BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — With consecutive wins against Eastern Conference playoff contenders, the Sabres remain in the postseason hunt, if not ahead of the pack.
Friday night’s 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers closed out Buffalo’s five-game homestand with a third win and lifted the Sabres’ record to 37-35-5, good for 79 standings points, four behind the New York Islanders for the last wild-card playoff spot, with five games remaining. Following Tuesday night’s 6-2 win against the Washington Capitals, the sixth in eight games at KeyBank Center for Buffalo, the Sabres have a winning record at home (20-19-1) for the first time since November, 2022.
Jack Quinn scored twice, his first goals since returning from injury, Tage Thompson got his 28th, tying for the team lead with JJ Peterka, who set up Thompson’s dazzling early goal. And Thompson assisted on the go-ahead goal by Rasmus Dahlin, who joined Phil Housley as the only Sabres defenseman to score 19 or more in a season. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves for his 26th win in 47 starts.
Buffalo, still in 12th-place in the East, take its late playoff push on the road, playing Sunday at Detroit, another wild-card candidate, and visiting West-leading Dallas on Tuesday, before Thursday’s home finale against Washington.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.