Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres' playoff chances are starting to dwindle away as the 2023-24 season winds down, but the team is still in contention with 12 games remaining on the schedule.
As of Thursday morning, the Sabres sit five points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Where the Sabres will be at a disadvantage is after Thursday night's matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, they will not have an upper-hand on any of their opponents in the standings, compared to last year with games in-hand down the final stretch of the season.
Sabres head coach Don Granato joined the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on Thursday morning, and says one of the main focal points for his group on the final Western Conference road trip of the season is consistency in their game.
"We play a great game in Seattle and completely control that game for large chunks of it, but we controled the momentum the whole night," said Granato on Thursday with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "Then the very next night, you've got to go into Vancouver, you have intermittent good [play], but obviously when you're playing a very good team, they took charge better than we did. We need more consistency. Obviously, that's the push. We're pushing guys for more consistency. A lot of times it's just the ability to keep things simple and direct, and not complicate a situation."
Along with simplicity, Granato has focused on his team's ability to create scoring chances on a nightly basis. Throughout the course of the season, the Sabres have had games where they can score in bunches, and others where they're held completely scoreless.
Lately though, the scoring seems to have returned for some of his players.
"Chances and goals are two different things. I would say they're interesting," Granato said. "They're both things to talk about, because you generate chances, but if you're tight and not loose and not mentally free, you're talking about inches. You can generate chances and be a little bit tight, but you're not going to score. I think that exemplifies a few guys, more than not are more than usual, I would say. That's where some of the scoring or natural scoring hasn't been quite as consistent. I think they've been a little bit tight."
Since his acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche in the Casey Mittelstadt trade, defenseman Bowen Byram has had a big impact from the blue line in his seven games played with five points (3+2) being paired with Rasmus Dahlin.
"I love the progression, the direction, and the talent is obvious," Granato said of the 22-year-old. "Those two guys are special talents, and special competitors too. It's fun to work with both of them."
Hear more from Granato's appearance during the "Jeremy and Joe Show" available in the player below:
