‘Are the Sabres as good as their 17-8-4 record would indicate? Can this team win the Stanley Cup this year? I’d say no to both, but even the most optimistic preseason expectations said that Buffalo at best could be in the mix for a wild-card position, and the Sabres are way ahead of the curve on that. It would take a serious meltdown, like 15 wins in their last 50 games, to fall out of the playoff picture.’