Rachel Lenzi and Mike Harrington hop the boards for one final playoff shift on Ice Time to discuss the end of the Buffalo Sabres' season and what lies ahead. First things first: Lindy Ruff's new contract. The coach had said all along there was no need to worry about his expiring contract, and it turns out he was right.

Next up: Alex Tuch, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of June. Will he be back? Tuch is not the only Sabres player in flux, however: Mike and Rachel discuss the fate of unrestricted free agent Beck Malenstyn and restricted free agents Zach Benson and Bowen Byram.

Plus, a recap of the Sabres' dynamite (but devastating) series with the Canadiens and do the Canadiens have a chance against Carolina?

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Rachel and Mike jump the boards for a fresh shift on Ice Time to go over the Sabres' win over the Montreal Canadiens to begin the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

First, how Buffalo roared to life over the seemingly flat Canadiens; how the Sabres' power play came alive at the right time; and how goalie Alex Lyon outplayed Jakub Dobes in Game 1. But don't bank on Montreal looking so out of sync in Game 2. Cole Caufield, a 51-goal scorer in the regular season, has to come alive at some point, doesn't he?

Plus, a big moment for captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was announced as a finalist for the Norris and Masterton trophies on Thursday.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Rachel Lenzi and Mike Harrington are back for another shift on Ice Time to get you ready for the Sabres and Canadiens in the second round (!) of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Big news out of Sabres practice: the return of Sam Carrick, who hit the ice Thursday for the first time since the upper-body injury. Will Carrick be back for Game 1? Unlikely. Will he be back this series? Yes, and perhaps soon. From there, the Montreal Canadiens. Who has the edge in this series? The Sabres look deeper from the first through fourth lines, but the Canadiens are gritty (see Game 7). 

Plus, Jakub Dobes vs. Alex Lyon (Or, if Lyon has a rough stretch, back to Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen?) and predictions for what should be a super-loud, super-passionate series in both cities.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Rachel and Mike are back for another shift on Ice Time to discuss the Sabres' hard-earned win over the Bruins in Game 3. The Sabres were able to push through despite an imperfect night in Boston. Alex Lyon handled his business in net, making 24 saves in his first postseason start since 2023. Does Lindy Ruff stick with the veteran goalie for Game 4 ahead of Luukkonen? 

Plus, Noah Ostlund's impactful return to the lineup, the relative lack of impact in this series made by Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and a look at a pivotal Game 4. With a win, the Sabres can take a commanding 3-1 series lead. With a loss, the Sabres come home with a 2-2 series tie and a potential long series ahead.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Buffalo News hockey writers Rachel Lenzi and Mike Harrington are here for their first playoff shift on Ice Time to preview the Sabres' first-round series against the Boston Bruins, which gets underway Sunday at KeyBank Center.

Take in the moment - the Sabres are actually in the playoffs. Rachel and Mike cover the schedule delay, what to expect from Bruins vs. Sabres and a preview of Buffalo News exclusive playoff coverage!

Plus, Mike and Rachel give their predictions for the Sabres-Bruins series — and for the eventual Stanley Cup winner.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Rachel and Mike hop the boards this week for the latest shift on Ice Time to take stock of the Buffalo Sabres and their quest to claim the Atlantic Division in the final week of the regular season.

Our writers take a look at the Sabres' shot at home ice in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as well as their potential first-round opponents. Next, some thoughtful discussion about NHL awards. And how about Colten Ellis? Starting for the first time since Feb. 3, all Ellis did Thursday was post a shutout in the Sabres' 5-0 win over Columbus in Game No. 80 of the regular season. Lastly, a look at the Sabres' final two games of the regular season: on Monday in Chicago and the finale Wednesday at home against Dallas.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Rachel Lenzi and Mike Harrington are back for another shift on Ice Time, The Buffalo News' hockey podcast, to discuss the Sabres' path to a 100-point season and ... yes. Believe it. Say it: THE PLAYOFFS.

Mike and Rachel set up shop Thursday as the Sabres were on the cusp of formally clinching their first postseason berth since 2011, and with that in mind, it's time to start discussing potential first-round opponents.

Boston? The last time the Bruins came to KeyBank Center, they gave Sabres fans cause for concern. Columbus? The Blue Jackets always seem to give Buffalo a tough time. Montreal? Well, have fun heading into a raucous Bell Centre. And the New York Islanders? Who knows which version of them shows up. No matter which opponent the Sabres get in the first round, consider this: Buffalo will be the favorite.

An update on Sam Carrick. The good news: He'll be back at some point. The bad news: We don't know when, and in the meantime, the Sabres have lost a great veteran presence in the dressing room, one who's proven to have been a great fourth-line center who wins faceoffs.

Plus, take a peek ahead to Monday night's game with Tampa Bay — not only a rematch of the game of the year, but potentially the decisive game in the Atlantic Division. Mike also strolls down Memory Lane, offering his thoughts on this long playoff drought and his recollections of that long-ago 2011 postseason.

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On this shift of Ice Time, Mike and Rachel discuss the Sabres' home games against the Red Wings, Kraken and Islanders, who all have fewer points in the standings but, in their view, are likely to be tough outs. (The Red Wings, a desperate team trying to make the playoffs, as Rachel notes, and the Kraken have a surprisingly strong record against the Sabres, as Mike notes.)

Next, where the Sabres' last two games went "wrong" (remember, they're not going to win every game, and they still picked up a point apiece against Anaheim and Boston). And the crew also takes a sneak peak at the Stanley Cup playoffs and potential first-round opponents for the Sabres, including Boston, Columbus and Ottawa, which has been on something of a heater of late. (Another one to watch: Pittsburgh.)

Plus a fun topic: When was the last time we were talking about the Sabres and their magic numbers?

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

Mike Harrington welcomes sports editor Perryn Keys for a guest shift on the latest episode of Ice Time to discuss the Buffalo Sabres, who simply show no signs of slowing down as March winds down and the playoffs approach.

Mike takes note of the Sabres' 32-6-2 record over the past 40 games — the fourth-hottest 40-game stretch in the history of the NHL and the hottest run since the Detroit Red Wings in 1996 (that's 30 years ago, in case you were counting). The guys also discuss the Sabres' road dominance — 19 wins in their last 22 road games heading into Saturday's matinee against the L.A. Kings.

A big part of this run: goaltending. What looked like a weakness at the start of the season has turned into a strength, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon coming off back-to-back shutouts and Colten Ellis serving as a dependable third option. Plus, Lindy Ruff's chances at the Jack Adams Award (they're getting better) and the nearly immediate impact of two late arrivals, Sam Carrick and Logan Stanley.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.

On this installment of Ice Time, Mike Harrington gives us a debrief on why Sunday night's game between the Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning was so legendary.

The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.