‘There is no shortage of compelling storylines that will play out in this series. How will the Sabres cope with their favoured status? How will New York do with third-stringer Wade Dubielewicz in net? Will four of the top free-agents-in-waiting (Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Daniel Briere, Chris Drury) dazzle or fizzle? But the one that’s got the hockey world buzzing is Nolan’s return to Buffalo.’