Buffalo Sabres fans, you have earned it: the right to dream about your team making the playoffs in 2017-18.
The defense has been rebuilt. The coaching staff wants to play 21st century hockey. Star players such as Kyle Okposo and Jack Eichel are motivated to play at a high level following seasons that were tarnished by injuries.
It is fair, then, to hope that the Buffalo Sabres are battling for a playoff spot right until the very end of the season. Sure, the Sabres are still not the sort of team one would realistically expect to be battling for Lord Stanley’s Cup come June.