Buffalo Sabres tie franchise record with 10-game winning streak

The Buffalo Sabres have etched their names into franchise history. A 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on December 31, 2025, capped a remarkable run that saw the team win 10 consecutive games, tying a record set on three previous occasions. The streak, which began on December 9 with an overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers, has transformed the Sabres from Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers into legitimate playoff contenders in less than a month.

What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is the dramatic reversal of fortune it represents. Before the streak began, Buffalo sat dead last in the Eastern Conference with a 11-14-4 record, eight points adrift of a playoff spot and facing questions about their direction. Today, they occupy the second wild card position with 46 points (21-14-4), leapfrogging the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the process.

From crisis to contention in three weeks

The Sabres’ transformation hasn’t happened by accident. Head coach Lindy Ruff, who returned to Buffalo before the 2024-25 season, laid the groundwork for this identity during training camp. He emphasized a defensive foundation that would give fans something tangible to embrace. Those principles took time to materialize, but the results have been undeniable since early December.

The turning point came in Edmonton, where a 4-3 overtime victory sparked something within the roster. What followed was a masterclass in team hockey—tight defensive play, timely goaltending, and contributions from every corner of the lineup. The Sabres didn’t just start winning; they started winning with a formula that proved sustainable against both struggling teams and elite opponents like the Stars.

Ruff’s message of consistency resonated with his players throughout the run. “It’s a lot of fun when you’re winning,” said center Tage Thompson, who scored twice against Dallas. “We’re riding a little high right now, but at the same time, I think we’ve done a pretty good job after a win of coming back down to earth and making sure we’re ready for the next game. That\’s how we’ve gone on this roll is making sure we’re doing the right things every game.”

The crowded nature of the Eastern Conference standings means the Sabres can’t afford to rest on their laurels. and one in Los Angeles around the same time period. The playoff race remains incredibly tight, with multiple teams separated by just a few points. This context makes Buffalo’s achievement even more critical—every victory during this streak has been essential for staying in contention.

Defensive dominance defines historic run

The foundation of Buffalo’s success lies in their defensive transformation. Since December 9, the Sabres have allowed just 1.89 goals per game, the fewest in the NHL during that span. They’ve held opponents to three or fewer goals in every contest, a testament to their structured, disciplined approach.

Goaltending excellence on display

When defensive breakdowns occur—and they inevitably do—Buffalo’s goaltending duo has been exceptional. Alex Lyon has shouldered the bulk of the workload, winning seven of the nine games entering the Dallas matchup with a .919 save percentage. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, forced into action late in the streak, posted a .960 save percentage in his two victories. Against Dallas, Luukkonen made 28 saves to secure the milestone win.

The combined .929 team save percentage since December 9 ranks first in the league. According to Stathletes, the goaltending tandem has saved 5.27 goals above expected, the fifth-best mark in the NHL. This level of netminding has given the skaters confidence to play aggressively without fear of catastrophic mistakes.

Shot-blocking and penalty discipline

Buffalo’s commitment to defense extends beyond their goaltenders. The Sabres lead the NHL in shot-blocking during the streak, averaging 17.91 blocks per 60 minutes. Mattias Samuelsson leads the charge with 19 blocks, but eight different players have recorded at least nine blocks, including forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.

The team has also demonstrated remarkable discipline, taking just 25 penalties over the nine games—fourth-fewest in the league. While their penalty kill ranks third in the NHL at 84.8 percent, avoiding the box altogether has kept their opponents from gaining momentum through power-play opportunities.

Rasmus Dahlin, who has been instrumental in the defensive turnaround, summarized the team’s mentality: “We find our own way to play defense. We play hard in our own way. We sacrifice the body a lot, we block a lot of shots, and we backcheck hard.”

Offensive depth provides nightly heroes

While defense wins championships, you still need to score goals. The Sabres have found the back of the net through remarkable balance across all four forward lines and their defensive corps. Ten different players have recorded multiple goals during the streak, tying Ottawa and Vegas for most in the NHL.

The lineup consistency has been key. Ruff has maintained the same four lines throughout most of the run:

• Krebs – Thompson – Doan
• Benson – McLeod – Quinn
• Ostlund – Norris – Tuch
• Greenway – Dunne – Malenstyn

Each unit has contributed in different games and various situations. Six different players have scored game-winning goals, including three from Zach Benson and one each from Tuch, Thompson, Bowen Byram, Josh Norris, and Peyton Krebs. This distribution of clutch scoring makes the Sabres difficult to defend—opponents can’t simply focus on shutting down one line.

Tage Thompson’s two goals against Dallas highlighted the team’s offensive confidence. After Josh Doan tied the game in the second period and Bowen Byram gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead, Thompson took over in the third, scoring twice to cement the victory. His first came from the edge of the crease, burying a rebound, while his second beat Casey DeSmith glove-side on a rush.

“I just think it’s been more of a team thing where all four lines have been producing and on different nights, we’ve had different lines step up and win us hockey games,” Ruff explained. “We’ve been able to count on a new offensive hero emerging nightly.”

Leadership and mentality changes

Lindy Ruff’s return to Buffalo has been marked by patience and a clear vision. The 10-game winning streak validates his approach, but more importantly, it shows the players have bought into his system completely. The Sabres no longer crumble when falling behind early—a problem that plagued them earlier this season and in previous years.

When Mavrik Bourque scored just 15 seconds into the Dallas game, it could have triggered the old Sabres’ demons. Instead, the team responded methodically, sticking to their structure and gradually wearing down the Stars. “There have been instances where stuff like that happens in the game early, we fall behind, and we could never claw our way out of it,” Byram said. “We have a lot of confidence right now no matter what the score is, and we just try to keep playing the same way.”

This mental resilience separates the current Sabres from their predecessors. The team trusts its process, believes in its goaltending, and knows contributions can come from anywhere. That confidence creates a calmness under pressure that elite teams possess.

Navigating the playoff race ahead

The Sabres’ reward for their historic run is a tenuous hold on a playoff spot. With 46 points, they sit one point ahead of Florida but remain within striking distance of several teams below them. The Metropolitan Division’s competitiveness means the wild card race will likely come down to the final weeks of the season.

Buffalo’s challenge now becomes maintaining this level of play without the momentum of chasing a streak. The “one game at a time” mentality that served them well during the run becomes even more critical as they aim to solidify their postseason position. Ruff has consistently reminded his team about the crowded nature of the standings, hoping the urgency of the playoff chase will prevent complacency.

The upcoming schedule presents both opportunities and challenges. The Sabres have demonstrated they can win on the road—a crucial skill for any playoff hopeful—but they’ll need to defend their home ice consistently at KeyBank Center. Their ability to replicate the defensive structure that defined this streak will determine whether this was a memorable December run or the foundation of a surprising playoff appearance.

For a franchise that has struggled to find consistency since its last playoff appearance, this 10-game winning streak represents more than just a tied record. It validates the vision of their veteran coach, showcases the depth of their roster, and provides hope to a fanbase desperate for meaningful hockey in the spring.

A franchise reborn through collective effort

The Buffalo Sabres have given their city something to wrap its arms around, just as Lindy Ruff envisioned in October. This 10-game winning streak wasn’t built on superstar performances or flashy offensive displays—it was constructed through disciplined defense, exceptional goaltending, and contributions from every single player who dressed for the games.

As the calendar turns to 2026, the Sabres find themselves in an unfamiliar position: relevant in the playoff race and armed with a formula that works. The franchise record they tied on New Year’s Eve against Dallas serves as both a milestone and a challenge. The question now isn’t whether they can win consistently—they’ve proven that. The question is whether they can sustain this identity through the grind of an 82-game season and emerge as one of the eight Eastern Conference teams still playing when April arrives.

For a team that began December in the basement, the view from the playoff picture looks pretty good. And for a fanbase that has weathered years of disappointment, this winning streak offers something perhaps more valuable than standings points: belief that the Buffalo Sabres are finally headed in the right direction.