March 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabers defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) and defenseman Owen Power (25) celebrate Power’s goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second quarter at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images There’s still more than a fifth of the season left and no one wants to jinx it, but Lindy Ruff and the Buffalo Sabers can get a taste of it.
Buffalo is expected to make the postseason for the first time since 2011, an NHL-record 14-year drought.
The Sabers, who have won all seven games since the NHL returned from its Milan Cortina Winter Olympics break, will look to stay hot on Tuesday as they host the San Jose Sharks.
The team isn’t just limited to advancing to the postseason. It pushes away anything and anyone that gets in the way. That includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were the latest recipients of Buffalo’s grit and determination on Sunday, an upset 8-7 Sabers win.
Final tally included 15 goals, 5 games, and 102 penalty minutes.
“I see a few guys have their faces a little swollen and have a few scrapes,” Ruff said. “It puts a smile on your face. That’s my kind of hockey.”
Tampa Bay fell behind 3-0 and 4-1 and only scored in five consecutive games. The Sabers fell behind by two points twice in the third period, but rallied at every turn.
“That’s hockey,” said Alex Tuch, who scored two goals. “It’s amazing. I’m really happy to get two points. I’m so proud of my team.”
Jason Zucker scored twice and added an assist, Josh Doan scored twice and the team’s top scorer, Tage Thompson, collected four assists to extend his career-high scoring streak to 11 games. This is Buffalo’s longest streak since Jack Eichel had a 17-game point streak during the 2019-20 season.
Zucker tied the game at 7 with 5:31 remaining, and Doan scored the winner 1:14 later as the Sabers improved to 28-5-2 since starting a 10-game winning streak on Dec. 9.
Yes, the Sabres’ current seven-game streak, which is the longest active streak in the NHL, is only the second-longest active streak in the last three months.
“Finally we’re here and we’re doing good things,” said defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who added a goal and two assists. “So I don’t take this for granted at all. I’m so excited. I’m so happy. I’m so happy for Buffalo as a city and for all the fans. It means the world.”
The Sharks have failed to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year. They have won seven of 10 and are one point off the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
San Jose dropped its second straight overtime decision on Saturday, losing 2-1 to the New York Islanders. The disappointing results ended in a 3-1-2 homestand.
“We did some good things, it’s a tough game out there, you have to fight for ice,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “I think our friends were pissed.”
Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks’ 19-year-old sensation who had just scored five goals to lead Team Canada at the Olympics, leveled the contest for the Islanders in the second period with his team-leading 32nd goal.
Celebrini currently has 89 points, fifth in the league, 45 more than San Jose’s second-leading scorer, Will Smith.
“You just have to keep playing.” Celebrini said. “We’ve had two tough losses and I think we need to capitalize on our opportunities right there.”
–Field level media
