Buffalo Finally Broke the Curse: Sabres Win First Playoff Series Since 2007

The Buffalo Sabres just did something they haven't done in 19 years. They won a playoff series. On Friday night in Boston, they closed out the Bruins 4-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2007, and honestly, that's the kind of drought that makes you wonder if the hockey gods were just messing with them.

Two Goals in the First, No Looking Back

Buffalo came out swinging and set the tone early. Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson both lit the lamp in the opening frame to build a 2-0 lead, and once the Sabres got ahead, they never blinked. Zach Benson and Josh Norris added insurance goals in the third period to ice it. That's the kind of clinical, no-drama playoff hockey that wins series. The Sabres swept all three games they played in Boston during this matchup, which tells you everything about their dominance in enemy territory.

Lyon Stands Tall, Tage and Dahlin Running the Show

Alex Lyon was stellar in net for Buffalo, making 25 saves to shut down the Bruins' attack. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin each had two assists, orchestrating the Sabres' offense from their respective ends of the ice. On the Boston side, David Pastrnak scored the only goal while Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in a losing effort. It wasn't enough to save the Bruins' season, but you could see the effort was there.

This is massive for Buffalo's organization. Nineteen years is a generation of heartbreak for Sabres fans. Now they're headed to the conference semifinals with real momentum and the belief that maybe, just maybe, this is their year to make some noise.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.