Sabres' quest to end 14-year playoff drought has massive stakes tonight

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The Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of ending their 14-year playoff drought, with a magic number of just 7 points to clinch a postseason berth. On Tuesday night, the Sabres have a chance to drop that magic number as low as 3 with a win over the New York Islanders, while several other key Eastern Conference matchups could impact their playoff chances.

Why it matters

The Sabres' potential return to the playoffs would be a major milestone for the franchise and its long-suffering fans, who have endured over a decade of missing the postseason. A playoff appearance would validate the team's rebuild efforts and provide hope that they can become a consistent contender in the Eastern Conference.

The details

The Sabres have undergone a remarkable turnaround this season, going from an 11-14 regulation record in early December to a 45-21 mark. They now sit on the cusp of reaching 100 points for the season, a total that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. With several key games around the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, the Sabres have a chance to drastically reduce their magic number and take a major step towards ending their 14-year playoff drought.

• The Sabres enter Tuesday night with a magic number of 7 points to clinch a playoff spot.
• The Sabres can drop their magic number as low as 3 with a win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

What they’re saying

What’s next

If the Sabres can defeat the Islanders on Tuesday, they will drop their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to just 3 points. Several other key Eastern Conference matchups on the same night could also impact the Sabres' postseason chances.