The Buffalo Sabres might be facing elimination, but one thing has become clear during this postseason run: the team has made significant progress under coach Lindy Ruff.

The Sabres entered the playoffs for the first time since 2011 this season and won a playoff series for the first time since 2007. 

Coach Lindy Ruff played a big role in all this success after becoming the team’s coach in April 2024. He had previously coached the Buffalo Sabres from 1997 to 2013.

But this time, he returned with one clear goal: to end the team’s long playoff drought and help them win a playoff series again.

In the playoffs so far, Tage Thompson led the team with 15 points in 12 games, while Josh Doan added 10 points. Rasmus Dahlin recorded 13 points, and Alex Tuch contributed 7 points with strong two-way play.

For a team that had missed the playoffs for nearly 15 years, it was normal for doubts and pressure to appear again. But Buffalo stayed calm and won Game 6 against the Boston Bruins convincingly to reach Round 2.

There were also some very close games in the series, but the team stayed composed under pressure and finished on the winning side.

Lindy Ruff Handling His Troops Very Well As Sabres Face Elimination

Now, the Buffalo Sabres are facing elimination in Round 2 against the Montreal Canadiens. They have equalized the series after six games. If they lose Game 7, their playoff campaign will end.

Still, the team has kept the series alive. At one point, Buffalo was down 2-1 in the series, but they bounced back and leveled the series in the next game.

Now, with an all-important match coming, coach Lindy Ruff is trying something different.

He canceled the team’s pre-game practice and told the players not to watch extra video sessions. He wants the players to stay mentally fresh before the biggest game of the season so far.

Lindy Ruff also said that only five teams remain in the playoffs, and his team is one of them. That alone is a proud moment for him. 

“What is there, five teams left? To be sitting here talking to you guys, I think that it’s a wonderful place to be, and I’ll tell the team the same thing.”

Ruff has shifted the Sabres' culture from a perpetual rebuild to a legitimate playoff threat. Now, before Game 7, Ruff wants his top players to play bigger minutes and lead the team under pressure.

Do you think the Buffalo Sabres can handle the elimination pressure and pull off a win in Game 7? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Surjo Ray