Ottawa Senators vs Buffalo Sabres Picks and Predictions April 1st 2025

Sabres Keep Upsetting Playoff Teams: Are the Senators Next?

The Buffalo Sabres may be out of the playoff race, but they’re proving they won’t go down quietly. Despite another frustrating season, Buffalo has been spoiling contenders’ hopes, and now they aim to complete a season sweep against the Ottawa Senators.

Buffalo Sabres Find Late-Season Motivation

Buffalo (31-36-6, 68 points) comes into this matchup riding a wave of momentum. Just days ago, they stunned the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals with an 8-5 victory, adding another big name to their list of upsets. Before that, they took down the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights—three of the West’s top contenders.

Forward Tage Thompson made it clear that the team refuses to quit.

“It’d be easy to just throw in the towel and check out,” Thompson said. “We made it a point, these last 20 games, to build momentum for next year and establish an identity. That means accountability, for yourself and for your teammates.”

That mentality is paying off. The Sabres have won four of their last five games and hold a solid 7-3-0 record over their past ten.

JJ Peterka Leading Buffalo’s Charge

One of Buffalo’s biggest contributors in this late-season push has been JJ Peterka. Over his past 24 games, the 23-year-old forward has racked up 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists), setting new career highs in assists (36) and total points (59).

Thompson praised Peterka’s all-around growth.

“He’s playing in all situations and thriving. It’s not just offense—he’s winning puck battles, working hard in the defensive zone, and bringing energy to our group.”

Peterka remains five goals shy of matching last season’s tally, but at this pace, he could still reach that milestone before the season wraps up.

Ottawa Senators Pushing for Playoff Berth

Unlike Buffalo, Ottawa (39-28-6, 84 points) is still fighting for postseason relevance. The Senators sit in the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot, holding a seven-point cushion over the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers.

Their most recent outing—a 1-0 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins—was frustrating, but defenseman Thomas Chabot found a silver lining.

“It’s all about getting points at this stage. We’re 1,000 percent frustrated, but we still got one on the road,” Chabot said.

That mindset has fueled a strong month of March for Ottawa, where they’ve gone 10-3-2.

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Cozens and Ottawa’s Second Line Finding Chemistry

One key to Ottawa’s recent success has been their second line, featuring former Sabres center Dylan Cozens alongside Drake Batherson and David Perron. Since joining the Senators on March 7, Cozens has recorded nine points (three goals, six assists) in 12 games.

Head coach Travis Green likes what he’s seeing.

“They’re playing connected, and they know where each other is on the ice,” Green said. “It’s clicking for them, and that’s been a big help for our team’s playoff push.”

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Can Buffalo Keep Spoiling Playoff Hopes?

With Ottawa desperate for every point and Buffalo playing fearless hockey, Tuesday’s matchup has all the makings of a hard-fought battle. The Sabres already hold a 3-0 season record against the Senators—will they make it a clean sweep?

Either way, Buffalo continues to send a message: they may not be playoff-bound this year, but they’re not making it easy for anyone else, either.