Most of the playoff heroics involving the Buffalo Sabres involve players who are NHL general managers, since they occurred nearly two decades ago. The last great era of Sabres hockey was in 2006 and 2007, when the club went to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, losing to Carolina in seven games and Ottawa in five games.

In the second round in 2006, after eliminating the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, the Sabres took on the Senators. Trailing 6-5 late in regulation, center Tim Connolly beat Ray Emery to tie the game, and Chris Drury gave Buffalo the opening victory of the series with the game-winner 18 seconds into overtime.