Sabres Stumble into Olympic Break with 5-2 Loss to Penguins, But Playoff Hopes Still Intact
The Buffalo Sabres didn’t exactly head into the Olympic break on a high note. A 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night at KeyBank Center capped off a frustrating stretch, as Buffalo dropped three of its last four games heading into a 20-day layoff.
Still, there’s a bigger picture here. The Sabres sit in the first Eastern Conference wild card spot with 70 points - five clear of both Columbus and Washington, the first teams on the outside looking in.
And let’s not forget: since December 9, this group has gone 21-5-2. That’s not just a hot streak - that’s a team finding its identity.
But Thursday night? It was a reminder that even the hottest teams can cool off quickly.
Flat Start, Frustrating Finish
Jason Zucker gave Buffalo fans something to cheer about early, scoring just 1:46 into the game with a sharp finish on the rush. But that early spark didn’t ignite much else. From there, it was mostly Pittsburgh dictating the pace - and Buffalo chasing.
Penguins forward Avery Hayes, in his NHL debut no less, scored twice in the first period. First came a breakaway finish, then a slick one-timer off a dazzling between-the-legs feed from Anthony Mantha. Ben Kindel made it 3-1 midway through the second on an odd-man rush, and suddenly the Sabres were staring at a deficit they couldn’t climb out of.
Head coach Lindy Ruff didn’t mince words postgame.
“We picked the wrong time to kind of pitch a dud,” Ruff said. “Our passing definitely wasn’t crisp.
You look at our power-play entries - they struggled. I think we missed the net on five of our first six real good opportunities, another sign that you’re not quite on your game.”
He’s not wrong. Buffalo missed the net 22 times - one of their highest totals all season - and had several prime scoring chances that didn’t even result in shots. It wasn’t just poor execution; it was a team that looked out of sync across the board.
Tage Thompson, who did manage to score his 30th of the season on a beautiful short-side power-play snipe in the third, echoed the frustration.
“A lot of missed nets, missed passes,” Thompson said. “Looked like we were fighting it a little bit.
When that happens, you’ve got to simplify your game until you feel it. I thought we did the opposite and kind of fueled their offense.”
Tough Night for the Blue Line
One of the tougher storylines from the night was defenseman Jacob Bryson’s return to the lineup. Playing in his first game back from an upper-body injury, Bryson was on the ice for two of Pittsburgh’s first three goals - including a lob pass that went over his head on one and a turnover at the blue line on another. He didn’t take another shift after the third Penguins goal.
“That pair had a tough night,” Ruff said of Bryson and partner Michael Kesselring. “We didn’t make [Pittsburgh] pay for some of their mistakes, but they made us pay on the big mistakes we made.”
It was a reminder of how thin the margin is in the NHL - especially for a team in the thick of a playoff race.
Power Play Streak Continues, but Not Enough
The Sabres' power play went 1-for-5 on the night, with Thompson’s goal extending their streak to six straight games with a power-play tally. But that stat didn’t provide much comfort postgame. Missed opportunities and a lack of urgency in key moments kept Buffalo from mounting a real comeback.
Pittsburgh’s Tommy Novak put the game away with 4:27 left in regulation, restoring the two-goal cushion after Buffalo had briefly clawed within one. It was the kind of dagger that’s hard to shake - especially heading into a long break.
Eyes on the Stretch Run
Despite the stumble, the Sabres have every reason to believe they can regroup and come back strong. They’ve built a cushion in the standings, and the break offers a chance to reset - both mentally and physically - before the final 25-game sprint to the postseason.
“I talked to the team after the game about how incredibly tight it’s gonna be,” Ruff said. “You really can’t have games like we had. We weren’t sharp.”
Goaltender Alex Lyon, who made 27 saves on 31 shots, put it even more bluntly.
“It’s going to put a bitter taste in my mouth, and I hope it puts a bitter taste in everybody’s mouths,” Lyon said. “The last 25 games is going to be a dogfight all the way down to the wire. We have to be prepared and use the break the right way and come back at the top of our game.”
What’s Next
The Sabres now turn their attention to the Olympic break, with Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin set to represent their countries in Milano Cortina 2026. Their gold medal quests begin next Wednesday.
As for the NHL schedule, Buffalo returns to action on February 25 with a road matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Their next home game is March 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The mission is clear: rest, reset, and get ready for a playoff push that’s going to test every ounce of this team’s depth, discipline, and determination.