BOSTON — When Rasmus Dahlin joined the Buffalo Sabres as the top draft pick in 2018, he dreamed of bringing playoff hockey back to a passionate fanbase that had waited six long years to see postseason action.
Now, eight seasons into his career, the defenseman has not only helped deliver that return to the playoffs but played a crucial role in the franchise’s first playoff series win in nearly 20 years.
The Sabres’ 4-1 triumph over Boston on Friday evening completed a 4-2 series win, sending Buffalo to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
As the clock wound down to zero, Dahlin paused to absorb the magnitude of the moment.
“It was unreal,” Dahlin commented after contributing one goal and three assists throughout the series. “I like how we attacked this series as a team. A lot of experienced guys. Playing the way we did all series, it’s pretty cool. We have good things ahead. We can learn a lot from this.”
Buffalo will next face either Montreal or Tampa Bay, depending on the outcome of Game 7 after the Lightning forced a decisive match with their 1-0 overtime victory Friday night.
Following a disappointing overtime defeat in Game 5 at home, head coach Lindy Ruff sensed his players’ nerves. The roster lacked playoff experience, with only 10 players having previously participated in an elimination game scenario.
However, Ruff offered his team reassurance with a bold prediction.
“I told them, ‘We’re going to win the game.’ I told them, ‘We’re going to win the series,’” Ruff explained. “We’ve got to do some things better, but we are going to win the game.”
Friday’s victory represented just the second occasion in team history that Buffalo won their opening three road games of a playoff campaign. The franchise previously accomplished this feat in 1983 with victories at Montreal and Boston.
Veteran forward Alex Tuch emphasized that the team has much bigger aspirations beyond this first-round success.
“For me it’s been five long years of waiting for something special to happen. We’re hoping it’s just the start,” Tuch stated. “We’re one round into the playoffs and in our eyes we haven’t done anything yet. … We’re hoping it’s a long road ahead for us. It’s going to be a grind each and every day and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”
Goalie Alex Lyon appeared in five of the six series games, exceeding his playoff experience from the 2022-23 season when Florida reached the Stanley Cup Final against Las Vegas.
Lyon surrendered only five goals total during his series appearances against Boston, establishing a new franchise record for fewest goals allowed by a Sabres goaltender in any five-game playoff stretch.
The netminder views the team’s inexperience as an emerging strength.
“We’re learning every game. That’s kind of what’s bonded us,” Lyon observed. “I find that we’re just learning how to handle different situations and kind of learning on the fly.”
Ruff’s sole disappointment centered on the inability to celebrate this series victory in front of the home crowd.
“Would have really liked this game to be in Buffalo,” Ruff reflected. “It wasn’t. But it would have been special to have this game there.”
