Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For the first time in several years, the Buffalo Sabres are firmly in the midst of a playoff race in the National Hockey League with 21 games remaining on their schedule.
After a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center, the Sabres sit with a record of 36-19-6 and hold the second place spot in the Atlantic Division standings. They currently sit just two points back of the first place Tampa Bay, but have played two more games than the Lightning.
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It has been 15 years since the Sabres last made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they ended up falling in the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round in seven games against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Since then, Buffalo had a couple close calls, but fell short of the postseason every time.
For many Sabres fans, they now have their sights set on the playoffs and a hopeful push for the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
"I'm hoping. My fingers are crossed. It's been a long time, and I'm hoping to see us back," said Joe from Rochester in an interview with WBEN.
"If they can ride out what we ended before the Olympics with, we're going to have a great shot to get down to where we want to be and break that 15-year curse," added Dan from Hamilton, Ontario.
Some fans are even ambitious enough to say with the way the team has been playing in recent weeks, the Sabres are already Stanley Cup contenders.
"We'll see what happens. If the breaks go their way and the teams line up in the playoffs, they could easily win the Cup this year," said Ron from Toronto with WBEN.
"I've got money on this. They're definitely making the playoffs. It's going to happen," added Ryan from North Tonawanda.
However, some Sabres fans admit they are taking this final stretch of games with cautious optimism. Meanwhile, others know they're still missing a piece or two to the puzzle to truly make them a Stanley Cup contender.
"I saw recently they're looking at adding Robert Thomas from St Louis [Blues]. I think that could be a guy that could really be solid on the first or second line. But I think, for the most part, this is a team that could get it done," said Thom, visiting Buffalo for the first time from Saint John, New Brunswick.
To start the 2025-26 regular season, it was a bit of a struggle for the Sabres, once again sitting near the bottom of the standings and leaving fans and league pundits questioning their next steps.
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Where do Sabres fans feel the tide really changed for the team on their way to playoff contention? Some feel it started when Buffalo moved on from general manager Kevyn Adams and made Jarmo Kekalainan the new man in charge of the front office.
"I think the first quarter of the year, it wasn't looking great. I don't know if it was maybe the GM change up, it kind of just seemed to spark the team somehow. All the same pieces were there, but that's kind of what seemed to do it," said Mitch from Buffalo with WBEN.
Other fans feel it was a matter of something clicking with the players within the room, and finding a way to dig deep to come away with some important victories to climb back up the standings.
"I think they dug their heels in, and they know where they want to be," Dan said in an interview with WBEN. "They want the end result, just like every other team, so they're working hard for it and I congratulate them. They're doing a hell of a job for it this year, for sure."
Meanwhile, other fans like Ron feel the team and the group in the locker room finally grew into their own and have hit their point a maturity on the ice.
"Sometimes when you're a younger team - football, any sport - there's a transition period where you learn how to win. Buffalo's at that point," he said. "They've got the talent, they have the experience, and they're learning how to win. And they believe in themselves, and this is what creates a winning team. Now it's nothing but a golden road, I think, for them."
"They started playing like an actual team again. They put everything together, it was awesome," Ryan added.
Back in late January, just before the Olympic break, Sabres winger Alex Tuch told reporters following a win that this team is not going to just go for the playoffs. The goal for this Sabres team is to go for a Stanley Cup title.
What are fans most confident about with the Sabres that give them belief they can not only make the playoffs, but go on a deep run?
Some fans feel it's about team chemistry and keeping the vibes going.
"These guys are clicking on almost every aspect of the game. They've looked good offensive, defensively and special teams. So hopefully we can stick with it and make a serious push," Joe said.
"I just think they're playing with a lot of fire right now. Guys are finishing checks, forechecking. It just seems like a more complete team to me. They seem like they have all the makings of a good, solid playoff team," Thom added.
For fans like Ron, he looks at the Sabres roster and feels they have the makeup of some of the best teams in the NHL right now.
"I think their defense is incredible. You talk about what takes to win, the Avalanche have one of the best defenses, and they always have. And now Buffalo has a defense just as comparable as Colorado," he explained. "They have the offensive weapons, the goaltending is there. They've got everything it takes to win."
The Sabres' next game comes Thursday night when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins.