Nobody should accept the Miller excuse for finishing ninth or 10th in the conference while playing in a weak division. The Devils were without the best goaltender in the world, Martin Brodeur, for 50 games. They came together, found different ways to win, made backup Scott Clemmensen better, and captured the tough Atlantic Division.

This crew had a pity party and folded.

Take away their 6-0-2 start and their 7-2-1 finish, and the Sabres were 28-30-6 in the other 64 games. That's not a playoff team. That's the Los Angeles Kings.

via Gleason: Offseason needs more thunder than season had : Don't Miss : The Buffalo News.