The Buffalo Sabres were looking to snap their decade-long playoff drought during the 2021-2022 season. Jumping out to a red hot start in October to open up the year, they won five of their first seven games. However, the franchise would see its lineup decimated by injuries and COVID-19. They lost Casey Mittelstadt to an upper-body that held the young centerman out for two months. Along with this, starting netminder Craig Anderson also suffered a lower-body ailment. Winning just 11 games between November to February, the Sabres lost a franchise-record 18 games in a row. Able to gain momentum ne…