After defeating the Dallas Stars for their 10th straight win, it felt like the entire world was behind the Buffalo Sabres. With such a long stretch of ineptitude, the Sabres became the lovable losers who felt like they were finally turning a corner.
Losing 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday definitely took some air out of their sails, but streaks can only go on for so long. While the 10-game winning streak was nice, perhaps the most critical game of the season comes on Tuesday night when the Sabres host the Vancouver Canucks.
The Streak Itself isn’t the Most Important Thing
The Sabres have had winning streaks before. As a matter of fact, they had a 10-game winning streak one other time during this playoff drought, ripping off a streak during November 2018. They then proceeded to finish with 76 points, a full 22 points out of a playoff spot.
Massive winning streaks are nice, and they are definitely a lot of fun. What matters most is how they respond to losses. They can’t win 10, lose five, win three, lose four, etc. The Sabres need to be more consistent throughout the course of the season.
Losing to the Canucks at home would be massively damaging. It might not hurt their place in the standings all that much, but the psychological impact would be tremendous. A win on Tuesday is necessary to show that this team is for real and that they won’t just ride the streaks, for better or worse.
The Streakiest Team in the NHL in Recent Years
Let’s talk more about the streakiness of the Sabres. Just last season, the Sabres went on four winning streaks of three games, another of four, and a season-high five games in the final month of the season. In 2023-24, they famously won three in a row only to lose their next eight. These are just two examples of how streaky the Sabres have been.
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In 2024-25, they were more consistent – at losing. They would win a game, lose several, and repeat the cycle. Even during what seemed like a breakout 2022-23 season, streakiness reigned supreme. They won eight of nine in one stretch only to turn around and lose five of six.
If the Sabres really are back, these losing streaks cannot happen. They don’t need to set the franchise record for consecutive wins, but they do need to string together three or four for every loss they suffer. They set themselves back with a slow start to the season so the margin for error is too slim to suffer through prolonged slumps.
Positive Momentum is Crucial
Positive momentum matters. It happens to matter even more when you haven’t made the playoffs in 14 seasons. With rumors swirling about division rivals leveling up, new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will need to do more than solve the Alex Tuch conundrum.
Rumor has it that they were in to some degree on the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes, but that only means so much if you don’t actually pull the trigger. It has been said to death in recent years that now is the time to package assets to make a real difference, but it feels like it is more important than ever to do so.
There is enough talent on this team to make a playoff run. That said, moving a goaltender – Alex Lyon seems like the odd-man out – and adding an impactful forward would be a major boost for a team that needs more positive momentum. If anyone seems like they can get it done at this stage, it is Kekalainen.
The Biggest Month in the Last 15 years
Every offseason for the last 15 years has been “make or break.” January 2026 may be the single most important month in recent franchise history. The winning streak was a nice way to end 2025, but what they do going forward will be more important.
There are 14 more games left in January. Winning at least nine of them would feel like positive momentum and should keep them in the race for a Wild Card spot, if not one of the Atlantic Division spots. If things are going to turn around for the Sabres, now is the time.
