Adam's division rivals make strange bedfellows.
The Buffalo Sabres can thank the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple leafs for lending helping hands to their "playoffs or bust" mission.
"Our main focus is still to win," right winger Nathan Gerbe said after the shootout win vs. NJ Devils. "Obviously, we're not cashing in this season. We're within reach of the playoffs. We know that as a group, and we have the guys here that can get it done."The organization itself wants to turn around. It doesn't mean we can't win. It doesn't mean they don't want us to win. Teams aren't going to take us lightly because we're turning things around. We've still got guys in here that want to win and obviously make the playoffs."
On a night where the Carolina Hurricanes and NY Rangers were in desperate need of wins in order to correct their courses and to create separation in the hotly contested Eastern playoff race, both teams were beaten rather soundly.
The Bruins chased Justin Peters with rapid-fire goals early and and then pelted Dan Ellis for good measure. The Canes are a mess right now.
The Leafs tripped up the reeling Rangers.
Bottom line:
When the Sabres beat the Winnipeg Jets in regulation on Tuesday night, there will be three teams tied for ninth place with 40 points: Buffalo, Winnipeg and New Jersey.
The Rangers and Islanders are clinging precariously to the eighth seed, each with 42 points.
The Devils and Rangers will be idle on Tuesday, while the Canes play Pittsburgh.
The Sabres control their own destiny right now and they are riding an impressive three game win streak in which they've defeated Pittsburgh, Ottawa and New Jersey.
Do you believe?
***
The Sabres will know Tuesday morning if
Thomas Vanek is ready to re-join the fray.
Vanek has missed the passed seven games due to a torso injury.
The injury is baffling in that its been termed "day-to-day". Vanek skates, feels okay, then doesn't play. After Sunday's morning skate, Ron Rolston said that Vanek, based on his Monday practice, might be ready to roll on Tuesday night in The Peg. Yeah, about that. The team didn't practice on Monday, therefore, there's still the looming question of whether Vanek is good to go on Tuesday night.
If I'm a betting man, I say that Vanek will be healthy and strong enough to play in a huge came that will land the Sabres in ninth place in the East, two points out of eight place, with a regulation win.
The playoffs started last week, when Vanek was on the shelf.
Having the leading scorer on the battlefield will go a long way to inspiring the troops in The Peg.
***
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
* The Sabres are looking for their first win in the city of Winnipeg since Feb. 10, 1993.
* Buffalo enters tonight’s game on their third three-game win streak of the season, looking for a win in four straight for the first time since they won five in a row from March 19-27, 2012.
* April is the Sabres’ best month since 2005-06; they have a 26-11-3 (.688) April record in that span, including a 3-0-0 record so far this season.
* The Sabres have had 15 of their last 20 games decided by one goal. Buffalo is 7-3-5 in those 15 games and 10-8-6 in their 24 one-goal games this season.
* The Sabres are 6-1-1 this season with Adam Pardy in the lineup and 7-3-1 with Mark Pysyk in the lineup.
Thanks, Sabres Research 
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