Lindy Ruff Hits 1,000 Wins, Alex Lyon Ties Franchise Streak in Sabres' Dominant Shutout Over Islanders
In a night packed with milestones and momentum, the Buffalo Sabres delivered a statement win on the road, blanking the New York Islanders 5-0 and adding a couple of historic chapters to the franchise's growing story this season.
Let’s start with the man behind the bench. Lindy Ruff, a name synonymous with Sabres hockey, etched his name even deeper into NHL history by becoming just the fourth head coach to reach 1,000 combined regular season and postseason victories.
It’s a staggering number that speaks to both longevity and elite consistency. Ruff, who already holds the title as Buffalo’s all-time winningest coach, added another feather to his cap in the city where his coaching legacy was born.
With 693 of those wins coming with the Sabres-657 in the regular season and 57 in the playoffs-Ruff continues to be a foundational figure in Buffalo hockey history. He’s also had successful stops in Dallas and New Jersey, and his 929 regular-season wins alone rank fourth all-time.
But Ruff wasn’t the only one making history on Saturday night.
Between the pipes, Alex Lyon was as locked in as he’s ever been. The veteran netminder turned away all 26 shots he faced, recording his sixth career shutout-and his second of the season.
More importantly, it was his ninth straight win, tying a Sabres franchise record for consecutive victories by a goaltender. That mark was originally set by Gerry Desjardins way back in 1976.
Lyon hasn’t dropped a game since November 28, and his calm, composed presence in net has been a major factor in Buffalo’s recent surge.
Offensively, the Sabres kept the pressure on all night and got contributions up and down the lineup. Jason Zucker found the back of the net twice, showing off the scoring touch that made him such a valuable pickup.
Tage Thompson reached a personal and franchise milestone, becoming the 13th player in Sabres history to notch 200 career goals. Alex Tuch added to the tally, and Rasmus Dahlin capped it off with an empty-netter to seal the deal.
It was Buffalo’s 18th win in their last 22 games, a stretch that’s seen them transform from a team finding its footing to one that’s playing with confidence, chemistry, and a clear identity. The defense is tightening up, the goaltending is rock-solid, and the offense is clicking at just the right time.
Next up, the Sabres will return home for practice on Monday before heading north to face their division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Tuesday night. With the way they’re rolling-and with Lyon and Ruff both riding waves of momentum-this group is starting to look like a team no one wants to see on the schedule.