Sabres And Bruins Locked In Playoff Race As Trade Rumors Swirl

The Buffalo Sabres are in the thick of the NHL playoff race, and the tension in the Atlantic Division is reaching a fever pitch as the trade deadline looms and every game becomes a battle for precious points. On Saturday night at KeyBank Center, the Sabres experienced the highs and lows of hockey in a wild 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild—a game that showcased the team’s resilience but also highlighted the razor-thin margin for error as the postseason chase intensifies.

Let’s set the scene. Entering the weekend of January 17, 2026, the Sabres and the Boston Bruins were deadlocked at 56 points apiece in the standings, with Buffalo holding two games in hand. For fans in Western New York, the matchup against Minnesota was more than just another regular-season tilt; it was a crucial opportunity to gain ground in a division where every point matters and rivals are just as hungry for playoff glory.

The game itself was a rollercoaster. After a sluggish start, the Sabres found themselves trailing 3-1 midway through the second period. Shots were hard to come by—just seven through the first 30 minutes—and the Wild seemed a step ahead. But as any hockey fan knows, momentum can shift in the blink of an eye. Peyton Krebs, who’s quietly put together a solid campaign, tipped in his fourth goal of the season to spark the home crowd and breathe life into the Buffalo bench. Less than two minutes later, Jack Quinn found the back of the net, tying the game and sending a jolt of energy through the KeyBank Center faithful.

The comeback didn’t stop there. Alex Tuch, a key power-play presence, rifled a shot over Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson’s shoulder, giving the Sabres a 4-3 lead and putting the Wild on their heels. It was the kind of sequence that’s come to define this Sabres squad—a team that’s learned how to claw back from adversity and make every shift count. However, Minnesota refused to go quietly. The Wild evened things up, forcing overtime, and ultimately it was Mats Zuccarello who played the role of heartbreaker, scoring the game-winner and sending the Sabres to the locker room with a single, hard-earned point.

"Considering the situation through 30 minutes, the Sabres did well to collect a standings point against the NHL’s third-place team," wrote one local analyst. It’s a fair assessment. While the loss stings, the point keeps Buffalo firmly in the playoff conversation—a conversation that’s about to get a lot more complicated thanks to the swirling trade rumors around Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

Andersson, one of the league’s premier blueliners this season, is the talk of the trade market as the March 2026 deadline approaches. With 29 points through 47 games and a career-high average ice time of 24:12 per night, he’s exactly the kind of impact player who could tip the scales in a tight playoff race. The Boston Bruins, already riding high on a five-game winning streak and having won eight of their last ten, are reportedly one of four teams in serious contention for Andersson’s services, according to NHL insider Darren Dreger. The Vegas Golden Knights are also in the mix, but for Buffalo, the prospect of Andersson landing in Boston is especially troubling.

Why? The Bruins are direct rivals for a Wild Card spot, and adding a dynamic, scoring defenseman like Andersson could be a game-changer. So far this season, Andersson has notched 10 goals—remarkably, the Bruins’ entire defensive corps has only managed 17 goals combined. That’s a glaring gap, and one Boston’s front office seems eager to address as they look to capitalize on a season that’s exceeded expectations under first-time head coach Marco Sturm.

Sturm, who took over the Bruins with modest expectations, has guided his team into the thick of the playoff hunt. They were sellers last season, but this year’s success has flipped the script. Now, the Bruins are buyers, and their aggressive pursuit of Andersson signals their intent to make a deep postseason run. If the Bruins do manage to land the Swedish defenseman, it will only intensify the pressure on Buffalo’s new general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, to make a move of his own.

Kekalainen faces a delicate balancing act. The Sabres have built up valuable momentum over their last 20 games, and any trade must strengthen the roster without disrupting the chemistry that’s fueled their rise up the standings. The fanbase is restless, aware that the window for contention is open but far from guaranteed. "It is a delicate balance for Kekalainen because he will be looking to make a trade that can help without disrupting the momentum they have gained over the past 20 games," noted one league observer.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic Division is a powder keg. Every team is exploring ways to get better, and the Sabres can’t afford to stand pat while their rivals reload. The trade deadline is still weeks away, but with rumors swirling that Calgary might not wait until March to move Andersson, the clock is ticking. For Buffalo, the hope is clear: keep Andersson out of the division, or at least out of Boston, where his arrival could tip the balance of power and make the playoff climb even steeper.

Back on the ice, the Sabres’ ability to rally against a top-tier opponent like the Wild shows they have the grit and talent to compete with the league’s best. Krebs, Quinn, and Tuch all stepped up in key moments, and while the end result wasn’t the two points the team wanted, the performance offered plenty of positives. The overtime loss also serves as a reminder that in the NHL, every point is precious—especially with the standings so tight and the postseason picture so fluid.

Looking ahead, the Sabres will need to keep their foot on the gas. The Bruins aren’t going away, and with potential reinforcements on the horizon for both teams, the battle for playoff positioning is only going to get more intense. Boston’s surge under Sturm, coupled with the looming trade for Andersson, has raised the stakes for everyone in the division. The Sabres’ front office, players, and fans all know what’s at stake. The next few weeks will be critical—not just for Buffalo’s playoff hopes, but for the entire complexion of the Atlantic race.

As the trade deadline approaches and the games continue to pile up, one thing is for sure: the Sabres are in for a fight. Saturday’s overtime setback was just the latest chapter in a season defined by resilience, opportunity, and a relentless pursuit of playoff hockey. The story isn’t finished yet, and if the Sabres have anything to say about it, the best is still to come.