The extra games played helps with points. Ultimately, when everyone plays the same number of games, its point percentage that determines where you finish.
In terms of points per game played, only 2 teams in the conference are below Buffalo, those being Montreal and Philly. The Sabres are in a time for 13th/14th place with Pittsburgh.
To keep with the spirit of this thread, recently in the past week they are playing better than several of the teams above them.