The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a crazy 8-7 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which has propelled them to sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. They now sit with a record of 39-19-6 (84 points), and are in first place in the division this late into the season for the first time in 16 years!
The Sabres also only trail the Carolina Hurricanes by two points for first place in the Eastern Conference. The vibes in Buffalo are immaculate and at their highest ever. Dom Tibbets of WKBW asked Sabres’ captain Rasmus Dahlin after the game how gratifying it feels to finally be playing meaningful hockey late in the season with this organization, and Dahlin said, “It’s just finally. Finally, we’re here and doing good things, so I don’t take this for granted at all. I’m so fired up, I’m so happy for the Buffalo, the city, and all the fans.”
“It’s just finally. Finally we’re here and doing good things so I don’t take this for granted at all. I’m so fired up, I’m so happy for the Buffalo the city and all the fans.”
— Dom Tibbetts (@DomTibbettsTV) March 9, 2026
Asked Rasmus Dahlin after the game how gratifying it feels to finally be playing in meaningful hockey… pic.twitter.com/KZn50C8WUA
Dahlin and the rest of the organization know how important this run has been for the Sabres, and they are feeding off the fans. There are many things that are propelling this team to a record of 28-6-2 since Dec. 9, 2025, but what are the key contributors to it?
Contributions From Everyone In the Lineup
One of the top reasons the Sabres have been playing lights out is that they are getting contributions from players up and down the lineup night in and night out. They have players who can contribute offensively every game, and others who do the dirty work.
Since Dec. 9, Tage Thompson has led the way in points and goals, with 48 points, 22 of them goals, in 36 games played. Some other key point contributors include Dahlin (39 points in 35 games), Alex Tuch (32 points in 35 games), Ryan McLeod (31 points in 36 games), and Josh Doan (25 points in 26 games).
It goes beyond the points for the team. The players doing the dirty work are Beck Malenstyn, Josh Dunne, and even newly acquired Sam Carrick. That’s the difference between teams in the past and this one specifically. Getting players to do the dirty work by being physical and blocking shots, all of it has been so important to the Sabres this season.
Not only are the fourth-line players doing the dirty work, but the top point producers are blocking shots, getting into fights, being physical, and leading by example. Tuch and McLeod, who are both in the top five in points during the Sabres’ dominance, have also been some of the best penalty killers not only on the team but also in the entire league.
Related: Grading the Sabres’ 2026 Trade Deadline Acquisitions
Everyone has bought into the system, and everyone from the coaching staff to the players is responsible for being on a 107-point pace this season.
Goaltending Has Been Elite
The Sabres would not be where they are without goaltenders Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Since Dec. 9, Luukkonen has an 11-3-1 record, with a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.84 and a save percentage (SV%) of .908. He’s taken another step this season, compared to last season, when he posted a SV% of .885.
As for Lyon, who the Sabres signed in the offseason during free agency, has been even more impressive. He’s posted a record of 14-2-0, with a GAA of 2.19 and a SV% of .926, tied for second among goaltenders who have played at least 10 games during that stretch.
Both goaltenders have held the Sabres in games numerous times and have even won them a few games. There are some games where the Sabres tend to get off to slow starts, and the goaltending makes crucial saves in those moments. Then, eventually, the players in front of them get going, and all of a sudden, they score two or three goals in a five-minute span.
The Sabres have been one of the most electrifying teams to watch in the NHL this season. They are on pace for one of their better seasons in franchise history and their best since 2006-07, when they recorded 113 points and won the Presidents’ Trophy.
