It’s unfair to call Wednesday’s match with the Philadelphia Flyers a “must-win” game for Buffalo, but there’s no question that the stakes are quite high for Don Granato’s Sabres considering the start they’re off to, the hype that was surrounding them this preseason and the 12-season playoff drought they’re trying to put to bed.
Buffalo checks into this home-and-home with the surprising Flyers in last place in the Atlantic Division thanks to a 4-5 record.
If the Sabres fall on Wednesday, there is a chance they could find themselves five points adrift from a playoff spot after 10 contests.
It’s early, but this team has had a tendency of wrecking its season by digging itself too big a hole before Thanksgiving.
What’s most concerning is that Buffalo’s biggest issue this season has been its offensive output.
The narrative surrounding this team in the preseason was that it could count on its offense to drive the bus and that success would hinge on whether the defense and goaltending could hold up their end of the bargain.
The Sabres are below-average in goals per game, expected goals created and high-danger scoring chances generated.
Meanwhile the Flyers, a team nobody would have suspected to be an offensive force, have done a terrific job of driving play in the right direction at five-on-five.
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Travis Konecny leads the way with eight goals and 11 points.
Throw in a distinct goaltending edge as long as Carter Hart gets the nod and you start to have yourself a convincing recipe for a bet on the Flyers at home on Wednesday night.
The play: Flyers -105.