The Buffalo Sabres could secure their first Stanley Cup Playoffs berth since 2011 with a win over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on April 2. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m., and a victory of any kind would guarantee the Sabres’ postseason appearance.
This development comes after Buffalo’s significant turnaround this season. After being in last place in the Eastern Conference nearly four months ago, the team has posted a record of 35-7-4 since December 9, reaching the milestone of 100 points for the season. The recent success puts them in strong contention for late-April hockey, while division rivals like Ottawa are still fighting for wild card spots.
“We’ve got to treat it as any other game,” Rasmus Dahlin said. “It’s a division game, so it’s gonna be a playoff-type hockey game. But we can’t overthink it.” The Sabres have won both previous matchups against Ottawa this season, and Thursday’s contest could mark an important moment in franchise history if they prevail.
Buffalo will play without Noah Ostlund (upper body), who remains day-to-day, and Sam Carrick (left arm), who is week-to-week but may return during the playoffs. Josh Dunne is expected to join the fourth line for his first appearance since March 5. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will make his third consecutive start as goaltender; he leads the league with a .921 save percentage since December 21 and had a strong March performance.
A win would give Buffalo its highest point total since the 2006-07 season when they reached 113 points. Their power play has also been effective recently, converting at a rate of over thirty percent in their last twelve games.
Ottawa enters Thursday’s matchup following a loss to Florida and continues to struggle with injuries among defensemen and issues in goalkeeping. Despite these challenges, they remain just two points out of playoff position themselves.
Looking ahead, fans can watch or listen through various channels including MSG network or WGR radio as anticipation builds around whether Buffalo can end its long playoff drought.
