The Buffalo Sabres enter the stretch run of the 2025-26 NHL season as the Atlantic Division leaders, and they're just two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Those two facts would have been impossible to believe in early December, when the Sabres owned last place in the East at 11-14-4. Instead of letting another year slip away, however, they exponentially improved their compete level, started holding each other accountable and emerged as a potential Stanley Cup contender with an eye-popping 31-6-2 record over their last 39 games.
While the unexpected transformation has sparked renewed enthusiasm within the Buffalo fanbase, it's crucial for the Blue and Gold to keep their foot on the gas for the final month of the regular season. They haven't even clinched a playoff berth yet, so there's still work on the horizon.
Through that lens, let's check out some of the most notable contests left on the team's schedule.
4. March 27 vs. Detroit Red Wings
Buffalo and Detroit haven't faced off since mid-November. That's a long gap in matchups for division rivals, and that's especially true in this case since so much has changed for the Sabres, though they win those first two meetings against the Wings by a combined score of 9-6.
As it stands, the final regular-season battle between the Atlantic squads could be far more important for Detroit, which is caught up in a tight wild-card race. Buffalo native Patrick Kane and Co. have been sputtering as of late with a 4-4-2 mark over their last 10 games.
From the Sabres' perspective, completing a season sweep would be a confidence boost in case they end up facing the Wings in the first round of the playoffs.
3. March 25 vs. Boston Bruins
It's a somewhat similar story for the Sabres when it comes to the Bruins. Boston is desperate to stack points as its tied with Detroit for the East wild-card positions, with the Columbus Blue Jackets just one point behind and surging.
This game is a little more important because the B's won the first two matchups. Those games both came in October while the Blue and Gold were scuffling, though. Buffalo scored a convincing 4-1 victory when the sides met in late December.
The Sabres can get the season series back level with a win next week, and another lopsided triumph could plant a seed of doubt in Boston's mind should the clubs meet in the postseason.
2. April 2 at Ottawa Senators
Why is a game with the Sens, who are currently five points below the East's playoff cut line, ranked so high? Well, it feels like keeping Ottawa out of the postseason is important to Buffalo.
The Senators have a plus-17 goal differential this season, which ranks ninth in the NHL and is the best mark by a team not currently in a playoff position. They're also fourth in the league in expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 54.1%, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Those numbers suggest Ottawa would be an extremely dangerous wild-card team if it can fight its way into the postseason field. That's a concern for the Sabres as they attempt to win the Atlantic, which would set an opening-round matchup with one of the conference's wild cards.
A head-to-head win in regulation could help keep the Sens on the sidelines for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
1. April 6 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Speaking of the division title chase, the Sabres get one more clash with the Lightning to potentially secure a four-point swing atop the Atlantic standings. Buffalo won two of the teams' first three meetings, which took place over a five-week span starting in early February.
The most recent encounter produced a Game of the Year candidate as the Sabres secured a memorable 8-7 victory in a contest that also featured over 100 penalty minutes. A similar high-intensity fight is probably on tap in early April, and it'll certainly be must-see TV.
Buffalo has shown it can win anywhere, as highlighted by a current 10-0-1 run in road games, but securing home-ice advantage for as many playoff rounds as possible would still boost the club's chances of making a deep run. The Blue and Gold are 22-9-3 at the KeyBank Center this season.
The Sabres so far haven't shied away from high-pressure games against top-tier opponents, but this will be the biggest test of the campaign in that regard, and it comes shortly before the postseason begins.
How Buffalo performs against the Bolts could be an early indicator of whether it's ready to become a true Stanley Cup challenger in the months ahead.