• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres (Not So) Epic Comeback

By Bruce Hollingdrake April 9th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Few things are greater in sports than an epic comeback. A team coming back from a double digit points to regain the lead at the last minute; an injured star returning to the starting lineup just when the team is in their time of greatest need; even a poker player, who is down to virtually nothing in chips, storming back to beat out the other players with a final epic hand.

Conversely, few things are worse than an epic collapse. A late game meltdown; an end of the season choke in a clutch moment; your best players not rising to the occasion. Buffalo Sabres fans are probably a little confused right now, as the end of their 2011-2012 season featured both an epic comeback and an epic collapse.

Let’s time travel, shall we, back a couple months to February 6th, when the Sabres were in terrible shape and a full 10 points out of playoff contention. Starting on February 19th, the Buffalo Sabres embarked on a 15-2-3 streak to recover 33 points in the conference standings and position themselves for the 8th place playoff spot in the East. Point-wise, it was one of the greatest team comebacks in NHL history. Or, it would have been, had it heralded them into the playoffs.

Buffalo Sabre Ryan Miller - Photo by Andy Martin Jr

One of the principal story lines behind this miraculous comeback was the startling and sudden return to form of goalie Ryan Miller. Winner of the 2010 Vezina award for NHL’s top goalie, Miller helped to carry the USA team to the silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. But since then, Miller had been a veritable phantom of that MVP caliber player, which is precisely why his incredible return to form in the last 2 months was all the more dramatic. Since February 19th, Ryan Miller was 14-1-3 with a .939 save percentage, which, had it been sustained over the whole season, would have been 2nd in the league.

But those numbers did not continue. In fact, they dropped off considerably and the Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs after a loss to Toronto in TO and a devastating loss to Philadelphia. Sabres fans must now wonder whether this will be the catalyst for new owner Terrence Pegula–the wealthiest owner in the league–breaking up the team’s core unit, which many say have consistently underperformed for the last 6 to 7 seasons. Pegula, upon taking over the team said, “The existence of the Sabres from this day on is to win the Stanley Cup….I bought this team to win championships.”

For Sabres fans, who have watched their team’s roller coaster season with consternation, this may be the hope they can bring into the off-season, the hope of rebuilding and coming back again strong.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 2:45 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets’ Return for Laine Must Include Top Defenceman

Jan 22nd 2:40 PM
Archives

Tomas Holmstrom’s Subtle Brilliance

Jan 22nd 2:30 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Keefe Coy About Lines With Matthews & Thornton Out [Video]

Jan 22nd 1:35 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Special Teams Highlight Early Weaknesses

Jan 22nd 1:25 PM
Commentary

NHL’s 2020-21 Baseball-Style Schedule: Could it Work Permanently?

Jan 22nd 1:15 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Have 3 Good Trade Targets to Shore Up Their Defense

Jan 22nd 11:37 AM
Archives

50 in 50 for Mike Bossy

Jan 22nd 11:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Caufield, Dobes, Power & More

Jan 22nd 11:15 AM
Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Road Schedule Ravaged By COVID-19

Jan 22nd 10:55 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Riley vs. Riley, Family Members Faceoff Behind the Bench

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information