The Buffalo Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL. Coming into the 2025-26 season nobody expected those words but it is in fact true. The Sabres have climbed back into the playoff conversation, riding a league-high nine-game winning streak. This comes at a great time as the Atlantic Division is up for grabs this season.
Where Buffalo stands with the streak
Buffalo is no longer at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and now sits fifth place. They have a record of 20-14-4 for 44 points which is five points out of first place. Buffalo has a home record of 12-5-2 and are 8-9-2 on the road, carrying an impressive 7-2-2 within the division.
The current nine-game winning streak is the franchise's longest such streak since winning ten straight from November 8 through 27, 2018. This feat also marks the fifth time in franchise history that the team has had a winning streak of eight games or more.
Center Tage Thompson leads the team in scoring with 34 points on 18 goals and 16 assists and has five goals and six assists for 11 points during the winning streak. After spending last season with the Detroit Red Wings, goaltender Alex Lyon leads the team in wins with ten between the pipes.
Coincidence of winning streak?
With the Sabres playing much better, one has to ponder whether this recent surge comes at the hands of a general manager change. Kevyn Adams was recently relieved of his duties and replaced by former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen, which is about when the streak started. Could the change have inspired the team to play more loosely and play with more players playing like themselves? Did Adams have the players playing too tight? How much credit does Kekalainen get for this win streak?
Regardless on if this is a big coincidence or how the win streak has enabled BUffalo to climb back into the playoff spot. They are now tied with teh Florida Panthers for the last playoff spot. Florida does hold the tiebreaker as they do have more regulation wins.