No, I don’t plan on the Sabres making the playoffs.

However, until they’re officially eliminated, I’m keeping track of how it can be done.

• If the Sabres lose to the Rangers tonight (in regulation), it’s over.
• If they lose in OT or a shootout, they’ll be a hair from elimination but still alive.
• If they win, they’re alive. Ideally, this win comes in regulation.

To get into the playoffs, the Sabres need to beat out 3 of the following 4 teams: Rangers, Islanders, Jets, and Devils.

REMAINING SCHEDULE:

4/19    NY Rangers
4/22    Winnipeg
4/23    at Pittsburgh
4/26    NY Islanders

GLOSSARY

MAX POINTS – The maximum number of points a team can have when the season is over. We rank teams based on max points in order to account for games in hand. It’s the only way to arrive at a magic number.

MAGIC NUMBER-   Traditionally, this term pertains to clinching a playoff spot. For our purposes, magic number refers to # of points needed to prevent the Sabres from passing a team in standings. Every point earned by the team in question cuts into the number, as does every point the Sabres fail to earn.

DREAM SCENARIO- While the Sabres don’t necessarily need to win all 4 of their remaining games to get into the playoffs, we’ll use dream scenario to pretend that they win them all in regulation. This will show just how much help they’ll need if everything goes perfectly on their end.

CLICK HERE FOR FUN WITH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

STANDINGS:

ENEMIES LIST:

NY Rangers 

• 4/19    at Buffalo
• 4/21    New Jersey
• 4/23    at Florida
• 4/25    at Carolina
• 4/27    New Jersey

Dream scenario (in which Sabres beat Rangers in regulation):

Rangers need to earn 4 of 8 other points to finish ahead of Sabres.

NY Islanders

• 4/20    at Winnipeg
• 4/23    at Carolina
• 4/25    at Philadelphia
• 4/26    at Buffalo

Dream scenario (in which Sabres beat Islanders in regulation):

Islanders need to earn 1 of 6 other points to finish ahead of Sabres.

Winnipeg

• 4/20    NY Islanders
• 4/22    at Buffalo
• 4/23    at Washington
• 4/25    Montreal

Dream scenario (in which Sabres beat Jets in regulation):

Jets need to earn 4 of 8 other points to finish ahead of Sabres.

New Jersey

• 4/19    Florida
• 4/21    at NY Rangers
• 4/23    Montreal
• 4/25    Pittsburgh
• 4/27    at NY Rangers

Dream scenario:

Devils need to earn all 10 points to finish ahead of Sabres.

LET’S GO BUFFALO!