Sabres clinch Atlantic Division with rout of Chicago

Chicago, I.L. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres did something the franchise had not accomplished since 2009-10: they clinched a division title. Visiting the Chicago Blackhawks, the blue and gold turned an early 1-0 deficit on its head with five unanswered goals at the United Center.

As mentioned the home side opened the scoring, short-handed, a mere 3:58 into the first period. Blackhawks forward Ryan Greene potted his 11th goal of the season, with help from Ilya Mikheyev.

Josh Norris answered back right before period's end, though. Chicago failed to clear their zone cleanly, and Josh Doan was able the keep the puck in the offensive zone. He quickly located Norris, whose wrist shot beat goalie Spencer Knight to make it a 1-1 contest heading into first intermission.

Norris' tying tally

The Sabres dialed up the intensity in the second period, as they boasted a 12-4 shot advantage in the 20-minute interval. One of those shots gave the blue and gold their first lead of the evening, when Tage Thompson showed off a whole lot of patience in front for his 39th goal of 2025-26.

Tage creeps closer to 40 goals again

When it mattered most in the third, the Sabres' offense came to play. It started about five-and-a-half minutes into the period, right after a penalty kill. Rasmus Dahlin fired a lead pass up to Alex Tuch, who split two Chicago defenders en route to an all-important goal to extend Buffalo's lead to 3-1.

Tuch splits the defense, boosts the lead

About five-and-a-half minutes after Tuch's clutch goal, Tage got in on the action for a second time. A game of Sabres "tic-tac-toe" ended with Thompson's 40th tally of the season; the third-such season of his career.

Tage joins the 40-goal club for the third time

With the lead expanded to three, only 8:47 remained between the Sabres and a date with the Atlantic Division title.

Buffalo still found time to run the Blackhawks off their own ice. Ryan McLeod potted his 14th goal to cap off a "globetrotter"-esque passing clinic in front of Knight.

McLeod joins the goal-scoring party

Then, the dust settled, the final buzzer sounded, and it was officially official -- the Sabres had done the unthinkable. Not only did they break the longest playoff drought in league history this season, they added an incredible cherry on top with the franchise's first-ever Atlantic Division title.

Now, the team awaits an opponent. It will either be the Boston Bruins or the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs this weekend.

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SCORING RECAP:

First Period:

BUF: 19:02 - Josh Norris (12) (Josh Doan)
CHI: 3:58 - Ryan Greene (11) SHG (Ilya Mikheyev)

Second Period:

BUF: 13:00 - Tage Thompson (39) (Alex Tuch)
CHI: NONE

Third Period:

BUF: 5:38 - Alex Tuch (32) (Rasmus Dahlin, Logan Stanley); 11:13 - Tage Thompson (40) (Rasmus Dahlin, Jason Zucker); 18:35 - Ryan McLeod (14) (Zach Benson, Owen Power)
CHI: NONE

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STATS OF THE GAME

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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Alex Tuch - BUF
3.) Rasmus Dahlin - BUF

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What's Next:

The regular season finale is at home, on Wednesday night, April 15 against the Dallas Stars. Puck drop for "Fan Appreciation Night" at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. ET with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.