The Buffalo Sabres are a certified wagon. After 14 seasons of ineptitude, they have finally taken the next step. They have been in second place in the Atlantic Division for a little bit now, staving off advances from the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.
The trade deadline is approaching and the Sabres could potentially make a major splash. Despite the excitement, the team remains focused and held on to take out Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights at home 3-2, with these being the most important takeaways.
Tage Thompson is Having the Best Season of His Career
Some will be quick to point out that the best season of Thompson’s career came during the 2022-23 season, when he scored 47 times and registered 94 points. And while he may not be on pace to match that level of production, his play has taken a marked step forward this season.
Thompson scored again on Tuesday night, his fifth time in seven games. He has a point streak of eight games going as well, bringing him up to 33 goals and 64 points in 61 games. What really jumps out is the way Thompson is playing.
There is an energy, a sense of leadership to his game that hadn’t been there before. There are several factors that have helped the Sabres make this leap forward, and Thompson’s leadership is one of them. He leads on and off the ice, a critical piece of what looks to finally be a playoff-worthy puzzle.
Inconsistent Effort
When Thompson scored his 33rd goal of the season to make it 3-0 Buffalo just 5:44 into the second period, it felt like the rout was on. Then 2:43 of game time happened and it was suddenly a 3-2 game.
Related: How the Sabres Should Approach the 2026 Trade Deadline
The Sabres ultimately tightened up, limiting the Golden Knights to just six shots in the third period. That said, it ultimately felt like most Sabres games: a little too up-and-down. Putting together complete 60-minute efforts 82 times a season is virtually impossible but the Sabres have managed to find a way more often than not.
As fans, we tend to live in this bubble where anything, but perfection means that something is “wrong.” But the reality of the situation is that good teams aren’t always perfect, they just find ways to win. The Sabres are firmly in “good team” territory because they find ways to win.
Rasmus Dahlin Has Been on an Absolute Tear
Another reason that the Sabres are so good is because their stars carry the banner. After a somewhat disappointing start to his season, Rasmus Dahlin has been on a tear. Despite beating the Anaheim Ducks on Jan.10, Dahlin had gone pointless in five of his last six games.
Since then (18 games), Dahlin has points in 15 of those contests, 24 in all. In his last 10 games, he has four multi-point efforts. All while logging huge minutes, generally 25 or more. Dahlin is legitimately among the five best defensemen in the game on a nightly basis.
Though the sentiment may have been that Dahlin should be chasing a Norris Trophy this season as the league’s best defensemen, it may be his best season to date as well. Like Thompson, he has taken this team on his back and turned them into a force.
Buffalo Sabres: Atlantic Division Champions?
As of this writing, the Sabres are now just two points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Atlantic Division lead. With the deadline approaching and a ton of assets, it is very conceivable that the Sabres get a whole lot better in the next few days.
In any event, the fact that the Sabres are even in this position feels like a fever dream for many fans. With 21 games remaining, the Sabres have established themselves as a contender, someone that can beat anyone at any time. What a feeling that is.
