Buffalo Sabres Hit Olympic Break in Playoff Position - But the Real Work Starts Now
The Buffalo Sabres are in a position fans haven’t seen in quite some time - if the playoffs started today, they’d be in. At 32-19-6 with 70 points, they’re holding down the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and would draw the Carolina Hurricanes in a first-round matchup. That alone is a statement, especially for a franchise that’s been on the outside looking in for over a decade.
But let’s be clear: the playoffs don’t start today. And the Sabres know that.
The NHL has hit pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, giving players a rare midseason breather. For Buffalo, that means two of their stars - Tage Thompson (USA) and Rasmus Dahlin (Sweden) - are off to represent their countries on the international stage. For the rest of the team, it’s a chance to regroup, reset, and heal up before the final push.
A Timely Break for a Team That Needs It
This Olympic break couldn’t have come at a better time for Buffalo. The Sabres have dropped three of their last four games and looked a bit off their rhythm heading into the pause.
Fatigue? Injuries?
Maybe a bit of both.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was set to suit up for Finland, had to bow out of the Olympics due to injury. Forwards Zach Benson and Josh Norris are also nursing injuries, but the expectation is that both should be ready to go when play resumes.
Getting healthy is step one. Step two?
Regaining the form that got them here in the first place.
Because while Buffalo currently controls its own destiny, the margin for error is razor-thin. The Eastern Conference wild-card race is tight, and teams like Washington and Columbus are lurking, waiting for any slip-up. This is not the time to coast - it’s the time to lock in.
Post-Olympic Schedule: No Easy Outs
The path forward doesn’t get any easier. When the Sabres return to action, they’ll jump right into the fire with a tough three-game road trip to close out February - facing New Jersey, Florida, and Tampa Bay.
All playoff-caliber teams. All capable of exposing any rust from the break.
March offers some home cooking, with six of their first seven games at KeyBank Center. That stretch includes matchups against Vegas, Nashville, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Washington, and Toronto - plus a road rematch against the Penguins, who just handed Buffalo a loss before the break.
That’s a gauntlet, no doubt. But it’s also a golden opportunity to prove this team is legit.
The Sabres have shown they can hang with - and beat - playoff teams. They’ve banked enough points to sit in a solid position.
But the second half of the season is where contenders separate from pretenders. And for Buffalo, this is the most meaningful hockey they’ve played in years.
The Playoff Drought Hangs Over Everything
Let’s not forget what’s at stake here. The Sabres are staring down the longest playoff drought in NHL history.
That’s not just a stat - it’s a weight that’s hung over this franchise, its fans, and its locker room for over a decade. This season feels different.
It is different. But that only matters if they finish the job.
The loss to Pittsburgh before the break might end up being a blessing in disguise - a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. This team has the talent, the depth, and the structure to make the postseason. But they’ll need to come out of the Olympic break with urgency, focus, and a playoff mindset from the jump.
Buffalo has the pieces. They’ve put themselves in the driver’s seat.
Now it’s about execution. If the Sabres can pick up where they left off - and stay healthy - they’ve got a real shot to end the drought and bring playoff hockey back to Western New York.
And if they do, it won’t just be a return to the postseason. It’ll be a statement that the rebuild is over - and the Sabres are ready to contend.