The Buffalo Sabres sit last in the Eastern Conference, but they have plenty of reasons to be confident as they prepare to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

The Sabres may be looking up at all the other conference rivals, but it is a short distance between themselves and the club holding the second wild-card spot.

Buffalo is only four points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who currently sit in the final East playoff spot.

Moreover, the Sabres are back in action after one of their strongest performances of the season, a 5-1 thumping of the Edmonton Oilers on Monday to open a four-game homestand.

"It was sticking to that same game plan," Buffalo forward Beck Malenstyn said. "Maybe there's a few plays that you aren't quite as aggressive, you keep a guy back, but for the most part, I t

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