BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, coach Lindy Ruff surmised that the Sabres could still make a playoff run if they played .700 hockey down the stretch. After winning two in a row, the Sabres lost six straight — a .313 point percentage over three weeks burying hope.
Then starting with a home win against at Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers, followed a few days later by a rally to beat Jack Eichel’s Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout, the Sabres have won 10 of 14 games after Sunday night’s 6-3 victory against the last-place Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.
That’s three weeks of .714 hockey. Too little, too late for the Sabres to stop the longest postseason drought in NHL history from fossilizing to 14 years. And similar to when the Sabres accumulated points at a playoff-caliber pace in the spring of 2022, the winning run didn’t begin until the pressure to make the playoffs was out of the picture. But Buffalo's recent 7-1-0 surge has staved off absolute elimination through the second to last homestand of the season, lifted the Sabres from the bottom of the conference standings, and made a .500 final record within reach.
Top-line winger Tage Thompson has scored 12 of Buffalo’s 35 goals over the past 14 games. Thompson has scored in each of the past four wins, and his eighth career hat trick Sunday night moved Thompson in front of the NHL’s new all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin for third in the NHL with 43 goals this season.
One of eight players in Sabres history with multiple seasons scoring at least 40 goals, Thompson has 175 in his career. Another 18 seasons with 40 goals would put Thompson close to overtaking Ovi.
“It’s not human,” Thompson said. “I think especially in today’s game, it’s just beyond incredible. Woke up from my nap and was on social media, saw it all over the place. Unreal accomplishment, and to be able to say that I’m playing well while it’s occurred is pretty special.”
Going back further than the recent hot streak, the Sabres have been tough to play against on home ice. With six straight wins at KeyBank Center, the Sabres are now 15-4-0 at home since Christmas, averaging 3.9 goals per game.
Buffalo’s 21-13-4 record in its own barn (not counting a “home” loss in Czechia at the start of the season) is better than .600 hockey. And Sunday night’s win ensured the Sabres will finish the season with more wins than losses at home for the first time in five seasons.
The Sabres haven't played this well at home since their last playoff season in 2011-12. And they haven't had two six-game home win streaks in more than 30 years.
Jason Zucker scored the go-ahead goal early in the the third period. The Sabres got a goal and an assist from both Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin in coming back back from down a goal twice in the second period. Peyton Krebs and Bowen Byram each had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves as Buffalo out-shot Boston 31-21.
The Sabers host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. Buffalo's next loss, or another victory by the Montreal Canadiens, will official prolong the postseason drought. With eight points over the final six games, the Sabres (34-36-6) can finish the season with a .500 record.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
