The Buffalo Sabres have won four of their past five games to claw their way out of last place in the Eastern Conference, a spot now shocking held by the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. The stretch includes convincing wins over the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes.
Yet, everyone from Sabres fans to national NHL analysts have learned to take every Blue and Gold surge with a grain of salt. Rarely does it translate into sustained success, which is why the team owns a league-record 14-year playoff drought.
Could this time be different? Perhaps.