It's the one question that continues to baffle NHL observers around North America: How did the Buffalo Sabres go from one of the league's worst teams to perhaps its best in the span of a few months?
In early December, the Sabres occupied last place in the Eastern Conference and appeared well down the road of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 15th straight year. Now, as the calendar turns to April, they're battling for an Atlantic Division title and the top seed in the East.
Yet, there was no obvious infliction point in mid-December. Sure, Buffalo changed general managers from Kevyn Adams to Jarmo Kekalainen, but the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM didn't make any significant roster changes until early March.
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin told ESPN's Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski on Tuesday that the players came to a sobering realization during a series of discussions.
"We had to have a few meetings," Dahlin said. "Eventually it just clicked. We realized that it's us in here that's been the problem. We can blame other guys, but it's us in here that really had to do it. And we came together and started playing better, and went through that adversity together."
The 25-year-old defenseman has never been afraid of an honest conversation about the club's (or his individual) performance, but even for him saying the players "realized that it's us in here that's been the problem" is quite the truth bomb.
It's probably the reality. The roster only received depth changes ahead of this season's trade deadline, led by Sam Carrick and Logan Stanley, and the systems being put in place by head coach Lindy Ruff haven't significantly changed from the start of the campaign.
Instead, the players themselves simply starting buying into Ruff's approach and started showing a lot more shift-to-shift desperation. It's been rare throughout the team's current 34-7-4 run of success to see the Sabres get outworked, which was a nightly occurrence for most of the past 14 years.
"We're working really hard out there," Dahlin told ESPN. "We're playing solid defense. I think that's where our game is coming from, with backchecking, blocking shots, all that. That's how you win games. We've been through a lot the last few years. Now we know what is making us successful, and it's coming to work and working really, really hard. Winning is hard. We know that, so it's the hard work that we need to keep doing."
Now the Sabres must prove their renewed approach will withstand the playoff tests on the horizon. They're starting to see opponents who are facing immense pressure to make the postseason field, and they've hit a little lull as a result, going 1-1-2 over their past four games.
Buffalo surprised a lot of people over the past three months, but it isn't going to catch anybody off guard anymore. It's going to get every foe's 'A' game from here until the season ends.
Sabres' remaining regular-season schedule will prepare Buffalo for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Sabres have eight games left in the 2025-26 regular season, and six of those contests are against opponents fighting for something, whether it's playoff seeding or simply a spot in the postseason.
So, while Buffalo is a virtual lock to make the playoffs despite not officially clinching a berth yet, there's no room for a late-season letdown.
Here's a look at what's on the horizon for the Blue and Gold:
Date | Game |
|---|---|
March 31 | vs. New York Islanders |
April 2 | at Ottawa Senators |
April 4 | at Washington Capitals |
April 6 | vs. Tampa Bay Lightning |
April 8 | at New York Rangers |
April 9 | vs. Columbus Blue Jackets |
April 13 | at Chicago Blackhawks |
April 15 | vs. Dallas Stars |
Realistically speaking, the Sabres probably have to earn 12 points from those eight games in order to hunt down an Atlantic Division title. The Lightning are currently projected to finish with 109 points (via HockeyStats.com) and Buffalo has 98 at the moment.
That may be an uphill battle given Dahlin and Co.'s recent form and the tough schedule, but having a head-to-head battle with the Bolts still to come creates a four-point game opportunity to turn the tide back in their favor.
The April 6 clash between Buffalo and Tampa Bay will be must-see TV, not only because of the division race, but also due to the teams' last meeting ending 8-7 (in the Sabres' favor) with over 100 combined penalty minutes.
Those types of games are the true litmus tests to determine whether the Blue and Gold are truly ready to succeed on the playoff stage.
Meanwhile, the Sabres also have a chance to make a massive impact on the race for the Eastern Conference's two wild-card spots via their meetings with the Islanders, Senators, Capitals and Blue Jackets over the final few weeks of the regular season.
Of all those clubs, the underlying numbers suggest Ottawa is the most dangerous first-round opponent for Buffalo, though Columbus also has a case given its recent tremendous play. The Sabres doing their part to keep them out of the East field may benefit themselves in the long run.
Ultimately, Buffalo rediscovering peak form after its recent dip is the most important factor between now and mid-April.
The Sabres who took the league by storm from mid-December through mid-March are capable of hanging with anybody in the postseason.