Sabres clinch playoffs, ending longest NHL drought
The Buffalo Sabres clinched an NHL playoff berth on Saturday, ending the league's longest postseason drought. The New York Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden locked in the spot for Buffalo, which last reached the playoffs in 2011. The milestone caps a dramatic turnaround for the franchise.
The Sabres endured 14 seasons of struggles, posting more than 90 points in a regular season just once. They held the No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks twice and landed in the top 10 of 11 drafts during that span. An 11-14-4 start in December pointed toward another lottery-bound year.
Buffalo ignited with a 10-game winning streak after defeating the Edmonton Oilers. The team fired general manager Kevyn Adams following the third victory in that run and hired Jarmo Kekäläinen. Since the change, the Sabres posted an NHL-best 32-8-4 record.
The Sabres hold 100 points, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first in the Atlantic Division despite playing one more game. The Montreal Canadiens trail with 98 points in third place. Buffalo faces the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night to bolster its seeding.
