Sabres Stumble in Chance to Clinch Playoff Spot

Buffalo falls to desperate Ottawa Senators, 4-1, missing opportunity to secure postseason berth

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, with the players and puck rendered as sharp, overlapping planes of color in the style of Pablo Picasso.A cubist interpretation of the Sabres' missed opportunity to clinch a playoff spot, as their desperation and execution fell short against the determined Senators.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres missed a chance to clinch their first playoff spot since 2011, losing 4-1 to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. The Sabres were outskated and outcompeted, especially in the final two periods, as the Senators' desperation level was higher. Buffalo's top players, Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson, struggled mightily in the loss.

Why it matters

The Sabres have been fighting to end their long playoff drought, and Thursday's loss was a missed opportunity to secure a postseason berth. The team's inability to rise to the occasion against a desperate opponent raises questions about their readiness for the playoffs, should they clinch a spot.

The details

The Sabres took a 1-0 lead, but the Senators scored four unanswered goals, including two empty-netters, to hand Buffalo the loss. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and forward Jason Zucker were critical of the team's effort, with Zucker saying they 'didn't stress [the Senators] enough' and 'didn't do a good enough job getting pucks on net.' Rasmus Dahlin made a costly turnover that led to the game-tying goal, while Tage Thompson was largely invisible throughout the game.

  • The Sabres had a chance to clinch their first playoff spot since 2011 with a win on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Senators scored two empty-net goals late in the game to make the final score 4-1.

The players

Lindy Ruff

Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, who was critical of his team's effort and lack of desperation in the loss.

Jason Zucker

Veteran Sabres forward, who acknowledged the team did not do enough to stress the Senators and take control of the game.

Rasmus Dahlin

Sabres superstar defenseman and team captain, who made a costly turnover that led to the game-tying goal.

Tage Thompson

One of the Sabres' best players, who was largely invisible and ineffective in the loss.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Sabres goaltender, who played well in his third straight start, going 2-1-0 with a 2.29 goals against average and .917 save percentage in those games.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They took over the game, the last two periods they out skated, they out competed, their desperation level was just higher than ours, they were better than us, it's as simple as that.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres

“I don't think we stressed them enough, I don't think we did our part, I don't think we skated well enough, I don't think we put them into positions to have to defend us, I don't think we did a good enough job getting pucks on net.”

— Jason Zucker, Forward, Buffalo Sabres

“Last I checked, we're not in the playoffs yet, so we got a lot of work to do, I don't think we have any panic in our room, but we have some stuff that we have to have more urgency towards.”

— Jason Zucker, Forward, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

The Sabres will look to bounce back on Saturday when they face the Washington Capitals, while their closest competitors in the Atlantic Division - the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes - all have important games as well.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Sabres' continued struggles to close out games and clinch a playoff spot, despite their strong regular season. It raises concerns about their ability to handle pressure and perform at a high level against desperate opponents, which will be crucial if they hope to end their long playoff drought.