Last-place-rooting Sabres fans have message to team in preparing to face Coyotes: 'Lose!'

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, takes a shot to the chest by Buffalo Sabres left wing Matt Moulson (26) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 21, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Sanford Myers) (The Associated Press)

Arizona Coyotes' Shane Doan (19) skates off the ice after an NHL hockey game loss to the Vancouver Canucks Sunday, March 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (The Associated Press)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – 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.