Stretch Drive - 50 Days 25 Games

[Taro T]

Well all but Thompson and Dahlin are on the 2nd of a 19 day break preceding resuming the torid pace of games they were on prior to that.  Hoping they get rested and healthy but not rusty.

It's a sprint from when they get back through to the end of the season as they'll squeeze nearly a third of a season (25 games) into 50 days. 5 sets of  back to back games, with only four minibreaks of 2 days off and a single 3 day break which they don't get until just before playing their final 2 games of the regular season in Chicago on 4/13 and hosting the Stars on 4/15.

They sit with 70 points through 57 games.  Go NHL 0.600 over that stretch and they'd end up with 100 points.  Go 3-2-0 (or equivalent) over each of the remaining 5 game stretches and they're there.  99 points puts them over NHL 0.600 for the season and only the '70 Canadiens didn't get into the playoffs with at least an NHL 0.600 in the modern era.  So, their slow start coupled with their recent hot stretch has netted them 1 spare point for getting to an NHL 0.600 for the season.

12 road games left, the 1st 3 of which starts off the stretch sprint.  13 home games left.  If they can go 2-1-0 (NJ, FLA, TB) during that initial road trip they could afford to blow either the home game vs Vegas or more likely the road game in Pittsburgh and still meet that 1st 3-2-0 record in the 1st 5 game segment.  As long as they take at least 1 point out of the 1st 6 available to them they'd be guaranteed to be in a playoff spot when the day begins on March 1.  Really want to see them get at least 4 of those points, but being in a playoff spot as March begins would be a baby step towards the goal.

The next 5 game segment is comprised entirely of home games (Nashville, TB AGAIN, SJ (who they nearly ALWAYS beat), Washington, and TO).  The 3-2-0 or maybe even 4-1-0 dare we hope should be doable.

After that 4 on the road following a day of rest and a day of travel, the dreaded far west road trip (Vegas, SJ, then ending on back to back nights in LA and Anaheim) before heading back home for 4 more in a row, the 1st one being against the Bruins.  Probably can't expect better than the targeted 3-2-0 in that one, but getting that should be doable.  (Not saying they'll do it; but they CAN do it.)

The rest of that home trip is Detroit and Seattle on btb nights then 2 days off before hosting the Aisles to close out a very busy March.  Then into Ottawa and Washington.  If they weren't likely to find a way to blow the Seattle game, could hope for better than the 3-2-0 pace; but 3-2-0 is once again doable.

The final 5 games are TB (AGAIN, for the last time in the regular season, they'll have to be getting sick of seeing them so often down the stretch by then), back to the road for the Rags, then fly back to Buffalo to host the BJs the next night.  Then they get to rest up for the final 2 regular season games; 1 vs a Chicago team playing at home with nothing to play for but pride and then back to Buffalo to host Dallas in a game that hopefully means nothing to the Stars as if theres more than 2 points between them and the Wild neither team will have anything on the line as the location of their opening playoff matchup will already have been determined.  4-1-0 would be excellent, but 3-2-0 would likely be enough.

Daunting, but doable.  And IF they were to go 24-1-0 or better during that stretch, it doesn't matter what any other teams do during the stretch run; the Sabres WILL be in the playoffs.  (Cool, huh.  They're through the Olympic break and literally still FULLY control their own destiny.)

Everybody else is in a similar boat as there will only be 51 days before everyone plays their last RS game (presuming no games have to get rescheduled to 4/17, the day before the playoffs officially open) and everyone has from 23 - 27 games remaining.  The Caps are the only team to have played 59 games to date and Tampa is the only team in the east to have only played 55 games (Colorado and SJ being the other teams having to squeeze in 27 in 51 days).

 

[PASabreFan]

You're not helping my brewing hockey withdrawal.

I hate the NHL schedule in a normal years. Olympic years just suck.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

You're not helping my brewing hockey withdrawal.

I hate the NHL schedule in a normal years. Olympic years just suck.

25 games in 50 days is ridiculous.  The Caps Bolts, Avs, and Snarks get 27 in 51.

Normally youth, come crunchtime is a detriment.  But youth recovers quicker.  Might be the Sabres "secret sauce" this year.

Another reason to dislike 19 days NHL free.  All the older teams get just as much rest as the Sabres do these nearly 3 weeks.

Edited February 7 by Taro T

[Big Guava]

Their youth should help with this...

[quill]

5 hours ago, Taro T said:

25 games in 50 days is ridiculous.  The Caps Bolts, Avs, and Snarks get 27 in 51.

Normally youth, come crunchtime is a detriment.  But youth recovers quicker.  Might be the Sabres "secret sauce" this year.

Another reason to dislike 19 days NHL free.  All the older teams get just as much rest as the Sabres do these nearly 3 weeks.

"But youth recovers quicker."

For sure, especially in cases where they got lucky the night before. The 20 somethings are ready to go again within hours, the 30 somethings not quite so soon.

[Night Train]

16 hours ago, Taro T said:

25 games in 50 days is ridiculous.  

 My constant complaint about the NHL.  Just start the season the 1st week of September and space the games out more. I get this break but it's every year they seem to burn out their players. 

[French Collection]

1 hour ago, Night Train said:

 My constant complaint about the NHL.  Just start the season the 1st week of September and space the games out more. I get this break but it's every year they seem to burn out their players. 

The earlier start could have been a trial for an Olympic year, if it was liked then they could adopt it.

I suppose the NHL and NHLPA both like the summer vacation period to go into September but it was the players who really pushed for Olympic participation.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Night Train said:

 My constant complaint about the NHL.  Just start the season the 1st week of September and space the games out more. I get this break but it's every year they seem to burn out their players. 

Would improve the quality of play and possibly reduce the number of injuries.  But the NHL is never going to add 5 extra weeks of competing against the NFL.  Teams have a hard enough time selling tickets in October.  There'd be a lot of empty seats in September and the league knows it.  No matter how much it'd improve the play can't see them ever going for it.

This year was an aberation, but normally teams only play only about 10 games in October due to not wanting to compete with the NFL and the MLB playoffs.  Add 2 or 3 games then and they could drop a game in February and March when the schedule typically gets compacted.  That would help some.

And this probably won't be a popular opinion, but if you have to shut the league down for nearly 3 full weeks to squeeze the Olympics in, don't send NHLers to the Olympics.

[Skibum]

The NHL should just shorten the Olympic year seasons by a few games. It's ridiculous for the players who have to actually play in the freaking Olympics in the middle of the season, and it compresses the season schedule to insanity levels. 82 hockey games is a lot in a normal year. In an Olympic year, it's absurd. 

[Carmel Corn]

I may be in the minority, but I would just prefer no NHL contracted players in the Olympics period!  Don’t disrupt the NHL season for the sake of a minority of league players who get selected to participate.

Edited February 9 by Carmel Corn

[Weave]

42 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

I may be in the minority, but I would just prefer no NHL contracted players in the Olympics period!  Don’t disrupt the NHL season for the sake of a minority of league players who get selected to participate.

I have definitely gone against the grain and believed that there shouldn’t be pros in the Olympics, and yes I understand that alot of other athletes from other countries and disciplines really blur the line. But sending amateurs is my preference regardless.

[Taro T]

42 minutes ago, Weave said:

I have definitely gone against the grain and believed that there shouldn’t be pros in the Olympics, and yes I understand that alot of other athletes from other countries and disciplines really blur the line. But sending amateurs is my preference regardless.

It's so darn frustrating.  The Soviet bloc always sent pros to the games and then right after the USSR falls, the West starts sending pros to the games.

Almost don't bother watching the summer Olympics anymore.  Still get a kick out of the winter Olympics even though they're mainly pros too.

[Pimlach]

On 2/8/2026 at 9:22 AM, Taro T said:

Would improve the quality of play and possibly reduce the number of injuries.  But the NHL is never going to add 5 extra weeks of competing against the NFL.  Teams have a hard enough time selling tickets in October.  There'd be a lot of empty seats in September and the league knows it.  No matter how much it'd improve the play can't see them ever going for it.

This year was an aberation, but normally teams only play only about 10 games in October due to not wanting to compete with the NFL and the MLB playoffs.  Add 2 or 3 games then and they could drop a game in February and March when the schedule typically gets compacted.  That would help some.

And this probably won't be a popular opinion, but if you have to shut the league down for nearly 3 full weeks to squeeze the Olympics in, don't send NHLers to the Olympics.

The long season hurts on the front and back end of the schedule. 

What is worse is that most of the US does not watch the SC Playoffs once their team is eliminated.  Americans get outside in the spring and they turn to baseball and golf.  Two sports that you can not only watch, but also continue to play as you age.  

[Taro T]

13 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

The long season hurts on the front and back end of the schedule. 

What is worse is that most of the US does not watch the SC Playoffs once their team is eliminated.  Americans get outside in the spring and they turn to baseball and golf.  Two sports that you can not only watch, but also continue to play as you age.  

Old people play golf.  Old people DON'T play baseball.  They might play softball into their 40's, but not many even do that.  You can play hockey into your 60's and except for "no checking" (and obviously, the quality of play) it's the exact same game that you'd played in your teens and 20's.

Finding actual fast ptich baseball leagues for people in their 30's and above is tough (not impossible, but very few play in them).  And, yeah, a few people will play competitive softball (fast pitch or slow pitch) beyond their 40's, but it's a really small percentage that do so.  Know a lot of people well past 40 still playing hockey.

Edited February 9 by Taro T

[Pimlach]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

Old people play golf.  Old people DON'T play baseball.  They might play softball into their 40's, but not many even do that.  You can play hockey into your 60's and except for "no checking" (and obviously, the quality of play) it's the exact same game that you'd played in your teens and 20's.

Finding actual fast ptich baseball leagues for people in their 30's and above is tough (not impossible, but very few play in them).  And, yeah, a few people will play competitive softball (fast pitch or slow pitch) beyond their 40's, but it's a really small percentage that do so.  Know a lot of people well past 40 still playing hockey.

OK Taro you get the Boomer of the Day award for this post ^   

Old people do play golf but if you think they are the only ones you are living a myth.   More young people play golf today than they have at any other time, including women.  More high schools and colleges have golf teams than at any other time.  I have 7 out of 10 nephews/sons in my family that are dedicated golfers.  

Your experience is limited to Buffalo and WNY maybe?  I lived in So Cal from age 23 to 35 and played fast and slow pitch softball the entire time.  There are tons of men's, women's, and coed softball leagues all over the USA in the spring and summer.  Way more than hockey leagues - even in Buffalo this is not a reasonable debate. 

The SC Playoffs are the least watched playoffs of the big four team sports in the USA.  

The NFL completely dominates US playoff viewership, with games often drawing over 30–40 million viewers, dwarfing all other leagues. MLB (2025 postseason averaged 6.33M) has experienced a resurgence, often leading the NBA in total playoff viewership. NBA playoffs are generally stronger in the key 18-34 demographic, while the NHL trails, averaging over 1M for peak playoff games. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

OK Taro you get the Boomer of the Day award for this post ^   

Old people do play golf but if you think they are the only ones you are living a myth.   More young people play golf today than they have at any other time, including women.  More high schools and colleges have golf teams than at any other time.  I have 7 out of 10 nephews/sons in my family that are dedicated golfers.  

Your experience is limited to Buffalo and WNY maybe?  I lived in So Cal from age 23 to 35 and played fast and slow pitch softball the entire time.  There are tons of men's, women's, and coed softball leagues all over the USA in the spring and summer.  Way more than hockey leagues - even in Buffalo this is not a reasonable debate. 

The SC Playoffs are the least watched playoffs of the big four team sports in the USA.  

The NFL completely dominates US playoff viewership, with games often drawing over 30–40 million viewers, dwarfing all other leagues. MLB (2025 postseason averaged 6.33M) has experienced a resurgence, often leading the NBA in total playoff viewership. NBA playoffs are generally stronger in the key 18-34 demographic, while the NHL trails, averaging over 1M for peak playoff games. 

The post didn't make ANY statements at all about whether young people golf or not (they do, btw).

The post was responding DIRECTLY to your claim that people play BASEBALL "as they age."  And again, very few people above the age of 30 play BASEBALL.  Even fast pitch softball is NOT baseball.  Your own response supports this claim.

So, how many people do you know that still play BASEBALL past 30?  Heck, there aren't many that play BASEBALL past HS.  How many do you know that play BASEBALL in their 20's?  Softball, absolutely, 100% yes.  THAT is what my post was referencing.  And that was ALL it was responding to.

But, also, and this is neither here nor there, not sure why people playing the sport matters anyhow regarding viewership.  Few people past HS play football and even fewer play it (in any form) past college.  And yet, at least in this country, it remains the king of viewership by a wide margin.

 

 

[Pimlach]

34 minutes ago, Taro T said:

The post didn't make ANY statements at all about whether young people golf or not (they do, btw).

The post was responding DIRECTLY to your claim that people play BASEBALL "as they age."  And again, very few people above the age of 30 play BASEBALL.  Even fast pitch softball is NOT baseball.  Your own response supports this claim.

So, how many people do you know that still play BASEBALL past 30?  Heck, there aren't many that play BASEBALL past HS.  How many do you know that play BASEBALL in their 20's?  Softball, absolutely, 100% yes.  THAT is what my post was referencing.  And that was ALL it was responding to.

But, also, and this is neither here nor there, not sure why people playing the sport matters anyhow regarding viewership.  Few people past HS play football and even fewer play it (in any form) past college.  And yet, at least in this country, it remains the king of viewership by a wide margin.

 

 

I actually said turn to baseball, not play baseball.  You might want to re-read the original message.  More people watch baseball and golf than hockey in the USA.  It’s not even a close comparison.  
 

Example:   You live in Chicago, the Black Hawks are of the playoffs.  You are now watching Cubs or Sox, or maybe the Bulls if they are alive.  Even more so in LA.  Kings out, watch Dodger or Lakers.  
 

But if you want to interpret “turn to” as “play”, I stand by my point that far more people in the US play baseball, especially slow pitch softball, in the spring and summer than hockey.    
 

 

[TageMVP]

^^

[Taro T]

15 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I actually said turn to baseball, not play baseball.  You might want to re-read the original message.  More people watch baseball and golf than hockey in the USA.  It’s not even a close comparison.  
 

Example:   You live in Chicago, the Black Hawks are of the playoffs.  You are now watching Cubs or Sox, or maybe the Bulls if they are alive.  Even more so in LA.  Kings out, watch Dodger or Lakers.  
 

But if you want to interpret “turn to” as “play”, I stand by my point that far more people in the US play baseball, especially slow pitch softball, in the spring and summer than hockey.    
 

 

Dude, you literally wrote: "Two sports that you can not only watch, but also continue to play as you age."    (Emphasis added.)

"(C)ontinue to play" literally was the phrase you used right before the phrase "as you age."  

if you want to interpret what you wrote as something other that what you actually wrote, well, by all means, do have at it.  But please realize what was quoted above in this post is what you actually said, and this kid isn't a mindreader that knew your words meant something other than what you'd written.

And, have said in both posts you've now quoted that BASEBALL is NOT SOFTBALL.  While the 2 sports are similar, they are very distinct from each other.  Baseball and softball are not the same and old people RARELY play baseball.  Old people, such as yourself apparently, do in fact golf.  Other than possibly starting from a different set of tees, that is the same game as what you'd played in your 20's.

Hockey, with the exception of checking, (and nowadays, even checking isn't allowed in a lot of leagues played by those in their primes) can be played the same way by the exact same rules whether you're 25 or 65. 

And though it's neither here nor there ... Soccer (football everywhere but here and Canada) can be played the same regardless of your age as well; American (or even Canadian) football; not so much.

Please do realize, as has already been stated,  the original response was directly a response to your contention about being able to play BASEball and golf as you get old (please forgive the paraphrasing of your comment, the exact comment is provided in the 1st line of this post) and was merely pointing out that the vast majority of old people do not play baseball but many do still golf.  Still not entirely sure why you took it as some sort of a statement that young people DON'T golf.  THAT was never stated nor should it even have been implied.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Dude, you literally wrote: "Two sports that you can not only watch, but also continue to play as you age."    (Emphasis added.)

"(C)ontinue to play" literally was the phrase you used right before the phrase "as you age."  

if you want to interpret what you wrote as something other that what you actually wrote, well, by all means, do have at it.  But please realize what was quoted above in this post is what you actually said, and this kid isn't a mindreader that knew your words meant something other than what you'd written.

And, have said in both posts you've now quoted that BASEBALL is NOT SOFTBALL.  While the 2 sports are similar, they are very distinct from each other.  Baseball and softball are not the same and old people RARELY play baseball.  Old people, such as yourself apparently, do in fact golf.  Other than possibly starting from a different set of tees, that is the same game as what you'd played in your 20's.

Hockey, with the exception of checking, (and nowadays, even checking isn't allowed in a lot of leagues played by those in their primes) can be played the same way by the exact same rules whether you're 25 or 65. 

And though it's neither here nor there ... Soccer (football everywhere but here and Canada) can be played the same regardless of your age as well; American (or even Canadian) football; not so much.

Please do realize, as has already been stated,  the original response was directly a response to your contention about being able to play BASEball and golf as you get old (please forgive the paraphrasing of your comment, the exact comment is provided in the 1st line of this post) and was merely pointing out that the vast majority of old people do not play baseball but many do still golf.  Still not entirely sure why you took it as some sort of a statement that young people DON'T golf.  THAT was never stated nor should it even have been implied.

To the bold:   You stated old people play golf.  Old people don't play baseball.   

You are also correct, I wrote "turn to" and  "continue to play" because it is exactly why people are not inside the house watching NHL playoffs in April/May/June. They have moved on from hockey in most parts of the USA.   

This all started because we were posting about the length of the NHL season, including the playoffs, and how the Olympics are impacting it.   My thought is that most Americans do not watch the NHL playoffs once their team is eliminated.  I stand by this 100%.  The TV ratings back me up.  Even some of the largest US hockey markets tune out after their team is eliminated.  These large markets have baseball teams (and basketball teams) to watch.  And do not discount the fact that people go outside and play sports themselves.  

I know you can admit that hockey is the least watched sport in the USA of the 4 major team sports, including the best hockey which is the hockey playoffs?  I know you can look that up yourself.  

When spring time comes in the USA people go outside and they watch other sports and they play other sports - namely baseball (including softball) and golf in the spring and in the summer months.  Again, look at TV ratings, look at MLB  attendance, look at the PGA TV ratings, etc.   It just all dwarfs the NHL.  

More people in the USA play baseball (including softball)  than play hockey, and it's by huge margins.  This includes young and old people and men and women.  More people in the US play golf than hockey by far.  This also includes young and old, and men and women.  Those numbers are not close, and I find it odd that you can even debate this.  

You are absolutely spitting hairs on the baseball versus softball argument.  It is  essentially the same the game, softball is played more by older men and women than hardball is.  Similarly, you are telling me about old man no-check hockey, well that is not is real hockey either.  So you will acknowledge no-check hockey as hockey, but do not acknowledge softball?  I am sure that puts you in the minority.   

Since you are one of my favorite posters here I accept that you disagree.  I hope I clarified the points I am trying to make. 

 

Edited February 9 by Pimlach

[pi2000]

IMO it all comes down to the goalies.

Will the same guys show up after the break?  

Goalies are weird. 

[Taro T]

30 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

To the bold:   You stated old people play golf.  Old people don't play baseball.   

You are also correct, I wrote "turn to" and  "continue to play" because it is exactly why people are not inside the house watching NHL playoffs in April/May/June. They have moved on from hockey in most parts of the USA.   

This all started because we were posting about the length of the NHL season, including the playoffs, and how the Olympics are impacting it.   My thought is that most Americans do not watch the NHL playoffs once their team is eliminated.  I stand by this 100%.  The TV ratings back me up.  Even some of the largest US hockey markets tune out after their team is eliminated.  These large markets have baseball teams (and basketball teams) to watch.  And do not discount the fact that people go outside and play sports themselves.  

I know you can admit that hockey is the least watched sport in the USA of the 4 major team sports, including the best hockey which is the hockey playoffs?  I know you can look that up yourself.  

When spring time comes in the USA people go outside and they watch other sports and they play other sports - namely baseball (including softball) and golf in the spring and in the summer months.  Again, look at TV ratings, look at MLB  attendance, look at the PGA TV ratings, etc.   It just all dwarfs the NHL.  

More people in the USA play baseball (including softball)  than play hockey, and it's by huge margins.  This includes young and old people and men and women.  More people in the US play golf than hockey by far.  This also includes young and old, and men and women.  Those numbers are not close, and I find it odd that you can even debate this.  

You are absolutely spitting hairs on the baseball versus softball argument.  It is  essentially the same the game, softball is played more by older men and women than hardball is.  Similarly, you are telling me about old man no-check hockey, well that is not is real hockey either.  So you will acknowledge no-check hockey as hockey, but do not acknowledge softball?  I am sure that puts you in the minority.   

Since you are one of my favorite posters here I accept that you disagree.  I hope I clarified the points I am trying to make. 

 

The only significant thing we disagree on is whether softball and baseball are the same sport.  They aren't.  😉 

I should have bolded the sentence I was responding to in my initial post.  Probably would've made this discussion a bit clearer with us talking past each other less.

Haven't disputed anything regarding hockey having lower ratings than baseball and probably golf too.  Nor that the NHL has issues with keeping people's attention when the weather is nice.

But baseball and softball are not the same game.  They use different balls, bats, and even different gloves.  They are played on fields of different construction and different size.  And, particularly for slow pitch softball, they're played with different #'s of players.  The pitch comes in differently as well.  There are additional differences in the rules too.  While they are clearly cousins, they are not the same game.

Hockey is the same game regardless of age.  The only difference is checking goes away; body contact remains and physicality remains a significant portion of the game.  That's one of the absolute best selling points of the game; it literally is for all ages.  You use the same equipment, play on the same playing surface, with the same rules regardless of age or skill level.

Will likely let you have the last word on this if you want it.  (Not positive won't have a reply to your reply, but likely won't. 😉 )

[Big Guava]

No excuses, just results.

[Doohickie]

On 2/9/2026 at 7:00 AM, Carmel Corn said:

I may be in the minority, but I would just prefer no NHL contracted players in the Olympics period!  Don’t disrupt the NHL season for the sake of a minority of league players who get selected to participate.

Or alternately.... let them play in the Olympics but the NHL plays on for those three weeks.  Sydney Crosby or Tage Thompson want to represent their country, fine.  But their NHL teams will have to play games without them while they're gone.

[Doohickie]

On 2/9/2026 at 9:35 PM, Big Guava said:

No excuses, just results.

Jarmo needs to meet with the team coming out of the break and stress this point.