The Buffalo Sabres are on the brink of breaking their 14-season playoff drought, and things are looking promising. According to many predictive models, their playoff berth is nearly a lock, though fans are holding off on celebrations until it's official. The magic number for clinching a spot dropped to 11 on Tuesday night.
With every NHL team in action except for the Sabres and the New York Rangers, Sabres fans had their eyes on two key matchups: the Ottawa Senators vs. the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the New York Islanders.
The Senators continued their impressive streak with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings, marking their fourth consecutive win and securing their hold on the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Islanders stumbled with a 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks, keeping them at 85 points. This was good news for the Sabres, as their magic number dropped by two, now sitting at 11.
Buffalo's chances for the top seed in the Eastern Conference also got a boost. The Montreal Canadiens did the Sabres a favor by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes, who were poised to extend their lead over the Sabres, were stopped short after Montreal rallied from a two-goal deficit to win with five unanswered goals. This left the Hurricanes just one point ahead of Buffalo.
Looking ahead, the Sabres are gearing up for a four-game homestand, starting with a matchup against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. By the end of this home stretch, it's possible that Buffalo could not only secure a playoff spot but also claim the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Even on a night when they weren't on the ice, the stars seemed to align for the Sabres, with results across the league bolstering their playoff prospects.