The Buffalo Sabres have a lot to be proud of this season. Despite a painful Game 7 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, there’s plenty of optimism for the future. A team that had the longest playoff drought in the NHL came within a goal of making the Eastern Conference Finals.
It was a season that no one expected. Heading into 2025-2026, the Sabres were hoping for just a push for a playoff spot. Buffalo got off to a rough start, and by December 15th, 2025, fired GM Kevyn Adams.
A Team Dinner Turnaround
At their lowest point, a heart-to-heart team dinner in Calgary galvanized the team. Following that dinner, the Sabres came out swinging against the Edmonton Oilers, up 3-0 in the third period. However, the Oilers came back and ultimately tied it with one second left in the third.
When it looked like yet another gut-punch loss, Alex Tuch scored in overtime to get the two points. From that point on, the Sabres never looked back. They took off and went on an unprecedented 10-game winning streak.
This guided them to a 50-win, 109-point campaign and an Atlantic Division title. It became one of the biggest turnarounds in recent NHL history. They made the postseason for the first time in 15 years.
Sabres Cinderella Playoff Run
The Sabres weren’t just happy to be back in the playoffs. They made sure to make their mark, starting with a first-round matchup vs the rival Boston Bruins. They started with a dramatic come-from-behind win in Game 1 at home and eventually took a 3-1 series lead.
Though they couldn’t close it at home, they earned their third win on the road with a dominant 4-1 result in Game 6 in Boston. Just like that, the Sabres were moving on to the second round. Their opponent was another Cinderella team in the Canadiens.
What followed was a series for the ages. The two teams went back and forth, with both teams stealing games on the road and ultimately pushing the series to a Game 7.
The Sabres came back down 2-0 in that Game 7 to force overtime. Despite creating several great chances, Alex Newhook ended the Sabres‘ season in heartbreaking fashion midway through the first overtime. It was a tough pill for Sabres fans to swallow.
Looking Back With Lots of Pride
Even though their season came to an end, there is so much to be proud of and to build upon. The team saw breakout seasons from Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Benson. They also broke the longest playoff drought in recent league history.
The Sabres have youth, talent, a strong front office, and a fanbase that’s hungry for more. GM Jarmo Kekäläinen believed that his team could make the playoffs the day he was hired. Now the belief should shift to the Sabres competing for the Stanley Cup.
The future is bright in western New York, and it may not be too long before the Sabres finally bring the Stanley Cup to the city of Buffalo.
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