By The Hockey Writers,Zach Berta

Copyright yardbarker

Ideally, as long as he has a GAA of under 3.00 and an SV of above .900, the team will have a chance to get into the playoffs. However, if he has another season similar to 2024-25, you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. The need for goaltending improvement doesn’t only apply to him, though. It also applies to backup Alex Lyon, whom the team signed to a two-year contract in free agency over the offseason.

Lyon will need to perform well in the games he is asked to play. Asking him to replicate the 2022-23 season, where in 15 games played he posted a 2.89 GAA and a .914 SV%, seems a bit much. However, asking him to have a GAA under 3.00 and a SV% of above .900 is reasonable.

Both of these goaltenders will need to make the saves they are asked to make. Neither of them will be perfect, so they might have games where they’re “off” and don’t perform, which is a part of the game and just a part of sports in general. If they don’t perform, though, the team could be in trouble and staring down a 15th-straight season missing the playoffs.

3: Special Teams Needs to Improve

The final key towards breaking the playoff drought is improving special teams. I cannot stress this enough: special teams is just as crucial as even-strength play. Since the 2022-23 season, the Sabres are seventh in the NHL in even-strength goals with 633 and are only 15 goals behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (648).

If you go over to the teams’ power play and penalty kill, though, they have been below average to say the least. Since 2022-23, the Sabres’ power play ranks 18th in the NHL (19.8%). As for the penalty kill, they rank 22nd (76.5%). The team needs to figure out special teams because if they continue to struggle this season, I have a tough time believing they will get into the playoffs.

Not only can a game be decided by special teams, but it also gives the Sabres little room for error. If the team plays a clean game and both the Sabres and their opponent take minimal penalties, they have a greater chance than not to win. However, if the game is filled with penalties and the team’s special teams are not the greatest, they will probably lose. This makes it very hard for the Sabres to get into a rhythm and play to their strength: even-strength.

These are the three biggest keys to helping break the record-long playoff drought. It’s worth noting that many other variables could influence whether the team makes the playoffs. If the Sabres can accomplish the three points covered here, I have a hard time seeing them miss the playoffs. Is this the season the Sabres finally get over the hump and break the drought?