Two Wins, Playoff Odds Up High

Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller celebrate their 2 goal shutout victory.
(Photo by Jen Fuller/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Sabres put on a show at HSBC Arena this past weekend in front of two more sold-out crowds coming out with two important wins over Florida and New Jersey.  Friday's win mathematically eliminated the Panthers from the playoffs and last night's win all but ruined the Devils' strong playoff push.  It also eliminated the Islanders from playoff contention as the Sabres look to knock more teams out of the playoffs with the season nearing its end.  For a clear look at the current playoff match-ups if the season were to end today, check out ESPN's coverage here.

The Sabres have strung together their second three-game winning streak of the season with this one looking better than the first which came in early February.  Ryan Miller has played very strong during the current streak earning two shutouts and allowing only two of 85 shots to get past him.  There's nothing quite like watching each player come and tip their helmets to their goalie in congratulations after a hard earned shutout as Tyler Myers is doing in the picture to the left.  Miller now has five shutouts in each of his last three seasons.  Another big key to the Sabres' success is the penalty kill which has been very well lately.  The Sabres haven't allowed a power play goal in the last six games and have killed off 30 of their last 31 penalties.  Thomas Vanek had a goal and an assist this weekend bringing his team leading points total to 64.  The goal snapped his five-game scoreless streak and helped him "take the piano off" his back as Rick Jeanneret shouted during his goal-call.  Nathan Gerbe has continued his hot play by scoring last night to make it five goals in his last five games.  His style of play has impressed me so much lately.  The way he carries the puck and moves around the ice with such confidence now shows that he truly is a player with a bright future for the Sabres.  Tyler Ennis' puck handling skills were just amazing last night against the Devils as they usually are.  There was one point when he had the puck behind the New Jersey net for a good 5-10 seconds and no one could touch him.  I remember a fan in my section saying "Wow... look at him go... he's untouchable."

After the weekend's games, playoff odds are up 11.1 to 91.5%.  That is a new season high percentage as the Sabres close in on a playoff berth.  The Sabres are 4-0-1 in their last five games and 11-3-3 in the Pegula Era.  Ryan Miller has been pleased lately saying "I'm happy with our progress. We're on the right path, but I'm not going to be happy so to speak until the job's done."  With seven games remaining, the Sabres are five points up on the 9th place Carolina Hurricanes and two points behind the 6th and 7th place Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers.  Buffalo has a game in hand on the Canadiens and Rangers.  On a bad news note, defenseman Jordan Leopold will miss at least the final seven games of the regular season with a broken hand suffered Friday night versus the Panthers.  Hopefully Leopold will return in time for the playoffs.  Looking ahead in the schedule, the Sabres play three more at home and four on the road with just about every game against a team near in the standings.  The Sabres are on the ice next to start off a mid-week back-to-back sequence Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:00pm EDT.  Wednesday, the Sabres will be back in Buffalo to face the Rangers at 7:00pm EDT for a high-stakes game you will not want to miss.