For the 13th year, the Buffalo Sabres will not be in the National Hockey League playoffs. It is the longest current drought that has taken a major toll on the fan base.

Consider the March 30 home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a 3-0 loss, the arena was filled with fans from the rival. Two nights later, against Washington, there was barely more than 10,000 filling the arena for an entertaining game.

But that’s the problem with the Sabres. They are inconsistent and sometimes just plain unwatchable.

Terry Pegula bought the team in 2011. He vowed a Stanley Cup in three years.

Thirteen years later, during his leadership, the team has only had one playoff appearance. There’s no trophy for that.