The Buffalo Sabres are heading to the postseason. Their playoff drought, an NHL record of 14 seasons, is finally over.
The Sabres clinched a playoff berth on Saturday after the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation. This ends a run that saw the team finish no better than 19th in the league standings.
Ending a Futile Streak
Buffalo’s playoff drought ranked second among North American major sports’ longest active streaks, behind only the NFL’s New York Jets. The Sabres clinched their spot with six games left in their season, before their game at Washington on Saturday night.
At 46-22-8, Buffalo is riding a 35-8-4 surge. This run has lifted the team after they sat last in the East in early December.
The Sabres have gone 5,458 days since losing Game 7 of a first-round series to Philadelphia on April 26, 2011.
Turnaround in Buffalo
The Sabres have finished last overall four times in the intervening years. They are now on their seventh coach, with Lindy Ruff back for a second stint, and their fourth general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen.
Buffalo’s rise in the standings coincided with Kekalainen being promoted from his position as senior adviser on Dec. 15. He replaced Kevyn Adams, who was fired after five-plus seasons.
The Sabres had already won three straight when the change occurred and proceeded to go on a franchise record-matching 10-0 run. Buffalo is 14-3-2 since returning from the Olympic break, and the team’s worst stretch since December has been a 0-1-2 skid.
Key Players and Additions
The Sabres’ top two lines were strengthened by the return of Josh Norris and Jason Zucker. Their goaltending also improved, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen resuming starting duties with Alex Lyon after shaking off an early season injury. Luukkonen has gone 15-4-2 since Dec. 21, after opening the season 4-5-1.
Kekalainen also added depth at the trade deadline last month by acquiring Sam Carrick, Tanner Pearson, Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn.
- Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, entered Saturday ranking sixth among NHL defensemen with 67 points.
- Tage Thompson was tied for 11th among all skaters with 38 goals.
The team is led by captain Rasmus Dahlin and forward Tage Thompson.
The next challenge for Buffalo is winning a playoff series, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2007.
The turnaround has revived a fan base that had grown weary with losing and a revolving door of talent.