‘Voters chose the 1997-98 team, which earned only 89 points in the regular season and lacked superstar forward talent. Hasek’s Vezina Trophy regular season helped the Sabres earn the sixth seed and a young group of forwards hit their stride in the playoffs, scoring clutch goals to support a strong defensive game under Ruff. Again, depth and goaltending likely swayed readers to push this group into the second round.’