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11 hours ago
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This is real.
These Buffalo Sabres aren't just a feel-good story any longer. They aren't just a team lacking playoff experience. They certainly aren't just happy to be here.
They're still standing. They're moving on. They've won a playoff series for the first time in 19 years.
And they did it in style.
Opposed by some road vitriol in Boston, the Sabres never flinched. They scored early, withstood a second period goal, and pulled away late for a 4-1 win in Game 6 on Friday night, knocking out the Bruins and heading forward into the Eastern Conference semifinal.
They'll play the winner of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series, but that's going to a Game 7 after the Lightning beat the Canadiens in overtime about the same time the Sabres' victory was wrapping up.
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The Sabres faithful may have preferred a win a few nights ago, when the Bruins snuck out an OT victory to keep their season alive.
But this is a Buffalo team unlike so many of recent vintage. They may have left the door open momentarily for the Bruins, but on this night, they slammed it shut.
Alex Tuch scored almost immediately to set the tone. Mattias Samuelsson made it 2-0.
David Pastrnak pulled one back, but then Zach Benson doubled the margin in the third period. An empty-netter from Josh Norris secured it.
These Sabres, in relatively comfortable fashion, eliminated the playoff-tested Bruins. Alex Lyon outplayed Jeremy Swayman. The Sabres' special teams didn't let up.
They had been so dominant on this night that by the closing stages, when Charlie McAvoy's frustrations led to a two-handed slash with his stick of Benson, the young Sabres winger just laughed. There was no need to engage further.
Buffalo didn't need to fight. The bout had already been won.
Soon, they'll turn their focus forward. But for a few moments, it's worth considering the entirety of this story.
It's hard to stop pointing out that the Sabres were in last place in the entire Eastern Conference on December 8.
This team, by that measure, wasn't supposed to be here at all.
But they're so much more than here. They turned a meeting of team leaders that month into one of the best stretches of regular season play in franchise history, enough to storm into the playoffs and keep the roll going once on the bright stage.
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They've got more in mind, too.
Before the regular season was even over, Alex Tuch had this to say: "We're not just going to go for the playoffs. We're going to go for the Cup."
Maybe at the time, it felt a little bold.
It doesn't feel as bold anymore. These Sabres are different. They're prepared, polished, potent.
And now they're chasing the lifelong dream of every hockey player, and they're 12 wins away, and one gigantic step closer.
Pinch yourself if you must. The Sabres are very much for real.
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