It’s a big loss for this Sabres core to not take first playoff step against Penguins

‘The Hail Mary of new life in a sudden 24-team tournament wouldn’t cause the sort of civic celebration that Andy Dalton’s fourth-down pass in Baltimore prompted among Bills fans on Dec. 31, 2017. But it would count nonetheless and this team wouldn’t hear about tying the NHL record of 10 straight years out of the playoffs ad nauseum come next season.’