The Buffalo Sabres have officially missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons, the longest drought in NHL history. Their playoff miss for the 2023 season ties them with the New York Jets of the NFL for the longest current postseason absence in North American sports. A recent victory over the Carolina Hurricanes offered a glimmer of hope for the Sabres, who have won 10 of their last 13 games, yet they find themselves an insurmountable 11 points behind the final playoff spot with just five games left. Coach Lindy Ruff, who is in his second stint with the team, expressed frustration but emphasized the need for improvement as the season winds down.

Captain Rasmus Dahlin shared mixed feelings regarding their late-season surge, acknowledging the frustration of playing well when it was too late to salvage their playoff hopes. The Sabres' season was significantly impacted by a 13-game losing streak during the fall, which ultimately sunk any aspirations for postseason hockey this year.