Regular Season Wrap-Up for the Atlantic Division Champs
Buffalo Sabres (50-23-8) vs Dallas Stars (49-20-12)
Puck Drop: 7 pm | KeyBank Center, Buffalo NY
TV: TNT, HBO Max
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Dallas Stars
Record: 49-20-12 | 110 PTS
Last Game: Beat Toronto 6-5
Division Ranking: 2nd in the Central Division
PP: 28.6% 2nd (Sabres 19.8% 18th)
PK: 80.1% 12th (Sabres 82.1% 4th)
What to Watch
1. Not the Same Old Story
Usually on Fan Appreciation Night, AKA the final home game of the regular season, it’s a somber finish for the Buffalo Sabres. They play out the season, celebrate the fans along the way, talk to the media about what went wrong with hope for next season. Then comes locker cleanout as the players disperse and head back home. Speculation about the team from the media ramps up, who should stay and who should go. Then the focus inevitably switches to the NHL draft and free agency.
Not this year. Your 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres put an end to that tradition, in stunning fashion. They went from perennial playoff outsiders to division champions just like that. (Thanos snap) They didn’t sneak back into the post season after years of suffering, they grabbed it by the danglers, winning the toughest division in hockey. They did it with a nice blend of mostly young players, homegrown talent that finally payed off. They did it with players acquired through both trade and free agency, many of which must be attributed to former GM Kevyn Adams. Most of these moves were dumped on by outside NHL fans/media and even some backers of the Blue and Gold as well. But the Sabres wrote themselves a new ending this time. An ending filled with relief, pure joy and a desire for more, much more. Let us hope this dream season goes as long and as satisfying as the final chapter of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
2. Keep Yourselves Healthy
More than anything, the wish here is for Buffalo to escape this game without any last minute injuries. Everyone is banged up at this time of year but the team certainly doesn’t need any more losses to the lineup. The Sabres can ill afford to lose anyone right before they embark on this playoff journey. It already appears certain that Sam Carrick will not be ready by game one of the opening round. Noah Ostlund and Alex Lyon remain doubtful to start the Boston series but are getting closer. All three should be available by the second round, if not sooner. (should the Sabres advance) Pardon me, WHEN the Sabres advance.
I would anticipate head coach Lindy Ruff to make the wise move here and rest some important players for game 82. Keep the injury risk down to zero by not playing your main men. Dallas did the same already last game against Toronto and I expect them to do it again tonight. Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch, Josh Norris and especially Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should all be candidates to sit this one out.
3. As Advertised?
The Dallas Stars have a very strong team, with 110 points after 81 games. But they are still runner-up in their division with powerhouse Colorado taking the crown for the NHL’s best record. Both teams are excellent, loaded with skill and experience. However, both clubs benefited from a very weak Western Conference this season. There is little doubt the Stars still belong amongst the top teams in the league. However, they were fortunate to be surrounded by a slew of average and below average teams in the West. Colorado and Dallas were able to feast on the lesser competition. The Sabres even boosted their record too by mowing down most of the weaker conference this year. (with Calgary as a notable exception) Buffalo also downed the Stars in Big D earlier this season by a 4-1 score.
This should be an interesting matchup tonight that could go either way. With depleted lineups for both teams, it’s difficult to know what to expect. Win or lose, hopefully Buffalo makes a good showing. The playoffs await them, but you still want to finish strong, especially in front of your own fans in your home building. As a bonus, maybe the dreaded power play could finally cash in a few times before the second season begins.
4. Fan Appreciation
If you are going to the game tonight, here is what to expect for Fan Appreciation night. The first 15,000 fans get a Tage Thompson collectible bobblehead. You will also get discounted concessions and 30% off apparel and head gear (excluding jerseys) in the Sabres store. Activities in the arena include:
- Take a virtual photo with a Sabres player with the AR Player Photo Mirror, presented by Highmark. Located on the East Wing of the 100 Level.
- Dave and Adam’s will be handing out mystery packs of trading cards on the 100 Level near the 1970 Club.
- Face painting, air brush tattoos and hair braiding will be located in the Labatt Blue Zone on the 100 Level.
- Bid on autographed memorabilia courtesy of Total Sports Experience, stationed at Aisle 9 on the 100 Level and Aisle 23 on the 200 Level.
The Fan of the Year will be honered too, as well as the Rick Martin Memorial Award winner announced. Both will be revealed during the game. The Rick Martin award honors the player deemed to best represent what it means to be a Buffalo Sabre (Good opportunity to butter (dish) up Alex Tuch into staying, just a thought). Finally, season ticket holders will be invited down after the game for the Jersey Off My Back giveaway. Many will receive game-worn jerseys from Sabres players.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Krebs – Thompson – Tuch
Benson – Norris – Doan
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Greenway – Kozak – Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Byram – Power
Stanley – Metsa
Goalies:
Ellis, Luukkonen
(Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed he would be resting some players but would not say who. Everyone practiced this morning as normal but Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch and Josh Norris remain prime candidates to come out. Maybe even Greenway for load management more than safety. Ellis was in the starter’s net this morning. Tanner Pearson, Josh Dunne, Tyson Kozak and Michael Kesselring could be some of the replacements. The lineup is listed the same as the Chicago game, since Ruff’s sneakery is in play and nothing will be confirmed until gametime.
Dallas Stars
Forwards
Bunting – Johnston – Rantanen
Robertson – Duchene – Bourque
Benn – Hyry – Hryckowian
Back – Kaksa – Blackwell
Defense
Lindell – Myers
Harley – Lyubushkin
Capobianco – Petrovic
Goalies:
DeSmith, Oettinger
(Dallas is banged up right now, with Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz already out, among several others. It remains to be seen if they still rest some of their bigger, healthy names with an already shorthanded lineup. Rantanen and Robertson are possibilities to sit.)