BUFFALO, N.Y. – There’s one colossal question out there: Are these guys for real?



That remains to be seen. But if there’s one thing the Sabres have learned so far, it’s that their game plan works.



“I don’t think anybody can argue it,” defenseman Colin Miller said. “When we do it, things are going well.”



The 8-1-1 record is Exhibit A.



“Nothing ever replaces winning in sports,” coach Ralph Krueger said. “I think that has been really good for our energy and for the buy-in that we have here.”



The players have certainly bought in. But, understandably, there’s hesitance among Buffalo’s fan base and the outside hockey world. After all, it was just 11 months ago that the Sabres had a 10-game winning streak. It resulted in nothing more than a 27th-place finish.



The guys who lived through that plunge understand the reluctance as much as...