Sabres Clinch Atlantic Division Title

Buffalo secures playoff berth with two games remaining in regular season

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue, gold, and red representing the competing teams.The Sabres' division title clinch sets the stage for an exciting playoff push, as the team aims to end its postseason drought.Chicago Today

The Buffalo Sabres have clinched the Atlantic Division title with three games left in the regular season. The Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning both have two games remaining, while the Montreal Canadiens have one. Buffalo will play their final two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars.

Why it matters

Winning the Atlantic Division title secures a playoff berth for the Sabres, who are looking to make a deep postseason run after missing the playoffs for several consecutive seasons. This is a significant accomplishment for the team and its fans.

The details

The Sabres' magic number to clinch the division title is three points. They can achieve this by winning either of their final two games or getting any combination of three points from those games. Buffalo will travel to face the Blackhawks on Monday before hosting the Stars in their regular season finale on Wednesday.

  • The Sabres and Lightning each have two games remaining in the regular season.
  • The Canadiens have one game left on their schedule.
  • The Sabres will play the Blackhawks on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The Sabres will host the Stars on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Buffalo Sabres

A professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York, and a member of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Tampa Bay Lightning

A professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida, and a member of the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens

A professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, and a member of the NHL.

Chicago Blackhawks

A professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois, and a member of the NHL.

Dallas Stars

A professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas, and a member of the NHL.

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What’s next

The Sabres will await their first-round playoff opponent, which will be determined by the final standings in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The Sabres' division title clinch is a significant milestone for the team and its fans, who have endured several seasons of missing the playoffs. This achievement sets the stage for a potential deep postseason run as the team looks to capture its first Stanley Cup championship.