Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Buffalo Sabres inspired a shred of hope after going 7-3-0 over a 10-game stretch before losing back-to-back games, bringing any hopes crashing to the ground. That’s what the fan base was facing after crushing losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.
Coming into the second half of a home-and-away against the Canadiens, the Sabres needed a win to remain “alive.” Instead, they lost yet again in perhaps the most Sabres way possible. Let’s get into the takeaways from this one as we collectively pray for the end of the season to get here faster.
This Game Ended in Typical Sabres Fashion
There are times when watching the Sabres, you just hope they get put out of their misery early so you can go about your business without following along. In classic Sabres fashion, they trailed 3-0 within the first 15 minutes of action, but then decided to show up later on.
The Sabres were probably the better team for 40 minutes, but that’s another lesson in being a Sabres fan. They can be better than the opposition for 58 of 60 minutes yet still find a way to lose. In this one, they charged back from a 3-0 deficit only to lose in the most Sabres way possible. When Rasmus Dahlin scored to tie the game at the end of regulation, it was all too easy to find a glimmer of hope.
The Top-End Talent on This Team Is Very Good
The tippy top level of talent on this team is, overall, pretty good. Tage Thompson scored his 29th of the season and leads the team at a near point-per-game pace. Rasmus Dahlin also scored and is one of the game’s elite offensive defensemen. Alex Tuch continues to be the best two-way player on the team.
The pieces are there to be successful. What else is needed is beyond comprehension at this point. Some rumors have the Sabres potentially dealing Tuch, Thompson, Dylan Cozens, J.J. Peterka, and virtually anyone who has actually managed to produce at some point this season.
Giving up and trading Tuch or another piece of high-end talent is just resigning the Sabres to even further disappointment in the 2025-26 season. “The” fix might not be in the room, but there are guys that will be part of it if they get the right pieces around them.
Did Anyone Really Think the Sabres Were Still Alive?
The funniest part about this game and the last two is that there was a section of the fan base that really believed the Sabres were alive in the playoff race. Tied to a litany of rumors that have the team potentially trading away half the lineup, some still believed the playoffs were a possibility.
Winning seven of ten, it almost felt believable. But here we are, three games later, and the team has lost its third in a row. The second there is any semblance of pressure, the Sabres collapse. It is a tradition as old as the ownership of Terry Pegula.
Rather than blowing up the team in the offseason, the franchise should invest in a hypnotist. That hypnotist should then convince the team that it’s January and they are 18 points out of a playoff spot. They’ll play pressure-free hockey, which is the only time they ever manage to perform with some consistency.
Can the Season End Already?
Having to write about the Sabres while being a fan of them is an exercise in masochism. Walking away from them at this point feels like the obvious answer, but an ingrained love keeps us all coming back for another dose of disappointment.
This is the worst stage of being a fan. Not only does the season bring massive disappointment, but the offseason becomes unexciting as well. Even if the Sabres land a high pick, they’re doing so in a year with no definitive top pick. Besides, whoever they take won’t be seen for two or three years, meaning nothing will really change next season. The fans are going to get tired of this eventually, and the Sabres are on the precipice of a dangerous point in franchise history.
