Buffalo Sabres: 4 Observations From the 2016-17 Schedule
By Paul Taylor
The release of the new schedule is always an exciting time of year for NHL fans, so we break it down and provide our thoughts on the Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 season.
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The announcement of your team’s schedule for the upcoming season is a fun time for sports fans. With a thrill similar to what you feel as a youngster at Christmas, it is a time of dreams and high hopes for what could happen, at least until the real action begins.
This feeling is no different for Buffalo Sabres fans, who are often described as some of the best and most loyal in the entire NHL. Throw in the fact the team finally appears to be back on the right track, and this only adds to the intrigue.
As such, the release of the NHL schedule was eagerly anticipated by Sabres fans on Tuesday. We take a look at the games and provide some early observations on what lies ahead for Dan Bylsma‘s men.
1) Eichel vs McDavid
There’s a good chance that one of the first things Sabres fans did, was look to see when they would be facing the Edmonton Oilers. That’s what happens when you have Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid on opposing sides.
If last season is anything to go by, this rivalry has the chance to be something special for a long time. In the upcoming campaign, the two sides meet early on in Edmonton, on October 16, with the return fixture taking place on December 6.
2) Schedule quirks
With so many games to play, the schedule can often bring up some interesting quirks. For example, the Sabres will play all four of their games against the Boston Bruins during the first half of the season.
However, it is their games against the Montreal Canadiens which most stand out in this respect. Buffalo plays both their home opener and finale against the Habs, and faces them in Montreal to both start and finish a four-game road trip between January 21-31.
3) A lot of road to start the season
No one knows for sure if the Sabres are quite ready to challenge for the playoffs just yet. However, we should have a pretty good idea early on.
That’s because Buffalo will play 10 of their first 16 games of the campaign on the road. Their record at that point should provide a strong indication of their chances for the remainder of the season.
4) The wear and tear of long road-trips
Sticking with road games, long trips away from home can often be taxing on the body, especially in a sport as physical as hockey. The Sabres face three such grueling road trips in the upcoming season, starting with four games between October 16-25 in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Philadelphia.
The other two four-game road trips take place between January 21-31 and March 14-20. Buffalo will also face one three-game road trip over the festive period, playing in Boston, New York and Chicago between December 31-January 5.
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What are your takeaways from the release of the Sabres schedule for the 2016-17 season? Which particular games are you looking forward to and why? Let us know in the comments section below.