Buffalo Sabres Snap 3-Game Skid in Shootout Win Over Seattle Kraken

Ugly wins are always better than pretty losses as Sabres fight back from early deficit

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Seattle Kraken, with overlapping planes of vibrant blues, golds, and reds capturing the raw energy and intensity of the action on the ice.The Sabres' gritty comeback win over the Kraken showcases the team's resilience and determination to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 3-game losing streak with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken at home. Despite falling behind 2-0 early, the Sabres rallied with a power-play goal from Rasmus Dahlin and the game-tying goal from Peyton Krebs to force overtime. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves to keep the Sabres in the game, and they remained unbeaten in shootouts this season to pick up the valuable two points.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Sabres atop the Atlantic Division standings and tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the Carolina Hurricanes. After dropping three straight games, this resilient comeback victory was an important bounce-back performance for Buffalo to maintain their position in the playoff race.

The details

The Sabres fell behind 2-0 in the second period due to a mix of penalties, turnovers, and questionable officiating. But Rasmus Dahlin's power-play goal sparked the team, and Peyton Krebs tied the game late to force overtime. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made several key saves to keep the Sabres within striking distance, and they remained perfect in shootouts this season to secure the two points.

  • The Sabres fell behind 2-0 midway through the second period.
  • Rasmus Dahlin scored a power-play goal to get the Sabres on the board.
  • Peyton Krebs scored the game-tying goal late in regulation to force overtime.
  • The game went to a shootout, where the Sabres remained unbeaten this season.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

Sabres defenseman who scored a power-play goal to spark the team's comeback.

Peyton Krebs

Sabres forward who scored the game-tying goal late in regulation.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Sabres goaltender who made 32 saves to keep the team in the game.

Jack Quinn

Sabres forward who discussed the team's resilience in overcoming the early deficit.

Tage Thompson

Sabres forward who emphasized the team's focus on controlling what they can control.

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What they’re saying

“A lot going on for sure, but part of the fun, I guess. Just keep our emotions in check and try to keep going.”

— Jack Quinn, Sabres forward

“Sometimes emotions get hot, and when you start to point fingers and look for excuses, whether it's penalties or whatever, I think we just focus on what we can control, and we knew if we did that, we'd get our chances and looks.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres forward

“Especially the games in Anaheim and here against Boston, which we dropped in OT, but we fought back, but even in first periods in those ones, we let it slip. So just playing a solid 60 minutes tonight was a big thing for us.”

— Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres goaltender

“But to get back in the win column is a big deal because you look at the win column and all of a sudden it shows you've lost three in-a-row. The battle by our guys was big enough to overcome anything in the game that would've kept us from winning.”

— Lindy Ruff, Sabres head coach

What’s next

The Sabres will look to build on this comeback victory as they continue their push for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are currently second in the Atlantic Division standings.

The takeaway

This gritty, resilient performance from the Sabres shows the team's ability to bounce back from adversity and grind out tough wins, even when they don't play their best. The win keeps them in prime position to clinch a playoff spot and potentially challenge for the top seed in the East.