Playoff berths on the line as Colorado Avalanche face Buffalo Sabres - NHL Preview
Colorado Avalanche are in the thick of a playoff race in the Western Conference with four other contenders and will face another team looking to make its own way into the postseason when they face Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the First
Niagara Center.
The Avalanche, have hit a rich vein of form as they remain tied on points with four other teams including eighth placed San Jose Sharks with 78-points.
With a two game winning run they will take to the road for three games starting with Buffalo Sabres and will be looking to move back into a playoff spot.
However, the Sabres will not make it any easier for them.
Buffalo are in the midst of their own run for a playoff spot as they lie ninth in the Eastern Conference with 74 points trailing eighth placed Washington Capitals by just four points.
Every point now counts for the Sabres as they have done exceptionally well to turn around what looked to become a lost season into a run for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Buffalo has won five out of their last seven games and are currently on a two-game winning run that has propelled them right into the fight for eighth spot.
Avalanche (37-30-4, 78 pts)
Colorado has won four and lost three in its last seven games but that record has been enough to keep them in the thick of the playoff race.
They won their last two games after regulation and have shown great desire to climb over adversity and maintain the challenge for the coveted eighth spot.
The Avalanche could have just as easily lost their last game as they gave up a one goal lead late into the final period to send the game to overtime.
However, they won in overtime after Gabriel Landeskog shook of the flu to score the winner and give the Avalanche an important two points.
Speaking after the game the rookie forward said.
"We're in playoff mode already, and we've been in playoff mode the last couple of weeks. We just have to keep it going."
Sabres (33-29-8, 74 pts)
Buffalo has its own brilliant story to tell after turning around what was looking like another disappointing regular season campaign.
The Sabres have climbed up to ninth in the Eastern Conference from the bottom and with just four points separating them from the coveted eighth spot will not be ready to slow down their momentum just yet.
Buffalo won over Montreal Canadiens at home ice with a 3-2 overtime victory thanks to Tyler Myers overtime goal.
Myers though will miss the game against Colorado and coach Lindy Ruff said in a statement that his loss will be tough on the team.
"It's tough. There's no doubt. He's been a big part of our back end."
Predictions
Colorado, have the better offence but the Sabres home advantage will count for a lot and Buffalo might just edge out the Avalanche.
Goals will be few and the sum of goals will likely be less than six.
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