Sabres End 15-Year Playoff Drought, Earn First Division Title

Buffalo's long-suffering hockey fans celebrate as the upstart Sabres make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue and gold representing the Sabres' colors and the dynamic action on the ice.The Sabres' return to the playoffs after a 15-year drought has energized their passionate fan base in Buffalo.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres have ended the NHL's longest postseason drought, clinching their first Atlantic Division title and a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Led by star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres surged in the second half of the season to overtake perennial contenders like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, setting up an opening-round matchup with the Boston Bruins.

Why it matters

The Sabres' return to the playoffs represents a changing of the guard in the Eastern Conference, with familiar powerhouses like the Lightning, Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers missing the postseason. Buffalo's turnaround from last place in early December to first in the division by season's end has energized the team's long-suffering fan base, who are eager to see their team back in the hunt for the Stanley Cup for the first time in a generation.

The details

The Sabres' remarkable turnaround was fueled by a 39-9-4 run over the second half of the season, with Dahlin and the team's young core emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. After years of futility, the Sabres finally have the pieces in place to end their championship drought, though they'll face a tough test in the opening round against a veteran Bruins squad led by first-year coach Marco Sturm.

  • The Sabres clinched their first division title since 2007 on April 8, 2026.
  • Buffalo will open the playoffs at home against the Bruins on April 15, 2026.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres' 23-year-old captain and star defenseman, who has been with the team since being drafted first overall in 2018.

Lindy Ruff

The Sabres' head coach, who has guided the team through their long playoff drought and now has them back in the postseason for the first time since 2011.

Marco Sturm

The first-year head coach of the Boston Bruins, who led the team to a 24-point improvement and a return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

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What they’re saying

“It's a crazy feeling. I've been grinding here for a long time, and I finally get playoffs. It's special. It's something I've tried to do here for a long time. And now it's finally real.”

— Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres Captain

“To get to 100 points is a pretty good testament to what this team put together over the course of the year, but it wasn't easy. It was nerve-racking, but our guys embraced it and they got it done.”

— Don Sweeney, Bruins General Manager

What’s next

The Sabres and Bruins will face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on April 15, 2026 in Buffalo.

The takeaway

The Sabres' return to the playoffs after a 15-year drought is a testament to the team's resilience and the emergence of their young core, led by Rasmus Dahlin. Their success has reignited the passion of Buffalo's long-suffering hockey fans, who are eager to see their team compete for the Stanley Cup for the first time since the early 2000s.