For the first time in franchise history, the Buffalo Sabres have won 20 of their last 24 games (20-3-1), emerging as the NHL’s hottest team since the beginning of December. Riding a five-game winning streak, Buffalo sits third in the Atlantic Division and has firmly positioned itself as a legitimate postseason contender, which comes as welcome news for a fanbase that has waited 14 years to hear it.

The Buffalo Sabres matched their longest winning streak in franchise history with 10 consecutive victories, though they fell just short of setting a new record after a loss to the Blue Jackets. Still, their remarkable run has vaulted them into an unexpected position

It’s beginning to feel a lot like a Christmas miracle in Buffalo. The Sabres entered the holiday break as the hottest team in the NHL, riding a league-leading seven-game winning streak and sitting just two points out of a playoff spot. They’re also a perfect 7-0-0 since the start of the “Jarmo Era.”

The Buffalo Sabres shake up their front office by replacing GM Kevyn Adams with Jarmo Kekäläinen, pursue star defenseman Quinn Hughes, and surge on the ice with a three‑game win streak and a strong Western road trip.

Just a few weeks into the season, the Buffalo Sabres’ management already find themselves facing a goaltending dilemma, but not one that most people would have predicited.