The Buffalo Sabres have ended a 14-season playoff drought, the longest in NHL history, according to multiple media reports. The team also won the Atlantic Division for the first time since the 2009-10 season, as confirmed by 10 sources. The Sabres' last playoff win before this year was on April 20, 2011, a fact widely reported by 16 outlets. Fans celebrated the playoff return with large crowds and a mannequin beating before Game 1, according to 16 media reports.
The turnaround began after the Sabres fired general manager Kevyn Adams on December 15, 2025, a move reported by 11 sources. Jarmo Kekäläinen replaced Adams as general manager, as confirmed by 11 outlets. According to Ilta-Sanomat, Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen described the GM change as a wake-up call for the team. The Sabres then went on a 10-game winning streak after Kekäläinen took over, according to 11 media reports. From the start of that streak, the Sabres posted a record of 39 wins, 9 losses, and 4 overtime losses, the best in the NHL, as reported by 9 sources. This marked a dramatic reversal: the Sabres were last in the Eastern Conference before the turnaround, according to 11 outlets. According to Ilta-Sanomat, Luukkonen also noted that the players took ownership of the turnaround, not the coach or GM.
The team's confidence and competitiveness have grown.
Key players drove the Sabres' success. Rasmus Dahlin, the team captain, emerged as a Norris Trophy candidate, according to 9 media reports. Dahlin reached 70 points for the second time in his NHL career, as reported by 3 sources. Noah Östlund made his playoff debut and scored a spectacular empty-net goal, earning praise from Wayne Gretzky, according to 3 outlets. In a high-scoring game, the Sabres defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-7, a fact confirmed by multiple reports. Research indicates that Josh Doan scored the game-winning goal on the Sabres' seventh power-play chance, and that Jason Zucker, Alex Tuch, and Josh Doan each scored two goals. Research also shows the Sabres have scored at least one power-play goal in 10 of their last 13 games.
In the first round, the Sabres faced the Boston Bruins. According to 16 media reports, the Sabres won Game 1 of the playoff series 4-3, overcoming a two-goal deficit. The Bruins have historically dominated the matchup, winning six of eight previous playoff meetings against Buffalo, as reported by 9 sources. The current status of the series remains unknown.
The GM change was a wake-up call for the team.
Other notable games included a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, reported by 3 sources, and a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders that pushed the Sabres to 100 points, according to 9 outlets. In a separate incident, Lightning coach Jon Cooper reported that Pontus Holmberg injured his shoulder after hitting an open penalty box door; the extent of the injury is not yet known.
Across the league, first-round matchups were set. The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Ottawa Senators, according to 9 media reports. The Tampa Bay Lightning have home-ice advantage against the Montreal Canadiens, as reported by 9 sources. The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, confirmed by 9 outlets.
The players took ownership of the turnaround, not the coach or GM.
There is a discrepancy regarding the length of the Sabres' playoff drought: while most sources say it lasted 14 seasons, some reports describe it as 15 years. This difference may affect how the achievement is framed historically, with 15 years emphasizing a longer absence. Additionally, research claims the Sabres are in first place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points, but this contradicts the fact that they won the division; the point total may be outdated or incorrect. The specific changes Kekäläinen implemented that led to the turnaround remain unclear, as does how the Sabres' 10-game winning streak compares to other historic turnarounds. The team's power-play performance in the 8-7 win over Tampa Bay relative to their season average is also not known.