Sabres veterans Dahlin and Thompson say playoffs mark a turnaround

Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are preparing for their first Stanley Cup Playoff as the Buffalo Sabres clinched a berth and secured the Atlantic Division this April.

Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are preparing for their first career Stanley Cup Playoff as the Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins in Game 1 at KeyBank Center on Sunday. Both players are in their eighth season with the organization and described the run to the postseason as a turnaround after several difficult years. Buffalo clinched a playoff berth on April 4, ending a 14-season drought, and secured the Atlantic Division top seed and second place in the Eastern Conference on April 13. The team’s late-season surge followed a long win run that began in early December. Key details: - Buffalo will host the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round at KeyBank Center on Sunday. - Rasmus Dahlin is the Sabres captain and Tage Thompson is an alternate captain; both are in their eighth season and will make their first playoff appearances. - The Sabres clinched a playoff berth on April 4, ending a 14-season drought, and clinched the Atlantic Division top seed and second place in the Eastern Conference on April 13. - The team reversed a history of extended losing stretches with a turnaround that included a 10-game winning streak beginning after a Dec. 8 loss; that span contributed to a strong finish to the regular season. - The organization has had multiple coaching and front-office changes over the past eight seasons, and the club recorded 18 consecutive sellouts at KeyBank Center from Jan. 15 through the regular-season finale on April 15. Summary: Players and team leaders say the playoff appearance represents a turnaround after several difficult seasons, and the club is entering the postseason with notable fan energy and recent momentum. The immediate next step is Game 1 against the Boston Bruins on Sunday.