Buffalo Sabres End 14-Year Playoff Drought, Clinch Division Title
Reliability
Based on 30 sources, 2 official
Publications (10)
Sources (30)Fact-Checking
58 claimsBuffalo Sabres beat Tampa Bay Lightning 8-7 in a game on March 24, 2026.
Buffalo has seven wins in a row after that game.
Josh Doan scored the game-winning goal for Buffalo in that 8-7 win.
Open Questions
5 questionsBuffalo Sabres had a 14-season playoff drought before it ended this spring.
According to Ilta-SanomatBuffalo broke a 15-year playoff drought, the longest in NHL history.
According to HockeysverigeContext: This discrepancy affects the historical context of the team's turnaround, with one source suggesting a shorter drought than the other, which could influence perceptions of the franchise's struggles.
After the win, Buffalo tied Tampa Bay in points atop the Atlantic Division, with Buffalo having played one more game.
According to SportbladetBuffalo leads the Atlantic Division by two points over Tampa Bay after that win.
According to HockeysverigeContext: This contradiction creates confusion about the standings and Buffalo's lead in the division, impacting the narrative of their season performance and playoff positioning.