vs. , 7 p.m. ETThe Buffalo Sabres are a new team in 2015-16, and it's not taking long for their fans to notice a huge difference on the ice. Buffalo enters its home game against San Jose on Saturday night having won three games in a row and six out of its past eight to improve Shaquille O'Neal Jersey its record to 8-8-0 on the season. And it is a huge deal for a team that for the past two seasons was one of the wors in the modern era of the NHL to be .500 through 16 games.With a win over the Sharks on Saturday they can actually have a record for the first time since Jan. 24, 2013. That's not only more than two seasons ago, but they were only 2-1 at that point just three games into the lockout shortened season. They never had a winning record again that season and never had anything close to one in the two seasons that followed.Through the first 16 games over the past two years they were only 3-11-2 (2014-15) and 2-13-1 (2013-14). Obviously, even being at .500 this far into the season is a huge step in the right direction.What is most impre sive is they have been able to do it with some pretty significant injuries. Their starting goalie, Robin Lehner, hasn't played since the first game of the season which has forced and to hold down the fort in net.Zach Bogosian, one of their top defensemen, has yet to appear in a game this season while Evander Kane, one of their top wingers, has only played in eight. That is three significant players out of the lineup, and they're still hanging around.And it's not really luck at this point, either. They are simply starting to become a legitimately good hockey team. They're outshooting their opponents by an average of four shots per game and are allowing just 27 per game, the eighth lowest mark in the league.The arrival of No. 2 overall pick has obviously played a huge role, but he's not the only one that is responsible for the improved play. The addition of has given them a top-line, two-way center to handle tough defensive duty and also chip in some offense, while has taken a huge step forward on the blue line. Once they get a healthy Kane, Bogosian and Lehner back in the lineup, the Sabres might actually be able to make things pretty interesting in the Eastern Conference playoff race this season. For now, though, they're just trying to post a winning record. And they will be able to do that on Saturday against a Sharks team that has only won four of its past 12 games and is playing its second road game in 24 hours. Pick: Sabres 4, Sharks 2The rest of Saturday's picks 3, 1 3, 2 4, 2 4, 3 3, 1 3, 0 2, 1 4, 2 5, 3 3, 2 5, 2 4, 1 Kendrick Nunn Jersey