NHL Standings: Buffalo Sabres on verge of ending NHL-record playoff drought with win over Ottawa Senators

The Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of making NHL history positively, as they can end the league's longest playoff drought with a win over the Ottawa Senators in their upcoming game. This drought outlasted the previous mark held by the Florida Panthers from 2001 to 2011 by four full seasons. According to TSN, the Sabres will punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.

Buffalo can also clinch with a point against the Senators if the Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Detroit Red Wings and the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team has been one of the hottest in the league in the second half of the season, climbing the standings after a strong run of form and putting themselves in position to qualify. According to reports, the Buffalo Sabres have scored 46-21-8, for 100 points, and the Ottawa Senators have secured 38-26-10, for 86 points.

Buffalo Sabres' one win against the Ottawa Senators could end the NHL's longest playoff drought

The Buffalo Sabres are very close to securing a playoff spot after 14 years without one, a streak that sets the NHL record. This drought outlasts the previous mark held by the Florida Panthers from 2001 to 2011 by four full seasons. The team saw this big turnaround this season after they fired general manager Kevyn Adams back in December and replaced him with Jarmo Kekalainen. At the time, they had a 14–14–4 record and have gone 32-7-4 since.


As for their earlier performance, the Sabres seemed to miss the playoffs once again this year as the team sat last in the Eastern Conference in December before going on a 10-game win streak and posting a record of 35-7-4 since that streak began on Dec. 8.

Reports suggest that Buffalo last reached the playoffs in 2011, during current head coach Lindy Ruff’s first stint with the team. Next, Ruff rejoined the Sabres in 2024 after 12 years away, going 36-39-7 last season.

The Buffalo Sabres need just one win over Ottawa to clinch and erase a 1,151-game postseason absence, the longest active in major North American pro sports. Besides, the Panthers' 10-year wait ended in 2012, underscoring Buffalo's prolonged struggle.

Meanwhile, the Sabres have just a two-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division and are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the conference.

According to reports, the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators are going to lock horns with each other on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Canadian Tire Centre from 7 PM EST.

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