The Buffalo Sabres could clinch home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a single victory in their remaining two games.
The Sabres, idle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, saw action elsewhere in the league on Saturday. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1, the Montreal Canadiens lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-1.
Sabres’ Division Lead
Currently, the Sabres lead their division with 106 points. Tampa Bay and Montreal both trail with 104 points each.
All three teams in the Atlantic Division have two games left to play.
How Buffalo Can Clinch Home Ice
If Montreal loses on Sunday to the New York Islanders or the Sabres win in Chicago on Monday, the Sabres will clinch home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Sabres can secure their position over the Lightning with one win and a loser point against the Hawks and the Dallas Stars, who are set to visit Buffalo on Wednesday. The Stars have already clinched second place in the Central Division and may rest some players.
Tampa Bay’s upcoming schedule includes a home game against the Detroit Red Wings, who have been eliminated for the 10th straight year, and a road game against the New York Rangers.
Eastern Conference Scenarios
To climb in the Eastern Conference standings, Buffalo needs to win both of their games. They also need Carolina to lose in regulation at both Philadelphia against the Flyers and Long Island vs the Islanders.
The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins clinched the two Eastern Conference Wild Card positions on Saturday.
Buffalo can clinch home ice with one win in two games.