The NHL's all-time winningest coach sat down for a game Oct. 24 in Tampa Bay and marveled at the 6-foot-8 rookie blueliner logging the puck up and down the ice for the Buffalo Sabres.

Scotty Bowman, whose six decades' worth of hockey knowledge would need several hard drives to store, is not easily impressed. But he was on this night by a 19-year-old kid named Tyler Myers.

There are windows in a long NHL season that provide you with a nice barometer of what a team may be all about.

I think we have that this week with the Buffalo Sabres. Three home dates and three contenders in town in New Jersey, Washington and Chicago.

To me, at the end of that three-game set, we might know a little more about this Sabres team, which wants to belong with those elite squads.

Problem is, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was having none of my theory when I put it to him Tuesday after practice. He didn't see any difference from these games this week than any others on the schedule.

tonights game is my cut off point. a win tonight, and im on board that this could be a special team. a loss, and im thinking 6th seed or lower. i have to pick a side eventually.

dont let me down, boys.