Robin Lehner believes Buffalo deserves a winner. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres grateful for fans’ rabid support

BUFFALO – Instead of securing that long-awaited playoff spot, the Sabres have stumbled, even regressed this season, again cementing their status as one of the NHL’s bottom-feeders.

This was, of course, supposed to be the year the drought ended. The Sabres would earn their first postseason berth since 2011. The tank, the years of suffering would finally pay dividends, right?

Well, it hasn’t worked out for the Sabres, who have three games left this season, starting with tonight’s home finale against the Montreal Canadiens, “Fan Appreciation Night.”

The Sabres can be maddening to watch. They often beat some of the NHL’s best teams. They also regularly fall to lightweights. They showcase little consistency and have a disturbing penchant for blowing leads.

Many fan bases would’ve abandoned a perennial loser years ago. But in Buffalo, KeyBank Center is still packed most nights, as it has been for years.

The Sabres have played to 95 percent capacity at home this season, averaging 18,125 fans a game. They have 10 sellouts.

“It’s a pretty full building every time we’re here,” Sabres goalie Robin Lehner said Tuesday following practice. “They’re very supportive fans. They deserve better than what they’ve got. You can’t give up, you can’t lay down and give up. … It’s what this … city deserves.”

The Sabres, who say they understand their fans’ frustrations, believe they enjoy special support.

“They’re some of the most loyal bunch I’ve been associated with,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “They’ve been with us through thick and thin and with us the whole way.”

Center Jack Eichel said it’s “disappointing,” even “embarrassing” the Sabres haven’t performed better for their fans.

“You want to please the fans because of all they’ve been through and all they continue to put up with,” he said. “You still want to be better. It’s disappointing our season’s ending like this.”

The Sabres, losers of three straight contests, rank seventh in the Atlantic Division, just 32-35-12. They’re only 19-15-6 at home. With only 76 points, they must win out to surpass last year’s total of 81.

They might’ve hit rock bottom in Monday’s 4-2 loss to Toronto, their fiercest rival, falling behind 3-0 to the Maple Leafs just 5:09 into the game.

In other cities, the Sabres would be playing inside a half-empty rink.

“Pretty loyal to us, obviously,” Eichel said of the fans. “Sellout games, we don’t play well, they’re here. We play good, they’re here. We play bad, they’re here. … I got nothing but great things to say about these fans. They’ve been nothing but great to us, nothing but great to me, my family, all my friends. Whenever they’re in town, they treat them great.

“Myself, it’s been a mediocre two years.”

But the mediocrity started long before Eichel arrived. The Sabres haven’t played a home playoff game since April 24, 2011, a stretch of 2,173 days.

“If I’m the fan base, I’m frustrated as well,” Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe said. “We’re all frustrated in here. It’s no fun being out of a playoff spot. I understand frustration.”

Eichel noted Sunday afternoon’s 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders, a meaningless game, was sold out.

“There’s 19,000 people here,” he said. “I’m sure that if we were in other cities it wouldn’t be the same case. You got to appreciate that as a player. It’s a lot better than coming here to an empty building.”

The building should be full tonight, although many (or even most) fans will be cheering for the Canadiens, who have clinched the Atlantic Division title.

Eichel wants one more opportunity to put on a show for Sabres fans.

“Thanks to all of them to supporting us throughout the year,” he said. “We’ve got one game left, and just put it all out there for them and try to win a hockey game and bring some excitement in the building.”

Still, the Sabres have played some exciting games this season, including a slew in Buffalo. Their 5-2 win over the Leafs before a raucous bipartisan crowd March 25 might’ve been the most thrilling.

“They like when we play Toronto and like when we beat Toronto,” Bylsma said of the fans.

McCabe said the Sabres have “shown glimpses of really, really good hockey.”

“We’ve beat some really good teams this year,” he said. “But it’s been a .500 hockey club. We’ll have good games, we’ll have bad games, we’ll win three in a row, we’ll lose three in a row. We’ll win one, lose one. It’s the inconsistency factor.”

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