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Senators Delay the Sabres' Bid to Clinch Drought-Breaking Playoff Spot
Buffalo has a magic number of two and can end its 14-year playoff drought with a win over Ottawa, officials said.
- On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Buffalo Sabres fell 4-1 to the Ottawa Senators, preventing them from clinching their first playoff berth since 2011. The loss extends the NHL's longest active postseason drought to 14 years.
- Entering the contest with a 46-22-8 record, the Sabres sought to end the league's longest active postseason futility streak. A single victory would have secured a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- Ottawa Senators forward Lars Eller broke a third-period tie at 5:55, while goalie Linus Ullmark stopped 21 shots to secure the win. The Senators navigated the game despite losing defenseman Tyler Kleven to an upper-body injury early on.
- Buffalo's magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains two following the defeat. The Senators moved back into the final wild-card position in the Eastern Conference standings, breathing life into their playoff hopes.
- The Sabres travel to face the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. With the regular season concluding April 16, every team now has nine or fewer games remaining to determine final playoff positioning.
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Rutland Herald+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Senators delay the Sabres' bid to clinch drought-breaking playoff spot
Lars Eller broke a third-period tie and the Ottawa Senators prevented Buffalo from wrapping up a drought-breaking playoff spot Thursday night, beating the Sabres 4-1. Buffalo will have to wait to end its NHL-record 14-season postseason skid, the second-longest active…
Playoff berth delayed by Sabres loss in Ottawa
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres will have to wait a little while longer to gain that coveted X beside their place in the standings. Buffalo's playoff clinching scenario was postponed by a 4-1 loss Thursday night in Ottawa. The next opportunity to end the longest postseason drought in NHL history comes Saturday when either [...]
·Buffalo, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left8Leaning Right3Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 35%
C 52%
13%
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