If Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller continue to lead the Sabres into consistent play, there may be a good chance that Buffalo will be able to compete with the Eastern Conference's elite come playoff time.
The Sabres have a Vezina and Hart contender in goal, a Calder contender on the blueline and a passionate fanbase hungry for the playoffs after two years of near-misses. But what they don't have is the necessary heart and will to sustain momentum. Three years ago, the Sabres were the quintessential representatives of the post-lockout NHL, a fast, exciting and passionate team whose unmatched consistency in the regular season led them to a franchise-best 113 points and the President's Trophy. However, after a disappointing exit in the Eastern Conference Finals that year, the consistent leadership the Sabres once exuded instantly faded. July 1st, 2007 saw the exit (and subsequent overpayment) of co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere to the Rangers and Flyers, respectively. The Sabres of the next two seasons were a team without an identity, a woefully soft and tentative team who would often follow up short winning streaks with longer losing streaks.
In 2009-10, the Sabres have re-emerged from the doldrums and become one of the NHL's hottest teams, thanks in part to the amazingly consistent performance of Team USA standout Ryan Miller in net and overnight success Tyler Myers on defence. For the first time in a long time, the pieces are finally starting to come into place for the Sabres. When they're on top of their game, they're as dangerous as any elite NHL squad.
However, it's when they're slumping that they look like one of the NHL's cellardwellars. It's been two years and the Sabres have still failed to replace the dancing Dannies and Druries in the fanbase's collective imagination. A level of consistency is what is keeping this Sabres team from truly becomnig elite. Throughout the year, players have stepped up and recovered greatly from long slumps, but there's no real "leader" or "motivator" in Sabreland (at least from this fan's perspective), a possible reason why the team hasn't been held accoutable for some of its ugly play this year. Fans have complained about the overpaid and underperforming all year, such as Thomas Vanek (who has failed to capitalize on his outstanding goalscoring stats in 2008-09) and Jason Pominville (who has rarely been as big a factor as he was in his contract year, where he scored an impressive 80 points).
On the other hand, these highly-criticized names have stepped up in big games, making the most of their chances with the onus on their shoulders. Since the Olympic break, Vanek has tallied a handful of multiple-goal games, Pominville responded to harsh criticism with a hat-trick on March 18th in Tampa, Henrik Tallinder has emerged as a worthy compatriat and mentor to the aforementioned Tyler Myers and fan-detested Jochen Hecht has played with a sense of levelheadedness and consistency en route to a career year in the goals column.
There's no denying this Sabres team has some of the biggest and most talented names in hockey. Ryan Miller's performance in the Olympics, for instance, instantly made him one of the league's ambassadors, piquing nationwide fan interest in the Sabres in the process. Tyler Myers has emerged as one of the NHL's brightest new faces and looks to be extremely marketable (given his unconventional size) as well as a possible franchise player for the Sabres in the near future.
Talent and recognition, however, do not singlehandedly compose a playoff-making season. Consistency is paramount, especially for an organization like Buffalo where numerous coaches and management look to be on the hot seat if the season or playoff run goes south. Lindy Ruff, the NHL's longest-tenured headman, has struggled to find ways to keep his team on the straight and narrow this season, often playing inconsistently after a great start. The Sabres haven't been as electric as, let's say, Washington, Chicago or Phoenix, nor do they have the penchant for winning streaks in the high single (or low double) digits.
This may all seem trivial as long as the Sabres make the playoffs, but momentum matters in the National Hockey League. Teams who finish the regular season strongly and well-composed often are poised for deep playoff runs. If the Sabres can keep their winning ways, especially against lower-ranked teams like Atlanta (easier said than done in Sabreland), Florida and Carolina, the momentum they create will carry them far.
No one's expecting the Sabres to emerge as Stanley Cup Champions this year, in spite of Ryan Miller's amazingly proficient and consistent performances in net. In fact, don't expect them to advance past the semifinal round, especially if paired with a team like Pittsburgh, Washington or even Ottawa (who always seem to get the upper hand on the Sabres regardless of their position in the standings). But if the Sabres show poise, consistency and heart...expect them to at least make life very interesting for the Eastern Conference teams that think a Stanley Cup is inevitable.
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