The Buffalo Sabres are heating up at just the right time. Winners of four straight, including a statement 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, this team is starting to look like a serious playoff contender-and they’re doing it with a mix of resilience, offensive firepower, and leadership that’s stepping up in a big way.
Let’s start with the captain.
Rasmus Dahlin: A Night to Remember
Rasmus Dahlin has had big nights before, but Tuesday’s performance was something else entirely. The 23-year-old blueliner notched his first career NHL hat trick, and it couldn’t have come at a more meaningful moment-both for him personally and for the team. Dahlin, who’s been navigating a difficult year off the ice, delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he’s the heartbeat of this Sabres squad.
He opened the scoring and capped it off with the seventh goal of the night, adding two assists for good measure. That’s five points from the back end, in a game where the Sabres needed every ounce of energy to fend off a dangerous Maple Leafs team. This wasn’t just a feel-good story-it was a captain leading by example, showing what it looks like to rise above adversity and carry a team on your shoulders.
Now up to 11 goals and 42 points in 48 games, Dahlin is quietly putting together a season worthy of Norris Trophy chatter. He’s not just the engine of the Sabres’ blue line-he’s their tone-setter, and this latest stretch has been a showcase of exactly what he brings to the table.
A Full 60-Minute Effort-Finally
One of the knocks on Buffalo this season has been their tendency to play in bursts. They’ll come out flying, build a lead, and then let their foot off the gas just enough to let opponents back in. But against Toronto, they flipped the script.
Yes, the Leafs jumped out to a 2-1 lead early, but the Sabres didn’t blink. They stormed back to take the lead before the first intermission, and when Dahlin made it 4-3 late in the second, Buffalo didn’t turtle-they pressed. Two more goals in the first 12 minutes of the third period put the game out of reach, with Dahlin’s hat trick goal serving as the exclamation point.
This was the kind of game that good teams win. Not perfect, but controlled.
Not without mistakes, but with the poise and pushback to overcome them. That’s what playoff teams do-they close the door when they have the chance.
Faceoffs: The Glaring Weak Spot
Now, let’s not pretend everything is sunshine and smooth skating. If there’s one area that continues to haunt the Sabres, it’s the faceoff circle.
Tuesday’s numbers were rough: just 17 wins on 52 draws, a 32.7% success rate. That’s not just below average-that’s bottom-of-the-barrel stuff.
And it’s not a one-off. The Sabres currently sit dead last in the NHL in faceoff win percentage at 44.2%. While faceoffs can sometimes be an overrated stat, there are moments-especially late in tight games or on special teams-where winning a draw can be the difference between two points and none.
Ryan McLeod has been the most reliable option, winning over 54% of his faceoffs across more than 800 attempts. Tyson Kozak is the only other regular above 50%.
But beyond that, the drop-off is steep. Peyton Krebs, for example, is struggling mightily at just 33.3% on nearly 350 draws.
The issue isn’t that they don’t have anyone capable-it’s that the responsibility is spread too thin. In critical moments, they’ll need someone they can trust to win a key draw. If the Sabres want to be a complete team, this is one area that needs real attention.
The Sabres Are Rolling-and the Stakes Are Rising
With four straight wins and momentum building, Buffalo is now just four points back of Detroit in the Atlantic Division. Every game from here on out feels like it carries playoff weight-and that’s because it does.
The Sabres are in the thick of the race, and the schedule ahead isn’t doing them any favors. It’s one of the toughest in the league.
But this team is showing it can hang. They’re not just beating up on weaker opponents-they’re taking it to teams like the Leafs and coming out on top. That’s a sign of growth, and it’s happening at a crucial time.
Next up: a Saturday showdown with the Canadiens. Another big game, another chance to prove this run isn’t a fluke.
Buffalo fans have waited a long time for this kind of hockey. Right now, the Sabres are delivering-and if they can tighten up a few loose ends, they might just keep this ride going deep into the spring.