Dean Duprey / AP

Buffalo's games have been sold out since December, with a 6,000-person waiting list for season tickets. And good luck getting a personalized jersey — the wait at the team store is two months; while six of the NHL’s top 10-selling sweaters belong to Sabres players.

What’s remarkable is how the Sabres have bounced back after enduring their low point in January 2003. That’s when the then-ownerless team declared bankruptcy before Golisano stepped in and rescued the franchise.

The Sabres are projected to enjoy a second straight profitable year, even though the team’s payroll ballooned to $44 million, about $14 million over last year.

“I wouldn’t use the word shocked,” said Daniel DiPofi, the Sabres chief operating officer. “I would say that it’s really exceeded what our expectations of growth were.”

Profits aside, Golisano senses the deeper impact the Sabres have made on the community.

“There’s no question that some parts of upstate New York, and Buffalo is included in that, has had an inferiority complex for a while,” Golisano said. “And to have this team emerge like it has, has been very, very good for the psyche of the area.”

Even Drew Celestino is a believer — well, for the most part.

A Sabres fan, Celestino launched a Web site last summer to protest the Sabres’ new logo, a swoosh of a buffalo head that detractors say resembles a flying slug. Celestino prefers the team’s original logo, a running buffalo above two crossed swords.

“If the logo were a pink bunny, it would’ve sold millions just like the current logo,” Celestino said. “I don’t buy into the whole notion that people are just so gung-ho in love with the logo. They’re in love with the team and I certainly understand that and that’s great.”

Celestino doesn’t own anything with the new logo on it, but remains a die-hard fan and would grudgingly make one exception: Seeing the new logo on a Stanley Cup banner.

“I could certainly live with it,” Celestino said. “I bleed blue and gold. Just because I don’t like the logo doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying every single second of this season.”

Join the crowd.

More news

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Heading to the finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

Frank Franklin Ii / AP

Rangers' gas tank hits empty

  PHT: Blame it on fatigue if you want, but the Devils were just too much for the Rangers. New Jersey had too much talent and boasted too much depth as the Blueshirts found themselves chasing the Devils more often than not in the series.

Headlines

• Label

PHT Extra: Kings will face toughest foe yet

Gagne back at practice, enjoying Kings' success

PHT: Kings making Lombardi look like a genius

PHT: History doesn't bode well for Kings in finals

PHT: Gretzky says these Kings better than '93 team

PHT: Coyotes' postgame actions 'unacceptable'

PHT: Vigneault confirms Luongo wants out

PHT: Stanley Cup finals will begin May 30