Former NHL player Paul Bissonnette, who now serves as an NHL on TNT analyst and co-hosts the popular Spittin' Chiclets podcast, is enjoying the Buffalo Sabres' 10-game winning streak. Perhaps a little too much.
"Biz Nasty" made a bold New Year's Eve declaration about his intentions if the Sabres, who dominated the Dallas Stars en route to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night, are able to keep stacking Ws:
If the Sabres get to 20 wins in a row I will buy an actual Buffalo. Anybody know what they cost? Just stunning creatures. pic.twitter.com/7KYm4FebDl
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) January 1, 2026
Buffalo has made a rapid climb up the Eastern Conference standings during the recent surge. It now ranks eighth in the East on points (46) and seventh in points percentage (.590), putting the club on pace to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.
The Sabres are playing their most complete brand of hockey in two decades, and it was on full display against Dallas, which is second in the league with 57 points. The Blue and Gold, led by three points from Tage Thompson, dominated a vast majority of the contest.
Getting to 20 straight wins is a virtually impossible task, of course. The longest winning streak in NHL history is 17 games by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins, who featured Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Stevens, Rick Tocchet, Ron Francis and Larry Murphy on a star-studded roster.
Buffalo doesn't have that type of a Hall of Fame foundation, but its compete level is light years ahead of where it was early in the 2025-26 campaign. It's outworking opponents on a nightly basis and it's being rewarded for that effort.
So, Bissonnette might want to start surveying the Buffalo market, just in case.
A look at the Buffalo Sabres' upcoming schedule to determine whether their streak can threaten the all-time NHL record
The Sabres are back in action Saturday afternoon when they'll face the Columbus Blue Jackets with a chance to establish a new franchise record with 11 straight wins. It'll also mark the end of a brief three-game road trip for the club.
Here's what lies ahead on Buffalo's schedule:
- Jan. 3: at Columbus Blue Jackets (11; would set new team record)
- Jan. 6: vs. Vancouver Canucks
- Jan. 8: at New York Islanders
- Jan. 10: vs. Anaheim Ducks
- Jan. 12: vs. Florida Panthers
- Jan. 14: vs. Philadelphia Flyers
- Jan. 15: vs. Montreal Canadiens (17; would tie NHL record)
- Jan. 17: vs. Minnesota Wild (18; would set new NHL record)
- Jan. 19: at Carolina Hurricanes
- Jan. 20: at Nashville Predators (20; Biz buys a Buffalo)
Although the winning streak will likely end long before Bissonnette acquires a new pet, the biggest takeaway from that batch of games is the fact it's highly navigable. It's not a gauntlet of elite Cup contenders that should bring the hot streak to a screeching halt.
Instead, the Sabres have a golden opportunity to continue their ascent, even if there are a few losses sprinkled in.
Most of the focus so far has been getting inside the top eight, which they've done, but the crowded nature of the East standings creates a world of possibilities for Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Co.
Buffalo is just five points behind the Detroit Red Wings (51 points) for the top spot in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning (49) in second and the Canadiens (48) in third.
"It's a lot of fun when you're winning," Thompson told reporters. "We're riding a little high right now, but at the same time, I think we've done a pretty good job after a win of coming back down to earth and making sure we're ready for the next game. That's how we've gone on this roll is making sure we're doing the right things every game. When you're winning games in a row it's easy to kind of just expect to win, but right now we don't have that. We're just one day at a time, one game at a time."
Yes, it's important to note the Sabres have enjoyed their fair share of hot streaks during the 14-year playoff drought only to eventually come crashing down. At least a segment of the fanbase probably remains in "wait and see" mode because of those scars from the past.
Buffalo is playing a more effective, sustainable style of hockey during this streak, though. It's playing tremendous defense, particularly when defending a one-goal lead, and it's not crumbling at the first sign of pressure as so often happened over the years.
Things could always change. This is a team that sat in the Eastern Conference basement not too long ago. But something feels truly different this time around.
The Sabres look like a legitimately good hockey team, and that's a sight the fans in Western New York have been waiting far too long to witness.