Sabres season ends; new owner's job just beginning

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The Buffalo Sabres' season is suddenly over, which means owner Terry Pegula's job is just beginning.

In two months since purchasing the Sabres, the Pennsylvania billionaire provided the franchise direction while re-energizing fans, who began referring to Buffalo as "Pegula-ville."

Pegula's presence and enthusiasm were credited for playing a role in the Sabres' remarkable second-half run to clinch a postseason berth. It wasn't enough to get them past the first round of the playoffs, which ended with a 5-2 loss in Game 7 to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

That leaves the Sabres preparing for an offseason under a new owner with deep pockets, a willingness to spend and an objective to deliver Buffalo a championship.