Stars edge Sabres in shootout to close regular season

Dallas wins fifth straight to head into playoffs on a high note

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:06am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a hockey game between the Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team's official colors.The Stars and Sabres engage in a hard-fought battle, with the game's intensity captured in a cubist-inspired illustration.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in a shootout in the final game of the NHL regular season. Esa Lindell and Justin Hryckowian each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who won their fifth straight game to finish the season 50-20-12. Zach Benson scored a short-handed goal for the Sabres, who ended their four-game winning streak and finished the season 50-23-9.

Why it matters

The Stars' strong finish to the regular season positions them well heading into the playoffs, where they will look to make a deep run. The Sabres, despite the loss, also had an impressive season and will be a team to watch in the postseason.

The details

Dallas took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Mavrik Bourque, but Buffalo tied it on a goal by Josh Norris. Benson's short-handed goal in the second period gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead, but Lindell tied it on the same power play. Alex Tuch's 200th career goal put Buffalo back on top 3-2, but Hryckowian tied the game at 3-3 late in the third period. The game went to a shootout, where the Stars prevailed.

  • The game was played on April 15, 2026.
  • Dallas finished the regular season with a 50-20-12 record.
  • Buffalo ended the regular season with a 50-23-9 record.

The players

Esa Lindell

A defenseman for the Dallas Stars who had a goal and an assist in the game.

Justin Hryckowian

A forward for the Dallas Stars who scored the game-tying goal in the third period.

Zach Benson

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a short-handed goal in the second period.

Alex Tuch

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored his 200th career NHL goal in the game.

Jake Oettinger

The goaltender for the Dallas Stars who made 21 saves in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to finish the season strong to build momentum heading into the playoffs. This was a hard-fought game, but we found a way to get the win.”

— Esa Lindell, Defenseman, Dallas Stars

“It's tough to end our season with a loss, but we can be proud of the way we played all year. We'll use this as motivation going into the playoffs.”

— Zach Benson, Forward, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

The Stars will begin their playoff run, while the Sabres will look to build on their successful regular season as they prepare for the postseason.

The takeaway

The Stars' strong finish to the regular season, including their fifth straight win, has them well-positioned for a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Sabres' impressive season has them primed to be a contender in the Eastern Conference playoffs.