Sabres Back at Practice, Eyes on Olympics and Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres lace them up for practice today with the Olympic break behind them and a playoff charge squarely in their sights. Players return from Milano Cortina buzzing about national team reps while coaches refocus on climbing the Atlantic standings before the March 6 trade deadline hits. Front offices around the league watch closely as Buffalo balances international pride with the grind of a tight wild-card race that could define their season.