buffalo chasing three teams in the northeast division

no grandiose predictions, no "war and peace"-length philosophical diatribes, no whining, praising, hoping or praying...only a focus on the top-four teams in the northeast division for the month (no slight to the maple leafs, but as of right now they're below buffalo in the standings and not a team the sabres are chasing)...

just the facts...

the northeast division standings (as of january, 1):

• boston--45 points
• montreal--44
• ottawa--37
• buffalo--34

a look at the schedule for the sabres, bruins, canadians and senators in january broken down into four categories (as of january 1, 2011):  northeast, division leaders (northeast not included,) playoff teams, non-playoff teams...

buffalo sabres--12 games:

• northeast--boston (2,) montreal, ottawa
• division leaders--none
• playoff teams--colorado, san jose', philly, carolina
• non-playoff teams--phoenix, ny islanders (3)

boston--14 games:

• northeast--buffalo (2,) toronto, montreal, ottawa
• division leaders--pittsburgh (2)
• playoff teams--philly, carolina (2,) colorado, los angeles
• non-playoff teams--minnesota, florida

montreal--11 games

• northeast--boston, buffalo, ottawa
• division leaders--pittsburgh (2)
• playoff teams--atlanta, ny rangers (2,) anaheim, philly
• non-playoff teams--calgary

ottawa--11 games

• northeast--toronto, boston, montreal, buffalo
• division leaders--tampa bay
• playoff teams--washington, anaheim, philly
• non-playoff teams--chicago, ny islanders, calgary

based upon strength of schedule, this is the month that the sabres could conceivably get back into the northeast division race