‘In watching this club for 54 of its 55 years of existence, these eyes had never seen a loss as hideous as the Dec. 3 collapse in KeyBank Center against the Colorado Avalanche, when a 4-0 lead after one period turned into a 5-4 defeat. It was the first blown four-goal lead at home in franchise annals and the first time in NHL history a team went up by four in the first 15 minutes of a game at home – and lost the game without scoring again. It basically ended the Sabres’ season 57 games before the schedule said it would be over.’