buffalo win, coupled with a regulation loss by Carolina, will keep the Canes from catching up in the playoff race. There are your four points.
How do I like those chances? I don’t love them, to be honest. I think the Sabres match up well with Tampa and I am confident that they can take at least a loser point away from tomorrow’s game. However, Carolina is now ultra desperate and will throw everything they have at Detroit – a team who is only jockeying for second in the West at this point. If I’m Mike Babcock I would start my backup for the road game and continue to let Jimmy Howard get healthy and fresh. That doesn’t shape up well for Sabres supporters.
The good thing is that the Sabres just need to match their southern rivals over the last three games. If they do that, they’re in. I am slightly more confident in that occurring rather than hoping the Canes lose their last three. Although I would feel much better knowing that the final two games are just for show.
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