Sabres Maintain Atlantic Lead, Close in on Home-Ice Advantage

Buffalo's magic number down to 3 to clinch top seed in first round of NHL playoffs

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:50am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold navy, gold, and white geometric shapes, capturing the dynamic movement and energy of a hockey game.The Sabres' push for home-ice advantage in the playoffs is reflected in a cubist, geometric interpretation of the team's high-energy style of play.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres have a firm grip on first place in the Atlantic Division and are closing in on securing home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their magic number to clinch that top seed is down to just 3 games.

Why it matters

Home-ice advantage can provide a significant boost for teams in the NHL playoffs, with the home team historically winning a higher percentage of games. The Sabres are looking to build on their strong regular season and secure the best possible path to a deep playoff run.

The details

The Sabres have maintained their position atop the Atlantic Division standings throughout the season, putting themselves in prime position to earn the division title and the home-ice advantage that comes with it. With just a few games left, their magic number - the combination of their own wins and losses by their closest competitors - is down to 3, meaning they are on the verge of locking up that top seed.

  • The Sabres' magic number to clinch home-ice advantage is down to 3 games.

The players

Buffalo Sabres

An NHL hockey team based in Buffalo, New York that plays in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

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What’s next

The Sabres will look to officially clinch the Atlantic Division title and home-ice advantage in their remaining regular season games before the playoffs begin.

The takeaway

The Sabres have put themselves in prime position to earn home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, a significant advantage that could help propel them to a deep postseason run.