Buffalo Sabres secure first Atlantic Division title since 2010 season
The Buffalo Sabres have secured their first Atlantic Division title since the 2009-10 season following an emphatic 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
The win at the United Center also marks the franchise’s seventh division crown overall and their 50th victory of the campaign.
It completes a remarkable turnaround for the New York state team, who became only the fifth side in NHL history to clinch a division after trailing by eight or more points in the standings.
They finished seventh in their division last year but have been one of the league’s most formidable outfits since December, posting a 39-9-4 record across their last 52 games.
Aiming for the ultimate prize
Buffalo officially ended a 14-year playoff drought earlier in April, halting what stood as the longest active streak without postseason hockey in the NHL.
“It feels really good, but we’ve got a bigger goal in mind,” said forward Alex Tuch.
“It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t lift the ultimate trophy at the end of the year.”
Despite their historic division success and a pair of 50-win seasons in the mid-2000s, the franchise has never lifted the Stanley Cup.
“The season has been a total team effort,” added head coach Lindy Ruff, who is currently enjoying his second spell in charge of the side.
Thompson leads the offensive charge
Tage Thompson scored twice in the triumph over Chicago, ensuring he reached the 40-goal milestone for the second consecutive campaign.
“Home ice is a huge advantage in the playoffs and being able to give these fans that is something pretty special,” the 28-year-old Olympic gold medallist said.
Thompson currently tops the team’s scoring charts with 81 points this season.
He has been ably supported by Tuch, who contributed a goal and an assist against the Blackhawks to take his personal season tally to 65 points.
Meanwhile, captain Rasmus Dahlin has provided a team-high 55 assists to consistently fuel the squad’s offensive output.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen also delivered a solid performance on Monday night, making 15 stops to improve his record to 22-9-3 with a 2.52 goals-against average.
