Mike Harrington: Weeks before the actual start, Sabres are getting the feel of playoff buzz
Could you imagine what a seven-game series between the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens would look like in a couple of months? Goodness.
No offense to the fine folks in Anaheim, but you don't get these feelings when you're playing the Ducks.
The Buffalo Sabres are living April and May in January and February. And it's glorious. Even in defeat.
The buzz in KeyBank Center was palpable Saturday night. That's what it's like when the Montreal Canadiens are in town. That's what it's like when a playoff atmosphere envelops the building.
And it's just going to keep growing for the Sabres the next few days. They're heading to the Sunshine State to meet the Florida Panthers on Monday night and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. Then they host the Pittsburgh Penguins here Thursday in their final game before the Olympic break.
You think those three teams know a thing or three about the playoffs? Since 2015, the Pens, Panthers and Lightning have combined to win six Stanley Cups and make nine trips to the Cup final.
The Sabres, of course, haven't seen a single game in the postseason since 2011. But their 4-2 loss to the Habs felt every bit the part.
These teams split four meetings this season and Buffalo won two of three played in a 19-dap span in January. If you wanted speed or physciality or goaltending or anything in between, you got it.
Could you imagine what a seven-game series between these clubs in a couple of month would be like? Goodness.
"It's exciting. These are the games you want to be in," said Sabres defenseman Owen Power, an absolute beast in the offensive zone in this one. "It was a great atmosphere tonight and it was a lot of fun. Coming down the stretch, I think we'll have a lot of games like this."
There were plenty of "Go Habs Go" chants answered very well with some loud boos and a "Let's Go Buffalo". The crowd byplay was spectacular. The amount of red in the stands was not. Too many of you sold out your seats and probably rued it from your couch. Too many Habs fans were also likely quick on the draw when individual seats went on sale in the fall.
It was a tough sound at times and a rough look for the whole time.
Even Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin pointed it out. There was no hiding from it.
When Cole Caufield's second goal of the third period put the Habs in front, 3-2, after a turnover in the corner by Michael Kesselring, the "Ole Ole Ole" song you hear so often in the Bell Centre rang through the Buffalo night.
Montréal Canadiens fans celebrate a goal in the third period of their game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Joed Viera/Buffalo News
"A 'tough puck' we thought we were breaking out," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. "Just a dirty puck on the wall we didn't handle."
The Sabres, of course, have handled most everything thrown their way during this incredible 25-game stretch that has seen them go 20-4-1. It was almost surprising to see this one get away.
This was really a 50-50 game. The Sabres led, 2-1, through 40 minutes and were 24-1-0 this season when ahead at that point. But for the first time since their Nov. 12 loss in Utah., they didn't win when leading after two periods. The Canadiens have incredible speed and a bang-up power play, and that makes them tough to handle for 60 minutes. They're going to be a tough out come playoff time.
"So impressed by them. Great team," said Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon, whose 10-game winning streak went by the boards. "It's not even the physical challenge as much as the mental challenge. I think they do a good job of showing up consistently and you know you're going to be in a dogfight with them."
The loss was a shame because the Sabres could have pulled within one point of second-place Detroit in the Atlantic Division. But it's crazy to fret over it. They can't be expected to win every game, even though it's felt like that for weeks now.
"That was a really good competitive game," Ruff said. "They had a few pockets of good shifts there in the third period that got us on our heels. We had a great push in the second, but we didn't quite make them pay for some of their mistakes."
The Sabres better expect more dogfights this week. They split their two meetings with Florida this season, both in Buffalo, and the Panthers assuredly will be ornery after dropping three straight games, all by one goal.
They Sabres have yet to play any of their four games against Tampa Bay, which entered Sunday night's Stadium Series game against Boston on an incredible 16-1-1 surge to the top of the Eastern Conference.
This is a week many players in the Buffalo locker room could conceivably find daunting.
But it's one that veterans with playoff experience like Lyon, Alex Tuch and 2022 Cup champion Bowen Byram can help the team push through.
"It's the best. If you don't embrace it, that's when things can go sideways," said Lyon, a member of Florida's 2023 finalists. "I think we just have to embrace the challenge. For as much as we've won, it doesn't mean much if you don't continue to back it up."