Buffalo Sabres Stay in Hotel Before Game 7 to Break Home Slump

The Buffalo Sabres stayed in a hotel Sunday night rather than at their home arena before playing Game 7 on Monday.

The decision highlights the team's struggle to find success in their own building during the postseason. By simulating a road-game environment, the organization hopes to replicate the success they have found while traveling.

Head coach Lindy Ruff said the team wanted to “try something different” to break a pattern of poor home-game performance [1, 3]. The move comes as the Sabres face a stark contrast in their postseason results based on location. In Buffalo, the team has a record of two wins and four losses ^[3].

Conversely, the Sabres have been dominant away from home this postseason, recording five wins and only one loss ^[3]. This discrepancy led to the unconventional choice to treat a home game like a road trip, a strategy intended to shift the mental state of the players before the decisive Game 7 ^[2].

Lindy Ruff said the change in routine was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the current cycle of home losses [1, 3]. The team sought to create a level of focus and detachment from their home surroundings that typically accompanies road games.

Opponents have noted the psychological shift. Representatives from the Montreal Canadiens said they were confident in their own ability to bounce back in road games, suggesting the Sabres' decision may play into the Canadiens' strengths ^[2].