‘If the league and PA move forward with this plan, the playoffs would shift to a conference format with the top 12 teams in each conference qualifying. The Sabres would be one of seven teams not participating and would be the first team shy of the cutoff in the East, nosed out of the final spot by Montreal on the basis of points percentage (.500 to .493). It would be their ninth consecutive year out of the playoffs, one shy of tying the NHL record of 10 consecutive seasons.’