The Buffalo Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night with something the Sabres have not had since 2011: A playoff spot.
Despite losing 6-2 to the host Washington Capitals on Saturday for their second loss in a row, the Sabres (46-23-8, 100 points) clinched a position in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
When the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation 4-1 on Saturday afternoon, it ended the Sabres’ NHL record 14-season postseason drought.
“Obviously unbelievable. I’m happy for the city, I’m happy for all the guys that have been grinding here for years, like the equipment managers, trainers, my teammates,” captain and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said. “… Wow, it’s going to be special, that’s for sure.”
Buffalo finished last overall four times and had seven coaches during its time outside of the playoffs.
“The guys have worked so hard to get to this point,” said coach Lindy Ruff, who is in his second stint behind the team’s bench. “Every month has been pretty darn consistent, and we played a good brand of hockey. We’ve gotten rewarded for how hard we’ve played.”
Dahlin got his 18th goal and had an assist in the loss on Saturday as Beck Malenstyn also scored.
“It’s really hard to really focus on that (making the playoffs) right now with a loss, but really proud of the group,” Alex Tuch said. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s my fifth year here, and pretty happy this afternoon.”
The Lightning (48-22-6, 102 points) have won four of their last five after a 3-1 win over the visiting Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Tampa Bay, first in the Atlantic Division, had also clinched a playoff spot earlier in the day, securing its ninth straight postseason appearance.
“For me to be sitting up here right now after game seven of this year when we had won just one, (the playoffs) seemed distant,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “But that’s when the ‘process over outcomes’ came in and we didn’t get the outcomes we wanted early on. This group is a special group. It’s a great group in the sense of role definition. Everyone knows what they’re doing. Everyone knows what they need to do for us to succeed.”
Tampa Bay rallied with three goals in the third period for the win on Saturday.
One of the goals was the 21st of the season for defenseman Darren Raddysh, which broke the franchise record for goals in a season by a defenseman. He had been tied with Dan Boyle (2007-08) along with teammate and captain Victor Hedman (2021-22) at 20.
“I’m fortunate to play with a lot of good players and be put in this position,” Raddysh said. “I’m thankful for that.”
His marker was the game winner, breaking a tie with 5:31 left. Nikita Kucherov added an empty-net goal for his 42nd of the season and 399th of his career.
Defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous tied it early in the third period. He has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games.
Brandon Hagel missed his second game with an undisclosed injury.
