The Buffalo Sabres have begun a stretch of twenty-five games in fifty days to close out the 25-26 National Hockey League regular season schedule.
One game into the sprint to the finish, the Sabres sit in the third slot in the Atlantic Division standings.
While Buffalo currently holds down a postseason position, there is much work to be done in the every other night grind that is ahead to close the season. They are just five points clear of the final wildcard position and cannot afford to let remaining points slip away.
The Sabres have eight games ahead with division rivals. As the battle for positioning intensifies, those matchups will be critically important as the finish nears.
Buffalo has overcome a disastrous start to the schedule and now find themselves a legitimate contender for a playoff position.
After an opening two-month stretch which saw the club at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the Sabres have come together, embraced a commitment to strong two play to put themselves in the postseason chase.
So much is now riding on getting this run to the finish line. The organization is working to put a 14-year playoff drought behind them and give Western New York the return of playoff hockey that they have been longing for.
“We have something really good going here, “said Sabres forward Tage Thompson. “I think every point, especially at this point of the season, going forward is crucial for us.
While Thompson has received a great deal of recognition for his role in the United States Men’s Olympic hockey team, bringing home a gold medal, he is now focused on the Sabres and the challenge ahead.
“It’s been fun, a lot of travel, a lot of cool things that go with it”, acknowledged Thompson of his Olympic experience. “As fun as that was, I’m really excited to get back with these guys and start competing and working towards making a playoff push here. “
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