New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Sabres Aim to Break 13-Game Funk Against Islanders

The Buffalo Sabres will seek to break a franchise-record losing streak Monday night as they travel to Elmont, N.Y., to play the New York Islanders. The Sabres are currently stuck in a 13-game slump, while the Islanders are coming off one of their strongest showings of the season.

Buffalo has recorded a 0-10-3 streak since its last victory on Nov. 23, sliding to the lowest position in the NHL standings. The series, characterized by progressively one-sided defeats, ranks as the third-longest in the team’s history, behind an 18-game winless run in 2020-21 (0-15-3) and a 14-game downturn in 2014-15 (0-14-0).

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Sabres Aim for Optimism Despite Challenges

For a team that started 11-9-1 and was in playoff contention as recently as late November, the current slide has been devastating. Buffalo now sits 12 points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, making a league-record 13th consecutive season without a playoff berth increasingly likely.

Forward Alex Tuch stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset despite the mounting losses.

“We can’t think about all the negative stuff that’s happened to us,” Tuch said. “We need a little bit more out of everybody. I think we can do it against the Islanders.”

Buffalo’s recent woes have included six straight regulation losses, with the last five by at least two goals. Earlier in the streak, many defeats were narrow, one-goal decisions, highlighting a decline in competitiveness.

Islanders Riding Momentum

The Islanders, meanwhile, are coming off a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, matching their season high in goals. The victory snapped a slump that saw the team score three or fewer goals in 12 of its previous 16 games.

The offensive outburst coincided with the return of key players. Anthony Duclair, who had been sidelined for 28 games with a lower-body injury, made an immediate impact, assisting on a third-period goal. Mathew Barzal, back in the lineup after a six-week absence due to an upper-body injury, added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

“We definitely have it in this room,” center Bo Horvat said. “It’s nice to finally get a full lineup back in.”

Coach Lane Lambert deployed Duclair and Barzal on different lines Saturday to help the team find its rhythm. The result was a balanced offensive performance that has the Islanders feeling optimistic about their lineup’s potential.

“We’ve had a lot of adversity,” Duclair said. “Now that we’re all healthy and ready to go, we’re trying to find our team chemistry as a whole.”

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Key Matchup

The Sabres must strengthen their defense to go head-to-head with an Islanders squad hitting its offensive rhythm. Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson of Buffalo are essential for igniting a comeback, while goaltender Devon Levi will probably require an impressive showing to maintain the Sabres’ competitiveness.

For the Islanders, sustaining the energy from their offensive surge and incorporating their returning stars will be crucial to taking advantage of Buffalo’s difficulties.

Perspective

Although the Islanders seem ready to capitalize on their recent achievements, the Sabres are eager to break their streak and find a glimmer of hope for their season. Monday’s match provides an opportunity for each team to shape their paths as they approach the latter part of the season.