Sabres win Atlantic, 1st division title since 2009-10 season - ESPN

CHICAGO — First, the Buffalo Sabres stopped their long playoff drought. Then, Alex Tuch & Co. won the Atlantic Division.

They have no intention of stopping now.

Buffalo is aiming high after a 5-1 victory at Chicago on Monday night secured the franchise's first division title since the 2009-10 season and seventh overall. The Sabres became the fifth team in NHL history to clinch a division crown after overcoming a standings deficit of eight or more points.

«It feels really good, but we've got a bigger goal in mind,» Tuch said. «So, get some good momentum going into the playoffs. It doesn't mean anything if you don't lift the ultimate trophy at the end of the year.»

Buffalo (50-23-8) has never won the Stanley Cup. The team finished seventh in the Atlantic Division last season, but this group of Sabres has been on a roll since December.

With Tuch and Tage Thompson leading the way, the Sabres cruised past the Blackhawks to improve to 39-9-4 in their last 52 games. They reached 50 wins for the third time in club history, also accomplishing the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

«The season has been a total team effort,» said coach Lindy Ruff, who is in his second stint with the Sabres.

Buffalo clinched a playoff spot on April 4. The previous playoff appearance for the franchise was in 2011, when it was eliminated by Philadelphia in seven games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The 14 straight seasons of futility was an NHL record and one of the longest active streaks among the four major North American sports, ranking second behind the NFL's New York Jets, who last qualified for the playoffs in 2010.

«Unbelievable job by our group,» Thompson said. «From December on, getting us to the place we're at right now. Home ice is a