Buffalo Sabres Surge Back Into Playoff Picture With Historic Midseason Run
While Buffalo football fans are once again left nursing postseason heartbreak, there's a different kind of energy building just down the road at KeyBank Center. For the first time in over a decade, the Buffalo Sabres are giving their city something to believe in - and they’re doing it with grit, talent, and one of the hottest stretches in franchise history.
Let’s be clear: what the Sabres are doing right now isn’t just a nice run. It’s a statement.
Over their past 19 games, Buffalo has gone 15-3-1 - a mark that not only vaults them back into the Eastern Conference playoff mix, but also ties the best 19-game stretch in franchise history. That’s not just turning the corner - that’s flipping the script on a season that looked like it was headed off the rails.
To put it in perspective, the Sabres have never won more than 15 games in any 19-game stretch in a single season. Not during the Dominik Hasek era.
Not during the Chris Drury-Daniel Brière years. This is rare air for a team that’s been searching for answers - and an identity - for far too long.
This surge comes after a rocky start that led to the dismissal of general manager Kevyn Adams. But since then, everything’s started to click. As of Sunday, Buffalo owns the sixth-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference, and they’re sitting in a playoff spot as the season turns toward its second half.
So what’s driving this turnaround?
It starts on the blue line with Rasmus Dahlin, who’s elevating his game to elite levels. The former No. 1 overall pick is playing like a true Norris Trophy contender - anchoring the defense, pushing the pace, and making plays in all three zones. He’s not just logging heavy minutes; he’s dictating games.
Up front, Tage Thompson is back to looking like the dynamic, game-breaking scorer Sabres fans fell in love with last season. After battling through some early-season inconsistency, Thompson has rediscovered his rhythm and is once again a threat every time he touches the puck.
And then there’s Josh Doan - the offseason acquisition that’s paying off in a big way. Picked up in the JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth, Doan has quickly become one of Buffalo’s most impactful players. He’s a two-way force who brings energy, responsibility, and a knack for making the right play at the right time.
This isn’t just about a few players getting hot - it’s about a team finally finding its stride. For a franchise that’s been stuck in the NHL’s longest playoff drought - a stretch that dates back to the 2010-11 season - this run means more than just points in the standings.
It’s a cultural shift. It’s hope.
Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs in a full season under current ownership, and the frustration from fans has been understandable. But right now, this group is writing a new chapter. They’re not just playing better - they’re playing with purpose.
And maybe, just maybe, they’re about to give Buffalo something it hasn’t had in a long time: a hockey spring that matters.
For a city that’s taken its share of sports gut punches, this Sabres team feels like a breath of fresh air. The fans have waited long enough. And if this current stretch is any indication, the wait might finally be over.