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Last-place-rooting Sabres fans have message to team: ‘Lose!’

Buffalo Sabres goalie Anders Lindback (35) catches the puck as teammate defenseman Andrej Meszaros (41) knocks Dallas Stars right wing Patrick Eaves (18) off his feet during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2015, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Buffalo Sabres goalie Anders Lindback (35) catches the puck as teammate defenseman Andrej Meszaros (41) knocks Dallas Stars right wing Patrick Eaves (18) off his feet during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2015, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Buffalo Sabres goalie Anders Lindback (35) catches the puck as teammate defenseman Andrej Meszaros (41) knocks Dallas Stars right wing Patrick Eaves (18) off his feet during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 23, 2015, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Associated Press 1 min read

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Sabres are in last place. And many of their fans are openly rooting for the standings to stay that way.

“Lose!” yelled Sabres season-ticket holder Doug Borsuk during a recent home game.

Though the Sabres don’t ascribe to the sentiment, the down-is-up mentality has taken hold in Buffalo. The fans’ objective has become for Buffalo to bottom out to get the best chance at landing one of two highly touted draft prospects: centers Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.

Under NHL rules, only the last-place team is guaranteed drafting first or second.

With two-and-a-half weeks left, the chances of Buffalo (20-46-7) finishing last hinge heavily on a two-game set against 29th-place Arizona (22-44-8). The teams, separated by five points, play at Buffalo on Thursday and at Arizona on Monday.