Red Wings Soar Past Sabres with Early Scoring Burst

Detroit tallies three first-period goals to earn key road win and keep playoff hopes alive.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:08am

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The Detroit Red Wings scored three goals in the opening period and went on to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Friday night. The victory keeps the Red Wings in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, as they sit just one point behind the New York Islanders for the final postseason berth.

Why it matters

This was a crucial road win for the Red Wings, who are battling to secure a playoff spot down the stretch. The early offensive outburst gave them a cushion they would need to hold off a late Sabres comeback attempt. The result also has implications for the Eastern Conference wild card race, with Detroit now just a single point behind the Islanders.

The details

Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and Marco Kasper scored in the first period to give the Red Wings a 3-0 lead. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin tallied for the Sabres, but Jacob Bernard-Docker and Patrick Kane added late goals to seal the victory for Detroit. Goaltender John Gibson made 28 saves for the Red Wings.

  • The Red Wings scored their three first-period goals between 4:02 and 16:06 of the opening frame.
  • Thompson scored for the Sabres at 5:35 of the second period.
  • Bernard-Docker made it 4-1 Detroit with 4:14 remaining in regulation.
  • Dahlin scored for Buffalo 39 seconds later to make it 4-2.
  • Kane added an empty-net goal with 1:43 left to play.

The players

Alex DeBrincat

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who had a goal and two assists in the game.

Patrick Kane

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who scored a late empty-net goal to clinch the victory.

Tage Thompson

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored his 400th career point with a goal in the second period.

Rasmus Dahlin

The captain and defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a goal in the third period.

John Gibson

The goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings who made 28 saves in the win.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong tonight and get an early lead. That first period was huge for us and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

— Alex DeBrincat, Red Wings Forward

“It's tough to battle back from a 3-0 deficit, especially on the road. We made a push, but just couldn't quite complete the comeback.”

— Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres Captain and Defenseman

What’s next

The Red Wings will look to build on this victory as they continue their playoff push, with a key matchup against the Islanders coming up next week. The Sabres will aim to rebound and regain their footing in the standings.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Red Wings' ability to strike quickly and seize control of a contest, while also exposing the Sabres' struggles to overcome early deficits on home ice. The result keeps Detroit firmly in the wild card hunt, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season.