Buffalo Sabres’ Defining Road Trip Could Be the Turning Point of Their Season
The Buffalo Sabres are heading into a crucial six-game road trip, and while their spot in the standings might not scream “contender” just yet, there’s a growing sense that this team is starting to figure things out. Winners of six of their last nine, the Sabres have knocked off some serious competition lately - including convincing wins over the Hurricanes, Oilers, and Jets - and they’re showing signs of life that fans haven’t seen in years.
Right now, Buffalo sits 14th in the Eastern Conference with 26 points and an 11-11-4 record. That might not sound like much, but in the jumbled mess that is the East playoff race, they’re only five points back of a postseason spot.
Even more surprising? They’re currently ahead of both the Panthers and the Maple Leafs - two teams many expected to be battling for the top of the conference, not chasing Buffalo.
But here’s where things get serious. The Sabres are about to spend the next 12 days on the road - a stretch that could very well define their season.
And if history is any indicator, it won’t be easy. Buffalo’s been shaky away from KeyBank Center this year, going just 2-6-2 on the road.
That’s the kind of trend that needs to flip fast if they want to stay in the mix.
The Playoff Picture: A Numbers Game
Let’s talk odds. Multiple models are giving Buffalo somewhere between an 18% and 36% chance of making the playoffs:
- HockeyViz: 36.2%
- The Athletic: 28%
- Hockey Reference: 25.9%
- Playoff Status: 24%
- Power Rankings Guru: 19.2%
- MoneyPuck: 18.8%
- DraftKings Sportsbook: +475 (17.4%)
Those numbers tell the story: the Sabres are on the bubble. And with a tough road slate ahead, those odds could swing wildly - in either direction - depending on how they perform.
A Glimpse of What Could Be
The Sabres have shown flashes this season - real, tangible stretches where they look like a playoff-caliber team. That’s not something we’ve been able to say often over the last decade.
The difference lately? Health.
With key players returning to the lineup, the team has looked more cohesive, more dangerous, and a lot more confident.
Josh Norris gave fans a taste of what this group is capable of in Monday’s 5-1 win over the Jets. He racked up three points in what might’ve been Buffalo’s most complete performance in years. Head coach Lindy Ruff praised the effort, calling it a night where the team was “really connected” - and it showed.
But here’s the thing: Sabres fans have been here before. This franchise has had hot streaks during its long playoff drought - like that 10-game heater in 2018-19 that had them sitting at 17-6-2 before the wheels fell off.
So the question isn’t whether they can play like a playoff team. It’s whether they can sustain it.
A Deeper, Healthier Roster - and a Style Built to Last
There’s reason to believe this year could be different. For one, this is the deepest Sabres lineup we’ve seen in a while.
And it’s only going to get better when Jiri Kulich and Michael Kesselring return from injury. More importantly, they’re playing a smarter, more sustainable style of hockey - one that doesn’t rely on streaky scoring or goaltending miracles to win games.
The analytics back that up. Buffalo ranks 10th in the league in 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 52.02%, and over their past nine games, they’ve jumped to second in the NHL at 57.32%, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s not just window dressing - that’s the kind of underlying performance that playoff teams are built on.
And if you’ve been watching, the eye test agrees. With a full lineup, this team looks like it belongs. That might sound like a low bar, but for a franchise that hasn’t seen playoff hockey since 2011, even the smallest signs of progress matter.
The Fanbase Is Waiting - and Watching
It’s understandable that fans are cautious. After so many false starts, it’s hard to fully buy in.
But if the Sabres keep trending upward, the fanbase - which has always been one of the NHL’s most passionate - will be back in full force. The energy is there, simmering just beneath the surface.
All it needs is a reason to erupt.
This road trip won’t make or break the season mathematically, but emotionally? Spiritually?
This could be the stretch that tells us who the 2025-26 Sabres really are. If they come out of it strong, they’ll be right in the thick of the playoff race.
If they stumble, it could be another long winter in Western New York.
The next two weeks will speak volumes. Let’s see if the Sabres are ready to turn the corner - or if this is just another flicker in a decade full of false dawns.