Just before the Buffalo-New York series, there was a minor media flap surrounding Rangers coach Tom Renney’s refusal to concede that the Sabres were the best team in the Eastern Conference.

At the time, many in Buffalo felt that it was a shocking lack of respect to the President’s Trophy winners (obtained by having the best regular-season record). It’s instructive to look back on that now, considering that the Sabres are 60 minutes away from having that mantle forcibly torn from them by the Ottawa Senators.

Before the play-offs started, few outside of Ottawa would have guessed that the Sens would so much as make the Eastern Conference Final, let alone enjoy a 3-0 advantage in the series. The conventional wisdom was that the Sabres were too fast, too well-balanced and had the far superior goaltender in Ryan Miller. Also, the fear was that the Senators were over-reliant on the Daniel Alfredsson-Dany Heatley-Jason Spezza line.

But what has happened is that Ottawa’s big line has produced major dividends while their defence has contained Buffalo’s speed and depth advantages. They have two of the three leaders in blocked shots in the play-offs, and in general seem to be the better-conditioned team – and, distressingly for the Sabres, the Senators just seem to want this series more.

To say that, though, does somewhat diminish Buffalo’s efforts in the series. In patches, they have played quite well. With Ottawa up 2-0 early in Game 1, they did well to take advantage of shaky goaltending by Ray Emery to get back to 2-2. Their focus dropped though, and Ottawa skated out 5-2 winners – on Buffalo’s home ice. Game 2 saw even worse goal-tending from Emery, and it was Buffalo that stormed out to a 2-0 lead. Ottawa kept chipping away on the power play though, and took a 3-2 lead. However, for seemingly the 94,685th time in these play-offs, the Sabres got a goal in the dying seconds to force the game to overtime. You can’t say in that case that Buffalo choked.

However, what you can say is that when it has truly counted, it has been the Senators who have come up with that little bit of extra effort that has allowed them to win the games. The Sabres survived the first overtime, but Joe Corvo’s blast from the blueline early in the second overtime eluded Miller’s outstretched glove and found the back of the net. Game over. Series over.

Of course, there is still the formality of Ottawa winning two more games. But, anyone who saw Game 3 knows that the Sens will likely achieve it with little resistance from their opponents. The Sabres could only muster a paltry 15 shots on goal – an especially damning stat when you consider that Ottawa’s one weakness so far has been Emery’s play. That said, it must be noted that Emery did keep out all 15 on this occasion.

While Buffalo sputtered on the offensive end, they also had all they could handle trying to slow down the Senators’ top line. Sure enough, Daniel Alfredsson got to a loose rebound first and fired it past the sprawling Miller to give his team the only goal they would need (and get). Tellingly, the assists were to Heatley and Spezza. Truthfully, the Sabres will have done well if they avoid a sweep on Wednesday in Game 4.

You know what, though? I’m fine with that. I (along with many neutrals, I wager) are sick of Buffalo’s whining about perceived bad calls when they have been the beneficiaries of some dodgy decisions themselves. Ever since their arrogant stance before the Ranger series, I’ve wanted to see someone put them in their place – and it looks like the likeable Senators are answering the call. If the Sens do go on and take home Lord Stanley’s Cup, then they will be worthy and dignified champions…I’m all for it.

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