The Buffalo Sabres return to KeyBank Center on April 6, 2025, for their final home matchup against the Boston Bruins, bringing with them a season of unrealized hopes, glimpses of progress, and more questions than answers. At 32-36-6, the Sabres are once again on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason, extending what has become the NHL’s longest active playoff drought. Yet despite another year without meaningful April hockey, this season has offered key signs that the foundation for future success may finally be stabilizing. The offensive core has taken a step forward, led by the continued emergence of Tage Thompson, who has battled injuries but remains a cornerstone with his elite shot, physical frame, and scoring instincts. JJ Peterka has enjoyed a breakout season, providing speed, energy, and production on the wing, including a memorable hat trick in the team’s 7-2 rout of the Bruins earlier this year. Meanwhile, Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch have proven capable of logging heavy minutes and producing in a variety of roles, giving the Sabres legitimate top-six forward depth for the first time in years. Rookie Zach Benson has also flashed potential, while veteran Kyle Okposo has offered steady leadership during what has been an emotional and turbulent campaign. However, the Sabres’ struggles have largely stemmed from their blue line and between the pipes. Young defensemen like Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power continue to show individual brilliance but are still maturing in terms of decision-making and defensive coverage. The team has allowed over 240 goals this season, a number that highlights both structural issues and subpar goaltending.

Neither Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen nor Devon Levi has been able to lock down the starting role, leading to rotation and uncertainty in net throughout the season. Special teams have also been inconsistent—Buffalo’s power play has shown flashes of creativity but ranks in the middle of the league due to long dry spells, while their penalty kill continues to be a soft spot, struggling with positioning and giving up too many quality chances. As they welcome a struggling Bruins team to town, the Sabres have a chance to give their fans a much-needed morale boost with a strong finish on home ice. The memory of their last meeting—a 7-goal explosion against Boston—will provide confidence, but the Sabres will need to stay disciplined, maintain puck control, and tighten their defensive gaps to avoid giving the Bruins any momentum. For head coach Don Granato, this game presents another opportunity to evaluate young talent in high-pressure minutes and send a message about the standard of effort expected heading into the offseason. While the playoffs may not be on the line, this is about pride, growth, and giving Buffalo a glimpse of the brighter future that’s been long promised. A win in this final home tilt wouldn’t erase the disappointments of the season, but it would serve as a meaningful closing statement—a sign that the Sabres are learning, evolving, and inching closer to turning potential into results.