It always seems to work out the same way for Buffalo teams - they come out on the short end.  This year's Stanley Cup playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers was no different.  The Sabres allowed a goal in the final minute of the first period, then gave up two power play goals in the second period as Philadelphia built a 3-0 lead and it was just too big a mountain to climb.  The Flyers beat the Sabres 5-2 to win the first round series in seven games - the second year in a row the Sabres were eliminated in the first round.  

Penalty killing had been one of the Sabres' strong points in the first six games of this series but failed them in this one.  The Flyers had two power play chances in the second period and scored on both of them while the Sabres continued to scramble to generate any offense of their own.  Tyler Myers and Brad Boyes scored the Buffalo goals in the third period.  For Boyes, acquired at the trade deadline, his third period goal was his only point during the playoff series with the Flyers. 

So another off-season to build this team into a Stanley Cup winner.  They're not far away.  The young players on this team got a lot of experience in what it takes to win in the playoffs.  They got a little taste of it.  They came within just a couple of plays of winning this series, but came up short.   With so many emerging stars the future is bright and with an owner determined to bring a Stanley Cup to the city I really think it's going to happen.  I'm more confident of that than I have in many years watching this team.

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