Sabres Set to Tame the Devils in KeyBank Center Showdown
As the Buffalo Sabres gear up for their next challenge at the KeyBank Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying face-off against the New Jersey Devils. The Sabres, coming off a mixed bag of recent performances, have shown that they can swing from one extreme to another.
In their last game on March 16 against the Detroit Red Wings, despite a valiant effort and landing 26 shots on goal, they were only able to convert once and ultimately fell with a score of 1-4. The Sabres' powerplay clicked just once in two opportunities and their shooting percentage was a mere four percent. Their defense allowed three goals while at even strength and faced a troubling minus-21 plus/minus rating overall.
However, looking back at their previous home games paints a more hopeful picture for Buffalo's team. On March 14 against the New York Islanders, they dominated with an impressive four-goal victory (4-0), where they outshot their opponents by nearly double – registering 37 shots on goal with an eleven percent shooting success rate. Their powerplay unit capitalized once out of four chances which could be crucial in breaking down the Devils' defenses.
The most telling game came just before that on March 12 when facing those same Red Wings who would later defeat them; this time it was Buffalo who emerged victorious with an overwhelming seven goals to three win. They peppered Detroit's netminder with 39 shots and boasted an eighteen percent shooting accuracy. This kind of offensive firepower is exactly what will be needed if they're going to send New Jersey packing.
The key factor for Buffalo will be consistency – harnessing that same energy and precision seen in victories at KeyBank Center while tightening up defensively as well as improving faceoff win percentages which have hovered around fifty percent recently.
The Devils should not be underestimated though; any team can rise or fall on any given night in this league. But if recent home performances are anything to go by, it seems like the ice tilts favorably towards Buffalo when they play within the walls of KeyBank Center.
Fans eager to see if the Sabres can replicate past glories or if it'll be another case of 'so close yet so far' should mark their calendars for March 29th at 7:00 PM ET when these two teams clash again in Buffalo territory. The game will also be available for viewing across various networks including ESPN+ online as well as MSG-B and MSGSN on television.