Buffalo Sabres' crazy schedule before Olympic break is a make-or-break moment

Buffalo Sabres players Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin | Joe Hrycych/GettyImagesThe Buffalo Sabres, who are scheduled to play 14 games in the next 25 days before the NHL breaks for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, opened a crucial five-game homestand with a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.

Buffalo will welcome three straight Eastern Conference opponents (Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens) to the KeyBank Center this week for key matchups in the playoff race before wrapping up the home stretch against the Minnesota Wild.

Sabres winger Josh Doan, who's putting together a breakout campaign with 30 points in 43 games during his first…