Sabres have three clinching scenarios today in Washington

Rachel Lenzi and Mike Harrington are back for another shift on Ice Time, The Buffalo News' hockey podcast, to discuss the Sabres' path to a 100-point season and ... yes. Believe it. Say it: THE PLAYOFFS. Mike and Rachel set up shop Thursday as the Sabres were on the cusp of formally clinching their first postseason berth since 2011, and with that in mind, it's time to start discussing potential first-round opponents. Boston? The last time the Bruins came to KeyBank Center, they gave Sabres fans cause for concern. Columbus? The Blue Jackets always seem to give Buffalo a tough time. Montreal? Well, have fun heading into a raucous Bell Centre. And the New York Islanders? Who knows which version of them shows up. No matter which opponent the Sabres get in the first round, consider this: Buffalo will be the favorite. Plus, an update on Sam Carrick. The good news: He'll be back, at some point. The bad news: We don't know when, and in the meantime, the Sabres have lost a great veteran presence in the dressing room, one who has proven to be a great fourth-line center who wins faceoffs. Then, take a peek ahead to Monday's game against Tampa Bay – not only a rematch of the game of the year, but potentially the decisive game in the Atlantic Division. Mike also strolls down Memory Lane, offering his thoughts on this long playoff drought and his recollections of that long-ago 2011 postseason. The Buffalo News Ice Time Podcast is sponsored by Express Windows.