In the other thread I said I expected Buffalo to get six points on the road trip, but it really wasn't meant to be very critical. It would take one of the best 3-4 teams to go on a seven game road trip - five on the other coast and most against competitive teams - and take 9-11 points. It's just too hard to win on a regular basis, and with Buffalo usually having a tough time out west earning nine points was a tall order. They just aren't quite up there yet with THE best teams. They're just a bit shy.

Now they could still come up big and take some more points tonight, but either way this road trip isn't a failure or a conviction of the team. It's the toughest stretch of the season, and there will be another couple tough road trips before the end of the season. I expect them to drop a few but hang on for the division, and that's not bad at all. If Darcy can somehow trade MacArthur, a prospect and/or picks for a better scoring winger or PP point man on defense, then they'll probably be as good as any team in the East and right there with Chicago, Vancouver, and San Jose.

Slesh, I don't see how we're very far off in our assesments. I don't expect them to win more than one round in the playoffs, but I do think they could have a fair chance at beating New Jersey or Washington in a second round match-up. I don't think they have a fair chance at beating a #5-8 seed, New Jersey AND Washington to make it to the SCFs.

If they can trade an expendable player (Mac, Butler, Lydman), prospect(s) and pick(s) for a proven winger or d-man they should be a better team and be a step closer to competing for the Cup. They'll probably still be shy of San Jose, Vancouver, and Chicago, but they could be on even ground with anyone in the East.