What we learned about the 4 NHL teams eliminated in Round 2 of the 2026 playoffs

It’s easy to nitpick the little things and moments — especially after a heartbreaking Game 7 overtime loss.The Buffalo Sabres were inches away from reaching the Eastern Conference final. Instead, Alex Newhook’s game-winner ended their year and kick-started their offseason.Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, after making some excellent saves to keep Buffalo in the game, should have stopped that shot. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin should have managed the puck better at the blue line. And there were moments and sequences before overtime that will be thought about all summer long.