‘The stakes are up with no playoff appearances in 12 seasons. Buffalo had 91 points in 2022-23, the most since 96 in 2010-11, the last time it made the postseason. Levi, Thompson, Skinner, Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin (73 points; 15 goals, 58 assists) and Owen Power (35 points; four goals, 31 assists), with continuity under Granato, are in place to end the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. “Those expectations are raised from within our group,” Thompson said.’