The Buffalo Sabres Are Heating Up-and It’s Time to Pay Attention
Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Sabres are officially one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams. Winners of 18 of their last 22 games (18-3-1), they’re not just flirting with playoff relevance-they’re forcing their way into the conversation. After years of frustration and false starts, the Sabres are finally playing like a team that knows who it is-and more importantly, who it wants to be.
This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan hot streak. It’s the product of a complete shift in compete level, identity, and execution.
The mental lapses that once defined the Sabres during their 14-year playoff drought? They’ve been replaced by a team that battles every night, led by a group of young, hungry players who are changing the tone in Buffalo.
Guys like Zach Benson and Josh Doan aren’t just filling out the lineup-they’re helping to reshape the culture. They’re playing with energy, grit, and purpose.
It’s contagious. And it’s showing up in the results.
Still Work to Do
Of course, nobody’s hanging banners for a strong January. The next two weeks will be crucial.
With the NHL heading into a 20-day break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Sabres have a stretch of games that could define their season. How they perform in that window will go a long way toward determining whether this team is a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference-or just a feel-good story that fades down the stretch.
Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and the rest of Buffalo’s core have a chance to make a real statement before heading to the Games. But they’ll need to keep the foot on the gas.
Josh Norris Injury Update: Not What You Want to Hear
One potential roadblock? The health of Josh Norris.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff didn’t sound optimistic about Norris returning this week from an upper-body injury. In fact, Ruff acknowledged the team may soon have to decide whether to shut him down through the Olympic break entirely.
That would be a tough blow. Norris has been quietly excellent when he’s been on the ice-17 points in 19 games, and winning nearly half of his faceoffs (49.2%). That faceoff success is no small thing for a team that’s struggled in the dot when he’s been out.
But availability has been an issue. Norris, now in his first full season with Buffalo, has dealt with injuries throughout his career, dating back to his time in Ottawa. It’s a frustrating pattern, and one the Sabres are all too familiar with.
If Norris can’t stay healthy, it puts added pressure on GM Jarmo Kekalainen to explore depth options ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. This team is trending up-but to keep climbing, they’ll need reinforcements, especially down the middle.
In Net, It’s Luukkonen’s Crease-for Now
At Monday’s practice, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had the net to himself. That’s a strong indicator he’ll get the start Tuesday night against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
It would be the sixth straight start for either Luukkonen or Alex Lyon since Lyon returned from injury. And based on the recent results, it’s hard to argue with that approach. Both goalies have been sharp, and Ruff is clearly leaning on the hot hands.
It’s also a reminder that three-goalie rotations just don’t work in the NHL. Colten Ellis is the odd man out right now, and it’s tough to keep a third goalie game-ready when he’s not seeing meaningful minutes. Practice reps only go so far.
What’s interesting is Ruff’s willingness to alternate between Luukkonen and Lyon, even after Lyon posted a shutout in Buffalo’s last outing-a 5-0 win over the Islanders. That suggests we could be looking at a true 50-50 split moving forward. And with both goalies performing, that’s not a bad problem to have.
The Final Push Before the Break
Here’s what’s on the Sabres’ plate before the Olympic pause:
- Tuesday, Jan. 27: at Toronto Maple Leafs
- Thursday, Jan. 29: vs.
Los Angeles Kings
- Saturday, Jan. 31: vs.
Montreal Canadiens
- Monday, Feb. 2: at Florida Panthers
- Tuesday, Feb. 3: at Tampa Bay Lightning
- Thursday, Feb. 5: vs.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Six games in ten days. Five against Eastern Conference teams. This stretch could either solidify Buffalo’s spot in the playoff picture-or set them up for a high-pressure finish when the season resumes.
And remember, several key players-including Dahlin (Sweden), Thompson (USA), and Luukkonen (Finland)-will be heading to Milano Cortina for the Winter Games. That’s a well-earned honor, but it also means the team will need to be sharp heading into the break to avoid losing momentum.
The Bottom Line
The Sabres started the season 11-14-4. It looked like more of the same. But since then, they’ve flipped the script-and now they’re one of the league’s most compelling stories.
Ending the longest playoff drought in NHL history would be a massive achievement. And right now, Buffalo’s playing like a team that believes it can do just that.
The next ten days will tell us a lot. But one thing’s already clear: the Sabres aren’t just turning heads-they’re turning the corner.