The Buffalo Sabres are on a roll, and Monday night in St. Louis, they showed exactly why hockey fans are suddenly buzzing about this once-struggling franchise. With a 4-2 victory over the Blues at Enterprise Center, the Sabres notched their ninth consecutive win—matching their longest streak since 2018 and putting themselves on the cusp of tying a franchise record that dates back to the 1980s. For a team that fired its general manager just two weeks ago and has endured a 14-season playoff drought—the longest in NHL history—this run feels nothing short of electric.
The game itself had all the makings of a classic. The Sabres, fresh off a coaching and front office shakeup, kicked off a three-game road trip hoping to extend their win streak and keep climbing the NHL standings. They did just that, but not without a few nervous moments and some serious hustle.
It didn’t take long for Buffalo to get on the board. Just 2:19 into the first period, Noah Ostlund finished off a gorgeous 2-on-1 rush. The play started with Josh Norris intercepting a clearing attempt at the St. Louis blue line. Norris sent a crisp pass through the slot to Ostlund, who buried a one-timer past Blues goalie Joel Hofer, giving the Sabres an early 1-0 lead. According to Field Level Media, "Josh Norris intercepted a pass attempt by Logan Mailloux inside the St. Louis blue line and took it to the left circle before sending a pass through the slot to Ostlund, who buried a one-timer from low in the right circle."
But the Blues weren’t about to let Buffalo skate away with an easy win. Just minutes later, Brayden Schenn tied the game at 1-1, capitalizing on a puck that bounced through Sabres defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson. Otto Stenberg dropped the puck back for Schenn, who fired a wrist shot that beat Buffalo netminder Alex Lyon stick side. The momentum kept swinging as Jimmy Snuggerud put St. Louis ahead 2-1 at 8:09, jamming home a rebound after a relentless battle in the corner.
The first period was exactly what Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff had hoped to avoid. "I think their speed is evident, their defensemen get up ice, and you know, similar to us, where our defense is heavily involved, their defense is heavily involved. We got to make sure that we don't turn it into a track meet," Ruff said before the game, as reported by local outlets. As it turned out, the Blues’ speed was on full display, and the Sabres found themselves trailing after twenty minutes.
Despite the rocky start, Alex Lyon settled down in net after a shaky opening frame. He stopped all shots he faced in the second and third periods, finishing the night with 16 saves on 18 shots. His resilience between the pipes gave Buffalo a chance to regroup and mount a comeback. "While it is never great to see Lyon struggle, it was great to see him bounce back over the final two periods and not allow another goal for the remainder of the game," one post-game analysis noted.
The second period brought more drama. Alex Tuch thought he’d tied the game early in the frame, but his goal was waved off after review for a distinct kicking motion. Unfazed, Tuch got his redemption at 15:17. Samuelsson, who has quietly blossomed into an offensive contributor this season, led a rush up the left side and fed Tuch in the right circle. Tuch snapped a shot off the far post and in, knotting the score at 2-2. That assist extended Samuelsson’s point streak to three games, giving him 19 points on the season—five more than his previous career high.
With the game tied entering the third, the tension was palpable. That’s when rookie Zach Benson made his mark. Just 1:46 into the period, Benson found himself in the right place at the right time. Ryan McLeod sent a no-look backhand feed from the corner to the front of the net, Jack Quinn got a piece of it, and Benson batted the puck inside the right post. It was a scrappy, opportunistic goal—exactly the kind that defines winning streaks and turns rookies into fan favorites. As reported by multiple outlets, "Benson put the Sabres back in front at 1:46 of the third period. Ryan McLeod sent a no-look backhand feed from the corner to the front of the net. Jack Quinn got a piece of it to deflect it up, and Benson batted it inside the right post."
From there, Buffalo clamped down defensively, refusing to let St. Louis back into the contest. With just over a minute left, Peyton Krebs sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, sending the Sabres bench into celebration mode and the road crowd into a frenzy. Krebs’ tally capped a three-goal run for Buffalo after falling behind in the first period—a testament to the team’s resilience and newfound confidence in tight games. Last season, the Sabres went 16-8-7 in one-goal games; this year, they’re 7-0-4 in similar situations, a sign that this group is learning how to close out tough contests.
This win wasn’t just another notch in the standings. It marked Buffalo’s sixth consecutive road victory, their longest such streak since December 1976. The Sabres have also surged up the NHL power rankings, jumping 12 spots following the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams and the promotion of Jarmo Kekalainen. While Kekalainen hasn’t made any immediate roster moves, the team’s response has been dramatic. As of December 28, Buffalo was tied for the final wild-card playoff spot—a remarkable turnaround for a club that was tied for last in the conference just two weeks prior.
Standouts during this stretch include Tage Thompson, who’s racked up five goals and five assists over the last eight games, and the ever-steady Mattias Samuelsson, now carving out a new reputation as a two-way threat. The Sabres’ ability to win close games, overcome adversity, and get contributions from up and down the lineup is fueling talk that the NHL’s longest playoff drought could finally be nearing an end.
Looking ahead, the Sabres will travel to Dallas for a New Year’s Eve showdown with the Stars. A win there would tie the franchise record of 10 straight victories—a mark achieved during the 1983-84, 2006-07, and 2018-19 seasons. The stakes are high, but so is the confidence in the Buffalo locker room.
Monday night’s win in St. Louis was more than just another two points; it was a statement. The Sabres, after years of heartbreak and rebuilding, are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NHL. If they can keep this up, Buffalo fans might finally have something to celebrate come playoff time. For now, all eyes are on Dallas, where history could be just one more win away.
