#buffalo-sabres

#buffalo-sabres

We're now well past the halfway point of the NHL season, and things are still quite wacky. From all eight teams in the Atlantic being separated by just thirteen points to just six points separating eight teams in the Western Conference wild card race, it's still going to take some time to truly see some separation in the NHL. And the statistics don't even begin to paint such a picture. Here's just five of the wildest numbers from another chaotic month of NHL hockey.

A.J. Greer got off the schneid, scoring a pair of goals to help the Florida Panthers topple the Buffalo Sabres by a 4-3 count at Key Bank Center. Aided by an early interference minor on Josh Doan, the Panthers drew first blood 2:35 into the action when Carter Verhaeghe took a pass from Sam Reinhart, who was knocked down, and fed Uvis Baliniskis at the left point.

The Buffalo Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL. Coming into the 2025-26 season nobody expected those words but it is in fact true. The Sabres have climbed back into the playoff conversation, riding a league-high nine-game winning streak. This comes at a great time as the Atlantic Division is up for grabs this season. Buffalo is no longer at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and now sits fifth place.

If you just looked at a list of the guys who've played for them over the past decade-Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Jeff Skinner, Sam Reinhart, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka-you'd probably think, "Well, surely this team had a good enough run at some point or another to make the playoffs." But no. They haven't. The Sabres have not featured in the NHL postseason since 2011, which was just a few months after Terry Pegula bought the club.

As a 22 year old D-man, Owen Power came into the league as one of the most promising players, especially lining up with fellow first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin. As a right and left defensive pairing, the Sabres would have one of the most exciting and promising blue lines, but four years in so far, Power doesn't loom first overall caliber.

Helenius's transition to the American Hockey League has solidified his development, showcasing his talent with a strong performance that earned him a spot on the AHL’s Top Prospects Team.