The Buffalo Sabres entered the 2025-26 season with modest expectations, yet their performance has exceeded predictions. Their recent success can be attributed to several factors, particularly their strong play over the past few weeks. The team recorded a 10-game win streak from December 9th to January 10th, significantly improving their season trajectory.
Tage Thompson is in the midst of his best season to date, and it’s paying off for the Sabres. The nine-year veteran has been the biggest scoring threat for Buffalo in 2025-26, with a team-leading 25 goals, including three against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
Thompson factored on all five goals scored by the Sabres, becoming the first Buffalo player to record five points in a game since Rasmus Dahlin on January 7th, 2023. The 28-year old also recorded his ninth career hat trick to tie Patrick Kane for the second-most among American-born players behind Auston Matthews (14). Thompson will be teammates with Matthews during next month’s 2026 Olympic Games, a connection that could be electric should they play together.
Coming into this season, most of Buffalo’s scoring hopes rested on the shoulders of Tage Thompson, but Alex Tuch has provided some much-needed offensive firepower. The New York native is among the top three players in points, goals, and assists for the Sabres, stat lines that have benefited from his recent stretch.
The 10-year veteran is currently on a six-game point streak dating back to January 6th, with Buffalo going 5-1 over that stretch. The team holds the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference heading into play Friday, a position that has been greatly assisted by Tuch’s performance.
Captain Rasmus Dahlin and newcomer Josh Doan have been huge contributors this season for Buffalo, a facet of the team’s success that has not gone unnoticed.
Dahlin has been one of the league’s premier defenseman since he was drafted by the team in 2017. Although he has missed some time due to personal reasons this season, the defenseman leads the Sabres in assists (27) through 42 games played. Dahlin’s ability to heavily dictate Buffalo’s playmaking has led to his success on the scoresheet, a facet the team will rely on in the playoffs should they get there.
Josh Doan has been a surprise for the team in his first season with the club. Doan was acquired on June 25, 2025, from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for JJ Peterka, a trade that seems to be working out for both sides. Doan’s 34 points through 46 games played rank third among all Buffalo skaters, with his last two games resulting in multi-point contests. The third-year player has seemingly found a home with Buffalo, and his progression will be exciting to watch for Sabres fans if he can keep up the momentum.
The Sabres being one of the best teams in the Atlantic Division at this point in the season is surprising, but exciting nonetheless. Given that the team holds the longest active playoff drought dating back to 2011, seeing them play meaningful hockey would be great for their fans and the sport.
The team’s ability to sustain momentum will be crucial, as this season’s stretch has shown significant improvement over previous years. The remaining games are expected to be competitive within the tightly contested Eastern Conference, but a good test during the second half of the season. Good news for Buffalo: the Sabres have demonstrated the potential to surpass expectations.
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