The last time the Buffalo Sabres played a game in the Stanley Cup playoffs was April 26, 2011, a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers that eliminated them from contention.
For reference, the No. 1 song that day was “S&M” by Rihanna, featuring Britney Spears, and the No. 1 movie was the animated film “Rio.”
Many in the hockeysphere have been hoping for a return of playoff hockey to Buffalo, and it appears those folks will get their wish this spring. And the Sabres aren’t just returning — they might win the Atlantic Division!
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So now instead of watching the out-of-town scoreboard to chase a playoff berth, Sabres fans can instead start to scout potential first-round opponents. Depending on whether the Sabres finish first in the division — and thus draw a wild-card opponent — or finish second and face the third seed (or vice versa), that changes the field of who they could play.
Per Stathletes, these are the five highest-probability first-round opponents for the Sabres: Montreal Canadiens (32.64%), Ottawa Senators (23.96%), Boston Bruins (22.19%), Detroit Red Wings (10.80%), New York Islanders (3.40%).
Buffalo plays four out of five of those teams in the remaining schedule, including a tilt against the Bruins on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., TNT). Overall, the Sabres have gone 1-1-1 against the B’s this season.
Sabres fans might be hoping for a non-Bruins opponent: The team has gone 2-0-0 this season against the Senators, Red Wings and Islanders, and 2-2-0 against the Canadiens.
Then again, given how hot the Sabres have been in the past few months, perhaps the opponent won’t matter!
Every team has around 12 games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsToday’s scheduleLast night’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston BruinsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa SenatorsM2 Columbus Blue Jackets vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville PredatorsC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Today’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
Last night’s scoreboard
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Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Boston Bruins 2Montreal Canadiens 5, Carolina Hurricanes 2Ottawa Senators 3, Detroit Red Wings 2Florida Panthers 5, Seattle Kraken 4 (SO)Chicago Blackhawks 4, New York Islanders 3Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2Colorado Avalanche 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 2Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Minnesota Wild 3St. Louis Blues 3, Washington Capitals 0Nashville Predators 6, San Jose Sharks 3New Jersey Devils 6, Dallas Stars 4Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 1Calgary Flames 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (SO)Edmonton Oilers 5, Utah Mammoth 2Anaheim Ducks 5, Vancouver Canucks 3
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 95Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 11Points pace: 109.7Next game: vs. BOS (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 10Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A2Games left: 12Points pace: 108.9Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: A3Games left: 12Points pace: 103.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 87.2%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 11Points pace: 99.3Next game: @ BUF (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 69.6%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 68%Magic number: 20Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ BUF (Friday)Playoff chances: 38.2%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 21
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Points: 73Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 83.1Next game: vs. NYR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 8
Metro Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M1Games left: 11Points pace: 110.9Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 11Points pace: 100.5Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 85.8%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 11Points pace: 99.3Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 83.1%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 96.8Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 50.9%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 20
Points: 80Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 93.7Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 10.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 79Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 6.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 14
Points: 74Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 86.7Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 13
Points: 65Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 75.1Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 2
Central Division
Points: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C1Games left: 12Points pace: 121.8Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A
Points: 97Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 11Points pace: 112.0Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A
Points: 92Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 10Points pace: 104.8Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 4Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.3%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 88.9Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 37.8%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17
Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 80.8Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 4.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16
Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Pacific Division
Points: 84Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P1Games left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 79.7%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 10Points pace: 88.8Next game: vs. EDM (Thurday)Playoff chances: 99%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 45.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.5%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 27.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 58.6Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUT
Note: An “x” with a team’s name means the club has clinched a playoff spot. An “e” means that the club has been mathematically eliminated.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14
Points: 65Regulation wins: 19
Points: 67Regulation wins: 20
Points: 67Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73Regulation wins: 22
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27
Points: 74Regulation wins: 18
Points: 74Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79Regulation wins: 30
Points: 80Regulation wins: 21
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85Regulation wins: 26
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
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