The Buffalo Sabres have gone worst to first.
They did it right before your eyes. No smoke and mirrors. No B.S.
With their dramatic 3-2 overtime win over Atlantic Division rivals the Montreal Canadiens, the Sabres have earned second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Sabres have 32 points. The Tampa Lightning defeated the Chicago Blackhawks to earn their 33rd point of the season.
The Sabres can claim first place in the East with a win in Detroit on Saturday night, when Tampa and Toronto will be idle.
I like the numerology of @Jackeichel15 #9 and his #Sabres winning their 9th straight game tonight in Detroit Rock City, where Gordie Howe (#9) reinvented the game of hockey
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
After he scored the OT winner against the Habs, Skinner told me he didn't even see the puck enter the net on his OT game winner.
Skinner told me he didn’t even see the puck go on the net in OT GDUB. He said the crowd told him puck went in the net #Sabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
Ever humble, Skinner told me he can't ever remember being on such a torrid goal scoring streak as he is right now with 17 goals in 23 games. He told me that he can definitively say he has never won eight straight games in his 9 year NHL career.
Skinner told me he doesn’t remember being this hot a goal scorer in NHL before.…I know I’ve never won eight straight games though… #Sabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
Skinner’s 10 goals in 12 road games trails only John Tavares (11) for most in the NHL.
Rookie sensation and first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin was downright giddy when I spoke with him after the 3-2 OT win. Dahlin told me he is having the time of his young hockey life playing for teh Buffalo Sabres.
On #Sabres winning 8 in a row @rasmusdahlin00
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
For me, from my perspective,: “I always felt twe were going to come back. This is one of the best times in my hockey life. I love this team. It’s unbelievable…
Dahlin had an assist on He now has 7 pts in his last 7 games and is tied for 3rd in rookie scoring with 12 points in his first 23 NHL games.
The Sabres are now on their first eight-game winning streak since the team won its first 10 games of the 2006-07 season. Their 9-1-0 record in their last 10 games is also their best 10-game stretch in a season since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
The Sabres now has points in eight straight games for the first time since they had points in nine in a row (7-0-2) from March 10 to 27, 2012.
The Sabres are now on their first five-game home winning streak since they won seven in a row from November 28 to December 15, 2014.
The team’s 8-2-1 record at home this season puts them on pace for its best home record since the 1979-80 season (27-5-8).
These Sabres just do not quit. They don't know the meaning of the word.
Now do you believe?!
This is not a typo. Your #Sabres are currently in first place in the East pending outcome of tonight’s Leafs @ Blue Jax tilt #NowDoYouBelieve pic.twitter.com/hYFVimh3ms
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
Brendan Gallagher and Andrew Shaw lit the lamp for the Canadiens (11-7-5), who have lost three straight games. Niemi made 38 saves in the game.
Casey Mittelstadt got the party started with his fourth goal of the sason on the first period.
Carter Hutton made 31 saves.
Hutton is 7-0-0 with a .934 SV% and a 1.98 GAA in his last seven games. Hutton enters Hockey Night In Motown tied for second in NHL with 11 wins. That's how you go worst to first! #Sabres pic.twitter.com/07cCGIP0yd
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
#Sabres #Ocho pic.twitter.com/YFEKrxQLXU
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 24, 2018
Sabres D-men are contributiing the offense in huge ways this season.
After 23 games, Steve Smith's D corps has already created 12 goals and 39 assists for 51 points this season. In 2017-18, Sabres D-men scored 19 goals and 94 assists.