Ask any hockey prognosticator for a short list of Stanley Cup favorites and Colorado, New Jersey and Detroit would top almost every list.

Rarely, does another Eastern Conference team enter the discussion. Mario Lemieux and the Penguins? Too many goaltending and defense questions to call them favorites. Washington and Ottawa might as well start polishing their Rodney Dangerfield impersonations. Even big-time gamblers would think twice about picking the Flyers, one of the most unpredictable and strange success stories in recent memory.

	The Sabres hope a healthy Doug Gilmour will be a boost come playoff time.

The Buffalo Sabres, however, are a team no one wants to play this time next week. Coach Lindy Ruff's bunch might even be better than the 1999 team that lost to Dallas on a controversial goal by Brett Hull in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Dominik Hasek looks primed to live up to his Dominator moniker, once again, while the addition of Steve Heinze and Donald Audette has provided an offensive depth Buffalo hasn't enjoyed in recent years.

"I think we're as good as anyone else," said Audette, who is in his second tour of duty with the Sabres. "We could surprise a lot of teams. The team that wins in the playoffs isn't always the best team. It's the team playing the best at that time."

Currently, the Sabres are one of those teams. They are 9-3-0 in their last 12 games and have outscored their opponents 39-21 in that span.

Devils still No. 1

The Sabres may be a legitimate contender for the Cup, but even they agree with everyone else: The Devils are the team to beat in the East. "They're a big team and tough to beat," Audette said. "When you play New Jersey, you have to minimize mistakes. They have four lines that can score." Interestingly, the Sabres are 4-0-0 vs. the Devils this season. "I think Ottawa and New Jersey have proven they are the cream of the crop (in the East)," Ruff said. "We're in the pack with the other six."

After battling inconsistency early in the season, Hasek has shown glimpses of his old self. He leads the NHL with 11 shutouts, one more than countryman and burgeoning rival Roman Cechmanek, who has defeated Hasek three times this season.

While is 2.12 GAA and .920 save percentage aren't near his numbers from 1998-99 -- 1.87 GAA, .937 save percentage -- Hasek has improved as the season has progressed.

In front of Hasek, Heinze and Audette give Buffalo two wingers capable of playing anywhere on the top three lines and on special teams. Heinze has thrived in his new environment, amassing 12 points (5-7-12) in 12 games. Audette (1-5-6, 10 GP) has been a bit slower to adjust, but his 29 power-play points this season attest to his threat with a man advantage.

"One thing that had been lacking was a little bit of an offensive bite. With two guys added, when we're involved in a tight game, we have two more guys who can score," coach Lindy Ruff said. "One area we're always looking to improve is the power play -- we're in the middle of the league right now. In the playoffs, the power play can win games singlehandedly. We're not giving up a lot of goals, and now have two power-play units -- a right-handed one with Audette, Stu Barnes and Dave Andreychuk and a lefty one with Heinze, Chris Gratton and (Miroslav) Satan."

The ability to deploy two complete power-play units keeps the forwards fresh and gives opponents different looks. During the Sabres' current three-game winning streak, the tactic has paid off with four power-play goals on 11 attempts.

The Sabres' depth on the power play extends to Doug Gilmour and J.P. Dumont. Neither were mentioned on the top two units by Ruff, though each have 14 power-play points.

Heinze welcomed

Steve Heinze battled the Sabres many times while he was playing for division-rival Boston, so he wasn't sure how he'd be received when he arrived in Buffalo. "I didn't know what to expect," he admitted. "I didn't think I was the most liked guy in Buffalo." But his apprehensiveness quickly faded, as it usually does when a new player switches jerseys -- and averages more than a point per game. "You wonder if that will carry into the room, but it's been unbelievable. It's a great bunch of guys."

Gilmour will be especially important in the postseason because of his experience -- 157 games with 172 points (54-118-172). Last season, the Sabres acquired Gilmour from Chicago for the playoffs, but a virus limited him to just five games and one assist.

"He's one guy who has proven in the past what he can do (in the playoffs). Last year was tough for him with the virus," Ruff said. "Dougie seems to be playing better of late. He seems to have gotten over some nagging injuries."

The added depth has meant more accountability. For example, Ruff wasn't pleased with the play of young speedster Maxim Afinogenov last week, so he scratched him from the lineup. That raises the bar for all the forwards.

"With the additions (of Audette and Heinze), we've got two or three more forwards and there's more competition for ice time," Ruff said.

According to Heinze, the players don't have a choice but to compete: "Lindy doesn't allow you to take shifts or games off."

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.