Feb 28, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner (40) reacts as Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) scores in overtime at KeyBank Center. Nashville beats Buffalo in overtime 5 to 4. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres managed to do nothing to help themselves in either the playoff race of the draft lottery in Tuesday’s game against Nashville.

The Buffalo Sabres did not do themselves any favors Tuesday evening in their 5-4 OT loss to the Nashville Predators, and that’s saying something.

See, Buffalo had two options heading into Tuesday night’s tilt. For starters, the team could have said, “To hell with the odds! We’re making the playoffs!” and gone out and helped themselves in the wild card chase.

Well, the Buffalo Sabres did get a point out of the loss, and the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-1 in San Jose . . . but overall, the Sabres’ odds of making the playoffs dropped down to 1.1%, which is what I would call a less-than-encouraging development for any Sabres players (or fans) who were still hoping to see this team earn a wild card spot.

Of course, the Sabres had a Plan B heading into Tuesday night’s game: lose, and begin allowing some of the teams below them in the standings pass them by, thereby increasing their odds in the NHL draft lottery. Once again, Buffalo did itself no favors, so the team remains 9th in the draft lottery standings, retaining their 5% chance of winning the number one pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

If you having problems deciding which direction the Buffalo Sabres should go, consider this:

#Sabres chances at 1st overall are greater than playoff odds https://t.co/BYBy0OBVKo — Joe DiBiase (@DiBiaseWGR) March 1, 2017

Play the odds, boys!