The Buffalo Sabres knew heading into Sunday’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks that they had a golden opportunity in front of them.
Despite all of the injuries, despite all of the inconsistent play this season, the Sabres somehow had a chance to pull within three points of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Naturally, the Sabres lost, 4-2 to a Canucks team that is just 7-17-3 on the road this season. Better still, they did so in typical Buffalo Sabres fashion: by surrendering two goals in a flat, uninspired second period, dropping the team to a league-worst minus-22 during the second period on the season.