Among several other things, I think it doesn't take much to conclude that our second line, while skilled and full of heart, simply wouldn't have been physically ready to handle a series with Boston. As mentioned upstream, I also think one of the qualities the Panthers have in their favour is a disciplined game. The Sabres couldn't play a disciplined game with consistency and their free-wheeling style would have opened them up to many hits by Boston.
I think these deficiencies will work themselves out over the course of the next season.