Upstart Sabres, Flyers upend Eastern Conference playoff mix

Buffalo and Philadelphia make surprise playoff runs, shaking up the traditional Eastern Conference hierarchy

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with the players and action broken down into abstract shapes and angles in the colors of the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers, capturing the shifting dynamics of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.The Sabres' and Flyers' surprise playoff runs reflect a shifting power dynamic in the Eastern Conference, with new challengers emerging to disrupt the traditional hierarchy.Buffalo City Today

The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers have emerged as surprise playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, ending long postseason droughts and shaking up the traditional hierarchy. The Sabres are making their first playoff appearance in 15 years, while the Flyers are back after missing the playoffs in 2020. Other new faces in the East include the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins, while perennial contenders like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers failed to qualify. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes remain the class of the conference, but the new-look playoff field reflects a changing of the guard in the East.

Why it matters

The Sabres' and Flyers' playoff runs represent a shift in the Eastern Conference power structure, with new teams rising to challenge the traditional powers. This could signal a more competitive and unpredictable postseason, with the potential for some surprising results. The playoff drought-ending appearances of teams like Buffalo and Philadelphia also generate excitement and renewed hope for their long-suffering fan bases.

The details

The Sabres, led by star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, clinched their first playoff berth in 15 years by going 39-9-4 over the second half of the season to win the Atlantic Division. The Flyers, under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, overcame early-season inconsistencies to become the last East team to clinch a playoff spot, going 14-4-1 down the stretch. Other new playoff teams in the East include the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins, while the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers and perennial contender Toronto Maple Leafs missed the postseason.

  • The Sabres opened practice on Thursday, April 17, 2026, as Buffalo city workers began hanging playoff banners on lamp posts leading to the team's arena.
  • The Sabres clinched their first playoff berth in 15 years by going 39-9-4 over the second half of the 2025-26 season.
  • The Flyers overcame early-season inconsistencies to become the last East team to clinch a playoff spot, going 14-4-1 down the stretch.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

Buffalo Sabres defenseman and team captain.

Rick Tocchet

First-year head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jon Cooper

Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, a two-time Stanley Cup winner.

Seth Jarvis

Forward for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Lindy Ruff

Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

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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, Buffalo Sabres defenseman and captain

“We really try to block it out, I'm not going to lie. There's a lot of negativity, sarcasm. We kind of grew together. We believed. It's hard, because you have to have that thick skin.”

— Rick Tocchet, First-year head coach, Philadelphia Flyers

“Does it battle test you? Yes. But also, there's no easy road. I don't think anybody's hiding anything from anybody.”

— Jon Cooper, Head coach, Tampa Bay Lightning

“Everyone's in the playoffs, and everyone's in a sense the same seed. It's cool to be No. 1, but I don't think it's changed anything within our group. Just have a little more confidence, maybe.”

— Seth Jarvis, Forward, Carolina Hurricanes

“The only way you get experience is to do what we did in the regular season and get there. They handled all the pressure situations. When we needed to win games, the group came up.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head coach, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

The first-round playoff matchups are set, with Carolina facing Ottawa, Pittsburgh taking on Philadelphia, Montreal battling Tampa Bay, and Buffalo squaring off against Boston.

The takeaway

The surprising playoff runs of the Sabres and Flyers signal a changing of the guard in the Eastern Conference, with new teams challenging the traditional powers. This could lead to a more unpredictable and exciting postseason, providing hope for long-suffering fan bases in Buffalo and Philadelphia.