Sabres Bounce Back, Eye Playoff Spot

On April 4th, the Buffalo Sabers came up short Thursday night, dropping a 4-1 decision

to the Ottawa Senators and missing their first shot at.

Clinching a Stanley Cup playoff spot since 2011, now they're locked in for Saturday's matchup

at the Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. Eastern on monumental and MSG Buffalo.

They bounced back with a sharp practice Friday, ramping up the pace and energy after coach Lindy

Ruff called out some tightness from the pressure of. Ending their 14-year playoff drought,

the longest in NHL history. Players like Alex Touch admitted the stakes got to them a bit,

especially with Ottawa fighting hard without their top guys. The Sabers sit second in the Atlantic

division, tied in points with Tampa Bay but with one more game played, and just two points back

of Carolina, four. The Eastern Conference lead, lately they've cooled off, winning only two of

their last six since a hot street post, Olympic break, and giving up three or more goals in five of.

Those, rough stress playing desperate like playoff contenders, while goalie Alex Lyon noted how

Ottawa managed the game tight, prepping them for postseason, style. They could clinch before

a puck-drop Saturday if Detroit loses in regulation to the Rangers at 12.30 p.m. Eastern.

But either way, Buffalo's, eyeing that top seed run by matching every opponent's fire right

through the finish line. Team coverage, powered by AI. This is NHL News Today. I'm Cory with the story.