Paul Hamilton on the Sabres returning home to face Columbus after beating the Rangers

·21 min·2 clips

Paul Hamilton explains why tonight's game against Columbus matters more than last night's win over the Rangers.

The episode begins with host Sal Capaccio introducing Paul Hamilton, a Sabres analyst, to preview the team's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hamilton notes that while the Sabres are chasing a division championship, Columbus desperately needs this game for their own playoff hopes. They rewind to last night's win over the Rangers, where Hamilton describes an awful second period but a much better third period, with the Sabres allowing only one shot after taking the lead. Anecdotes about players like Zucker and Zach Benson illustrate the team's lighthearted culture, with Benson joking about his calm demeanor on a goal. The discussion shifts to the Sabres' power play struggles, which are 0-for-15 in the last four games, including poor five-on-three performances. Hamilton explains playoff seeding scenarios, noting that if Buffalo wins tonight, the loser of the Tampa Bay-Montreal game will likely be eliminated from catching them. He also mentions the Sabres' chance at the number one seed in the East, though Carolina holds a slight advantage. The Blue Jackets are analyzed as a tough opponent, with the Sabres having lost to them twice this season. Hamilton speculates that goalie Colton Ellis might start tonight due to an injury to Lyon. Rasmus Dahlin's Masterton Award nomination is discussed, highlighting his perseverance through his fiancée's heart transplant. The episode concludes with brief mentions of other NHL awards, like Lindy Ruff for the Jack Adams and Dahlin as a potential Norris candidate, before transitioning to a promo for an upcoming interview with Mark Vandermeer.

As heard by us

Hamilton turns Buffalo's crowded playoff race into clear, immediate stakes.

The Sabres' push for a division title, home ice, and the best possible Eastern Conference seed gives this episode a clear stakes-on-the-table shape. Paul Hamilton joins ahead of Buffalo's game against Columbus, and he keeps the race grounded in what can actually change next.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Sabres' home-ice math before Columbus, with Paul Hamilton keeping the stakes tied to the Tampa Bay-Montreal scoreboard.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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