CHICAGO — First, the Buffalo Sabres stopped their lengthy playoff drought. Then, Alex Tuch & Co. received the Atlantic Division.
They haven’t any intention of stopping now.
Buffalo is aiming excessive after a 5-1 victory at Chicago on Monday night time secured the franchise’s first division title since the 2009-10 season and seventh total. The Sabres grew to become the fifth staff in NHL historical past to clinch a division crown after overcoming a standings deficit of eight or extra factors.
“It feels really good, but we’ve got a bigger goal in mind,” Tuch stated. “So, get some good momentum going into the playoffs. It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t lift the ultimate trophy at the end of the year.”
Buffalo (50-23-8) has by no means received the Stanley Cup. The staff completed seventh within the Atlantic Division final season, however this group of Sabres has been on a roll since December.
With Tuch and Tage Thompson main the way in which, the Sabres cruised previous the Blackhawks to enhance to 39-9-4 of their final 52 video games. They reached 50 wins for the third time in membership historical past, additionally undertaking the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
“The season has been a total team effort,” stated coach Lindy Ruff, who’s in his second stint with the Sabres.
Buffalo clinched a playoff spot on April 4. The earlier playoff look for the franchise was in 2011, when it was eradicated by Philadelphia in seven video games within the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
The 14 straight seasons of futility was an NHL document and one of many longest lively streaks among the many 4 main North American sports activities, rating second behind the NFL’s New York Jets, who final certified for the playoffs in 2010.
“Unbelievable job by our group,” Thompson stated. “From December on, getting us to the place we’re at right now. Home ice is a huge advantage in the playoffs and being able to give these fans that is something pretty special to me and all the rest of the guys in here, ’cause of what they’ve been through.”
Thompson scored twice within the victory over Chicago, and Tuch had a purpose and an help. Thompson, 28, who helped the U.S. win the gold medal on the Olympics, reached 40 objectives for the second straight season and third total.
“It definitely means a lot,” Thompson stated. “You set goals for yourself. You set goals as a team and certainly you do as individuals as well. That’s always a place that I want to try to get to and feel I am capable of. When you get close or you get it once or twice, you just want to keep pushing the envelope and see how much more you can get.”
Thompson leads Buffalo with 40 objectives and 81 factors, however he has acquired loads of assist. Tuch has 32 objectives and 33 assists, and captain Rasmus Dahlin has a team-high 55 assists. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 22-9-3 with a 2.52 goals-against common after making 15 stops towards the Blackhawks.
The Sabres had been within the combine for the highest spot within the Eastern Conference earlier than Carolina secured the place by incomes some extent in a shootout loss at Philadelphia.
The Sabres host Dallas on Wednesday night time of their regular-season finale. After that, it is the primary spherical of the playoffs towards Boston or Ottawa.
“It’s kind of hard to celebrate now knowing we have unbelievable challenges in front of us here,” Dahlin stated. “Now we’re just going to switch focus to the playoffs. We have to get ready, that’s for sure.”
