This is what I'm looking at, the Sabres need about 44 wins to make the playoffs, right now we have 18 wins through 41 games, over the next 41 games we need to win 26 to hit that magic 44 wins number. We need to win roughly 64% of our remaining games, or collect points in 80% of our remaining games.

Of those remaining games, 12 are divisional games, and 12 are games against non-divisional opponents in the top 8.

24 games, of those 24 games, if we collect 18 wins, and beat the teams we should beat (Canes, Islanders, Panthers, Devils), we could very easily be in.

As bad as we started the season, the team still controls it's own destiny. If they continue to collect points, they should be able to get into the playoffs. The main thing at this point is keeping consistent. After the past 3 games, I think Miller has turned a corner, Vanek is getting on the score sheet consistently, Pomminville looks like he's coming out of his funk. Tim Connolly is starting to earn his 4.5M (still massively over paid); and guys like Adam and Ennis are starting to figure out what it takes to be consistent in the NHL.

Our defense still needs to improve on clearing our own zone, and we need to get more physical against teams with size and strength.

All in all I think it's possible to make the playoffs, and if they don't, they have only themselves to blame.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Yeah, making the playoffs is still a reachable goal, but what I have seen from them so far does not look like a playoff team. They are simply losing too many battles and making too many mistakes and their record reflects that. If they can put out a stretch where they play real good hockey and go on a nice winning streak, maybe I'll start believing that they have turned a corner and can make the playoffs and be successful in them.

Until then, I still think this is all we're going to see out of the Sabres this season. Win a few nice games here and there, but won't do anything substantial enough to make the postseason. Who knows though, it's a long season and anything can happen in hockey.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

i dunno... they have won 9 out of the last 10 points available. and should have 1 more. its a small step, but you cant make a big step without the first small one. keep winning. get points. play smart. miller is looking sharp as well. so lets see.

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Hope is much more palatable in small doses.

The team is 18-18-5.

They have a shot at ending the regular season with a winning record. Teams with winning records are always in the playoff hunt. Just leave it at that for now. Let's see where they are a couple weeks before the trade deadline.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Why does everyone assume the Canes are always a team we should beat, do you guys not realize they are the Eastern team sitting in the 9th spot ahead of us by 5 points?

The only teams the Sabres should be able to beat easily would be the Devils and Islanders, and the Leafs.

I'm optimistic and I think this team can beat any team in the league on any given night, but they need to play like it to win. We can't just assume they should win games before they play them again.

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I like optimism. Makes me feel good inside.

(don't worry- they'll lock us up soon...)

I'm not really understanding the feeling like we're 'probably' not going to be in the playoffs. The season is halfway done, do we really expect that none of the top 8 teams in the east will swoon, drop a string of games and give someone a chance to move up. Hell, it is possible for multiple teams to relax a bit, thinking they're in and they can just coast down the stretch into the playoffs.

I really think i'd rather have a team which is getting hot right before the playoffs and sneaks in with momentum, then to be highly placed most of the year, and just sort of coast into the playoffs.

I dont think this team has what it takes to make a long run in the playoffs, but thats something else, I definitely think they can get in.

QFT

I was going to say the exact same thing.
Sure making the playoffs is possible, but examining the data we have so far about this season the probability of that happening seems slim to me.

I wouldn't mind being wrong but I don't think I am.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

At least they've kept it interesting. We're not total bottom dwellers yet.

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Wheelhouse

The last couple weeks have been more entertaining anyway.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Because of the 3 point game, it's harder to move up than it is to fall down. Once you're down low in the standings, it's harder to make up ground because those teams ahead of you can keep their position from loser points.

That's why a good start is so important.

I agree. Watching a good west-coast team give the enemy a loser's point hurts something awful.

We still have 4 games against the Leafs.

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Wheelhouse

We also have four games against the Dwayne Roloson-less Islanders.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Wow, that's a guaranteed 16 points if you scratch the captain, have dinner with Chris Butler, play your good players(list should NOT include Hecht or Connolly; Gaustad not even considered ), and never start your back-up.

???

Derek Roy was leading our team in points up until Vanek overtook him this week. Roy is one of our best forwards and a key to our offense. We are 7-4-1 since he was placed on IR (including the Panthers game in which he was injured.)

they've been up and down with quality of play over this time...but those Bruins games, especially the one last Thursday without Roy and Stafford...showed me that this team hasn't given up on this season.

Gerbe...jawing with Chara? the McCorminck goal...quality effort. Vanek looks like a goal scorer? Pominville slicing to the net like that...very encouraging. They looked more desperate and played pretty well with a lead for a change.

The down side as far as the Bruins go....I don't think we see Rask play against us again this year.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

So...

-Isles didn't need Roli to beat us.
-Rivet was scratch and we still lost.
-Butler was scratched (See above).
-Goose has been playing pretty reliable, IMO.
-Miller started and got the hook.
-Patty was tossed in and played a pretty good game.
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We still lost.

I think it's time to revisit the equation and adjust what is added and subtracted for Sunday because obviously shit just isn’t working against these guys.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

We got any big mean guys in portland... just go out and hit everything that moves in the first?

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

This site was a really good find! In order to even sniff the playoffs, we need to win at least 17 games. I think that's fairly doable, but that's just doing the bare minimum. We're playing a lot better than the bare minimum right now.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550