Buffalo has not been a kind place to the San Jose Sharks, who historically have struggled in road games against the Sabres. With every point at stake in their playoff race as the regular season winds down, the Sharks needed to find a way to leave history in the past. It would not be. Unfortunately, their struggles in upstate New York continued into 2026, with a 6-3 loss to the Atlantic Division’s top team.
Although the Buffalo Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 2011, the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, they appear to have finally turned the corner this season. The talented pieces they’ve put together over the years, such as Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Jack Quinn, have been coming through in a big way. Quinn, tonight in particular, provided a huge offensive boost with a hat trick and 4 points overall. For the Sabres, that’s the eighth win in a row to help and continue to secure what should be their first playoff-berth since Tyler Toffoli was around Michael Misa’s age.
The Sharks were in a hole early, giving up the first two of the night just under six minutes in – no way to start a game on the right foot. This was also the fifth game in a row San Jose gave up the first goal of the game. They’d been able to get at least a point in each of their last five, but by the skin of their teeth for the most part. It’s been a tough go of it lately to get a consistent effort from the team, and tonight’s most glaring issue was its defending. But if the Sharks will get to the playoffs to end the lengthy drought of their own, they’ll have to come up with the answers to those tough questions.
Next up, the team heads to Boston to take on the Bruins on Thursday, March 12th.
Lackluster puck management
To state the obvious: teams that have the puck more tend to give up fewer goals. Sustained puck possession and management are foundational aspects of a successful team. San Jose has several forwards that are capable of this at a high level within their top three lines. Macklin Celebrini is a demon on the forecheck, so that even if he gives the puck up, he’s right back on it before the other team can even realize. Will Smith has the hands and vision to make any lineman look like prime Jonathan Cheechoo. Alex Wennberg is maybe the most patient puck handler I’ve ever seen. He holds on until the very last second, every time.
Every forward line struggled with turnovers tonight, and that was the first step in many of their defensive breakdowns – whether they led to goals against or not. At defense, John Klingberg and Dmitry Orlov’s pair struggled the most with puck management, with multiple turnovers throughout the game. Sometimes they were able to backtrack and make up for the possession they gave up, but too many times, they were caught at the wrong end of it. The roster is more or less set now that the trade deadline has passed. If this is the top group, the Sharks will be icing for the rest of the season, then they will have to tighten up on their puck management a lot more if there’s going to be a chance at the postseason.
This team is capable of more; we have seen them have success. Every defenseman dressed tonight is capable of making a good first pass, a safe play off the boards, or a timely misdirection to gain more space against a forechecker – they’re in the NHL for a reason. Every forward is able to get the puck deep when they aren’t sure if a pass will get through in the neutral zone, forecheck hard to get the puck back, and track back when it’s turned over. It’s all a matter of putting it together on a more consistent basis, working as a unit. The Sharks will need to clean this up for the rest of the road trip.
Celebrini Milestone
A bit under the radar was Macklin Celebrini’s 33nd goal of the season, his fourth straight game with a goal. With that goal, Celebrini became just the third fastest teenager in NHL history (how many times have we started a sentence like this) to reach 90 points in an NHL season, only behind – you guessed it – Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby.
It was an important goal at the time, as well. The Sabres were roaring to start and already up 2-0. Celebrini had a few determined shifts leading up to the goal, and it was his forecheck that forced the turnover at the blue line to Will Smith, who then fed him right back in front of the net to beat Alex Lyon on a deceptive backhand shot.
Keep Shooting, Will
William Eklund has not scored a goal in 19 straight games, now. His last goal was the thrilling overtime winner in Los Angeles on January 7th. The scoreless streak has not been for a lack of trying, and any Sharks fan watching knows how hard #72 works. He has continued to be amongst the leaders for the Sharks in scoring chances, which is a skill to maintain consistently. There’s the effort, the sense to move to the right spots, and then the finish. With finish, there’s skill – then there’s luck.
Scoreless streaks happen to all players, what will give Eklund the success his own play deserves, is for him to continue to believe in himself and play his game. The chances will come. Eklund had a couple tonight, again. It’s been good to see his continued effort. Maybe he will break through in a clutch way soon, just like he did against the Kings back in January.
Highlight
Here’s Macklin’s 90th. He forces the turnover with his forecheck, and recognizes Smith’s pass coming before Buffalo can catch up to him. The Smith-Celebrini combination should feed families for years.
Scoring summary San Jose Sharks at Buffalo Sabres March 10, 2026
First Period
04:12 BUF Jack Quinn from Jason Zucker and Ryan McLeod
05:39 BUF Alex Tuch from Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson
12:54 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Will Smith
Second Period
04:59 BUF Beck Malenstyn from Payton Krebs and Rasmus Dahlin
08:51 BUF Jason Zucker from Jack Quinn and Owen Power
19:29 SJS Kiefer Sherwood from Mario Ferraro and Alex Wennberg
Third Period
00:42 BUF Jack Quinn from Ryan McLeod and Rasmus Dahlin
06:56 SJS Alex Wennberg from Tyler Toffoli
17:14 BUF Jack Quinn from Ryan McLeod
