This is the night the Sabres showed their full potential
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The Buffalo Sabres have arrived.
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If there was any doubt that this team is for real, if they hadn't yet proven that to you during their red-hot stretch of play that began all the way back in December -- this utter domination of the Tampa Bay Lightning should do the trick.
The final score was 6-2 Sabres on Saturday night. That doesn't even do it justice.
The Sabres scored five goals on their first 14 shots. That got one of the best goalies in the world, Andrei Vasilevsky, pulled.
Andrei Vasilevskiy pulled after allowing 5 goals on 14 SOG tonight vs the Sabres.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 1, 2026
It's his quickest hook since December 29, 2017 vs the Flyers
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The Lightning are a proven winner. They've won two Stanley Cups in the last decade.
Just last month, Tampa Bay rallied late to tie Buffalo, then stunned the Sabres in overtime. It was the kind of loss that could thoroughly damage the confidence of many teams.
Not these Sabres, though. Instead, they just keep winning.
They're getting closer and closer to first place in the entire Eastern Conference. Whether they get there or not isn't relevant, though.
It's what happens once they're in the dance.
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And make no mistake -- barring a miserable collapse, the Sabres will be in the playoffs. They're on track to end their 14-year playoff drought. It'll be glorious to see playoff hockey in Buffalo again.
They couldn't even be slowed down by the Olympic break, an odd stretch with some players over in Italy but most back home just waiting for the NHL to return.
Now, they're back, and they've picked up right where they left off.
This Sabres team can play with, and beat, anyone. It's been a long time since that was even close to true.
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