Home / Sports / Sabres End 14-Year Playoff Drought, Advance to Second Round
Sabres End 14-Year Playoff Drought, Advance to Second Round
2 May
Summary
- Sabres defeated Bruins 4-1 to end a 14-year playoff drought.
- Buffalo advances to the second round to face Lightning or Canadiens.
- Lindy Ruff named finalist for Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.
The Buffalo Sabres have officially ended their 14-year playoff absence, securing a spot in the second round of the 2026 postseason. They clinched their advancement by defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Friday, May 1, at TD Garden in Boston.
The Sabres established an early lead with first-period goals from Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson. Despite a second-period response from Boston's David Pastrnak, Buffalo regained their momentum. Zach Benson extended their lead in the third period, and Josh Norris sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
This significant win coincides with Buffalo's coach Lindy Ruff being named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, recognizing him as a top coach of the year. The Sabres will now host the initial two games of their upcoming second-round series.
Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of Sunday's Game 7 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins, meanwhile, look to rebound after their playoff exit, with pending free agent Viktor Arvidsson being a key decision for their future.
