Sabres' Dahlin, Thompson Relish Playoff Berth After 'Dark Days'

Buffalo ends 14-season playoff drought, set to host Bruins in Round 1

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:13am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, royal blue, and white, conveying the energy and intensity of the Sabres' playoff push.The Sabres' long-awaited return to the playoffs is a triumph of perseverance and teamwork, as captured in this cubist-inspired illustration.Buffalo Today

After enduring years of losing and frustration, Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are finally experiencing the playoffs for the first time in their careers as Buffalo clinched a postseason berth, ending a 14-season drought. The Sabres will host the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Sabres' long-suffering fans are eager to see their team back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Dahlin and Thompson, the team's two longest-tenured players, have been through the 'dark days' and are now leading Buffalo's resurgence, providing hope that the franchise has finally turned a corner.

The details

Dahlin, the Sabres' captain, and Thompson, an alternate captain, have endured six losing streaks of at least seven games during their eight seasons in Buffalo, including a 13-game skid last year and an 18-game slide in 2020-21. They've seen the team fall out of playoff position late in seasons and have played for four different coaches and three general managers. But the Sabres' midseason turnaround, sparked by a 10-game winning streak in December, has them atop the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference.

  • The Sabres clinched a playoff berth on April 4, ending an NHL-record 14-season drought.
  • Buffalo secured the top seed in the Atlantic Division and second place overall in the Eastern Conference on April 13.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres' captain and top defenseman, who has played eight seasons in Buffalo after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Tage Thompson

Buffalo's top center and an alternate captain, who is in his eighth season with the Sabres after being acquired in a trade from the St. Louis Blues in 2018.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Sabres' goaltender, who has been with the organization since being drafted in 2017 and is in his sixth season with the team.

Alex Tuch

A Sabres forward and alternate captain who was part of the leadership group that helped spark the team's midseason turnaround.

Mattias Samuelsson

A Sabres defenseman and alternate captain who was also part of the leadership group that helped guide the team's resurgence.

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What they’re saying

“We've had some dark days, a lot of conversations throughout the years, but we knew sometime it will turn around. We just knew we had to grind every single day to make it work and make it happen. You can't go your whole career without turning it around, so we kind of knew eventually it was going to turn around. We have so much talent in this room, so that was what gave us hope.”

— Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres captain

“A lot of years of doubt and negativity, and not fun hockey. I think any time you let negativity creep in, it just snowballs and gets bigger and it's pretty tough to shake. I think 'Dahls' and I, something we talked about a lot is the ability that we have in this room to turn it around and find a way to get ourselves back in the playoffs.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres alternate captain

“We knew it was just a matter of time if we did the right things and put in the work that we'd find ourselves there. Obviously, this group we have is extremely easy to lead. Guys that are hungry to get better, that want to win and are after the same goal, so the group's made our job really easy.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres alternate captain

“I've heard for a lot of years -- and seen it now, too -- that Buffalo, it's a hockey city. I've heard a lot of stories from the Aud (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium) and back in the days when they were in playoffs. I'm sure it's going to be a crazy night (Sunday).”

— Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres captain

“I'm not really sure what to expect, honestly. I know there's been so much talk about it. The sellouts here have been pretty electric, and I'm told that it's going to be another level.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres alternate captain

What’s next

The Sabres will host the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday.

The takeaway

After years of frustration and losing, the Sabres' long-suffering fans are finally being rewarded with a playoff berth, thanks to the leadership and perseverance of Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. Buffalo's resurgence has energized the city and set the stage for what promises to be an electric postseason atmosphere at KeyBank Center.