Sabres Aim for Division Title in Final Week

Buffalo looks to clinch Atlantic Division crown with two games left in regular season

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:12pm

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A cubist, fractured painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the rink broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant blues, reds, and whites, conveying the intensity and complexity of the Sabres' playoff push.The Sabres' push for the division title will require navigating a complex web of injuries and playoff implications in the final stretch.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres are in prime position to win the Atlantic Division title, currently sitting in first place with a 49-23-8 record and 106 points. With two games remaining, the Sabres control their own destiny and can clinch the division by winning their final two contests, even if their closest competitors also win out.

Why it matters

Winning the division would give the Sabres home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, a significant advantage as they look to make a deep postseason run. The team has dealt with several key injuries down the stretch, so securing the division title would provide some much-needed momentum heading into the playoffs.

The details

The Sabres have a two-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division race. Buffalo holds the tiebreaker with more regulation wins. They face the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in their final two regular-season games. Meanwhile, the Canadiens and Lightning each have two games left as well.

  • The Sabres have two games remaining in the 2025-26 regular season.
  • Playoff tickets for the first round go on sale to the general public on Monday, April 13 at 10am ET.
  • Sabres forward Sam Carrick is expected to miss the start of the playoffs due to injury, but could return later in the postseason.
  • Defenseman Noah Ostlund has been out since March 25 with an upper-body injury, but is hopeful to be ready for the playoffs if his pain is manageable.
  • Forward Jiri Kulich has missed most of the season due to a blood clot and is expected to miss the remainder of the year.

The players

Lindy Ruff

Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

Alex Lyon

Sabres goaltender who suffered a lower-body injury in practice and may not be available for the start of the playoffs.

Sam Carrick

Sabres forward who is considered one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in the league, but is currently listed as week-to-week with an injury and is expected to miss the start of the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“I don't want to get ahead of myself; however, the Sabres still have a good chance to win the Atlantic Division.”

— Zach Berta, Author

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Securing the Atlantic Division title would provide the Sabres with crucial home-ice advantage as they look to make a deep playoff run, though they'll have to overcome several key injuries to key players in order to do so.