The Sabres have played a significant number of games this season without Tim Connolly, Maxim Afinogenov, Paul Gaustad, Henrik Tallinder, Jiri Novotny and Jaroslav Spacek. They lost Chris Drury and Miller for five games apiece because of injuries.

But every time it appeared the Sabres' successful season had been compromised, replacements stepped in and everybody else stepped up.

According to Biron, who was a Sabre from his first NHL game during the 1995-96 season until he was traded to the Flyers at the deadline this February, the pressure was on the AHL guys called up from Rochester. They never failed to perform.

"After that," says Biron. "You forget about the injuries."

Miller says excellent chemistry and a solid system have kept the Sabres rolling.

"We have a good system and we believe in it," he says. "That's the biggest part. We truly believe we can play good hockey no matter (who's in the lineup)."

The players Buffalo has called up have been well-schooled in the system, and in come cases they had played with current Sabres in the AHL. "The familiarity is good," says Miller.

Presidents' Trophy winners Best regular-season record in NHL Season Team Season Team 1985-86 Edmonton 1986-87 Edmonton* 1987-88 Calgary 1988-89 Calgary* 1989-90 Boston 1990-91 Chicago 1991-92 NY Rangers 1992-93 Pittsburgh 1993-94 NY Rangers* 1994-95 Detroit 1995-96 Detroit 1996-97 Colorado 1997-98 Dallas 1998-99 Dallas* 1999-2000 St. Louis 2000-01 Colorado* 2001-02 Detroit* 2002-03 Ottawa 2003-04 Detroit 2004-05 No season 2005-06 Detroit 2006-07 Buffalo 2007-08 Detroit* 2008-09 San Jose 2009-10 Washington * Won Stanley Cup

So is the ability of leading scorer Daniel Briere to avoid serious injury. Briere, who has led this team all season, has missed only one game -- because of the flu.

He has had a breakout season, garnered national attention and was voted the MVP of the All-Star Game.

But, Brickley says, Briere is not this team's most important skater. "As good as Briere is, to me, Drury is one of the most important pieces to that formula of winning," he says.

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When Drury went out after a blow to the head from Ottawa's Chris Neil, the Sabres could have folded. Instead, they banded together. They didn't just stand up to the Senators in an all-out brawl that night. They stood up to the rest of the Eastern Conference and declared nothing and no one could derail their plans for this season.

It's even possible that all of these injuries have given the Sabres more than a sense of togetherness going into the playoffs. Brickley believes the bad luck will prove to be a difference-maker in a positive way, thanks to the amount of experience the call-ups have gotten.

"They learn to be more productive," he says. "It gives (the Sabres) more depth."

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More, higher-quality depth because of the series of serious injuries this season? It's possible. And then there's the definite effect of the adversity -- these Sabres won't be flustered by anything thrown at them in the playoffs.

Resilience, chemistry, veteran leadership, firepower on offense, a capable defense, depth and great goaltending are the necessary components for playoff success. Buffalo has them all. And that will turn Miller and his Sabres into Stanley Cup champions.