It pays to lose when Sabres and Coyotes meet

When the Buffalo Sabres host the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night, winning is in neither team's long-term best interest.

"People who follow these teams closely know that the course of each franchise could turn with these remaining games," Sabres fan Mike Madden said.

The Sabres (20-46-7) are last in the NHL with 47 points, and the Coyotes (22-44-8) are five points ahead of them.

"We know that success isn't an extra W in the win column," Madden said. "It's losing and increasing your chance to draft one of (Connor) McDavid or (Jack) Eichel."

Ontario Hockey League star McDavid and Boston University's Eichel are considered franchise players, able to transform a franchise as Sidney Crosby did in Pittsburgh.

Under the NHL draft lottery setup, the 30th-place team is guaranteed to get one of those players. The team finishing 29th could land one, but might pick third overall. The last three years, though, the No. 29 team has won the lottery.

The Sabres and Coyotes play again Monday in Glendale, Ariz. Considering the Sabres have nine games left and the Coyotes have eight, the Coyotes probably need to lose both games to make the situation more interesting.

Sabres fan Matt Coleman said Buffalo radio station WGR 550 has been pumping up Thursday's game as if it is "the most unique Sabres game in team history."

"We've never been in a position like this," said Coleman. "Most fans that are rooting against the Sabres have done so behind closed doors, and in silence. With Thursday, the thought is that the 'tankers' at the (First Niagara) Center will be vocal — actively cheering against the Sabres. There's been discussion of 'Where can I get a Coyotes shirt?' and wearing bags over their heads. Some worry fights may occur in the stands with the tankers and non-tanker Sabres fans getting into it."

Fans from both teams have to be philosophical about their situation. Legal secretary Danielle Vasiliow, a season ticketholder since the Coyotes' third season in Arizona, says this season has been difficult to accept.

"If they continue to go downhill, we are going to get a great draft pick and that will make this horrible season worth it," she said. "And I feel horrible saying that."

The NHL has had a draft lottery since 1995, but originally non-playoff teams could move up four spots if they won, giving five teams a shot at picking No. 1.

In 2013, the lottery was changed to give all non-playoff teams a shot. With the odds changing this season, the worst team now has a 20% chance of going first.

The draft lottery is televised, but the balls actually coming out of the machine — as you see in lottery shows — isn't shown because it isn't interesting television.

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"It has nothing to do with transparency," deputy commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports.

The NHL has shown a video describing the process on its website, but not many people have watched. Ernst and Young, the accounting firm that vouches for the integrity of trophy balloting, is on hand to make sure the draft lottery is conducted properly.

"All of the clubs participating are invited into the room (with the lottery machine)," Daly said. "They used to go, but they have stopped going."

The NHL is planning to release video of the lottery machine working because there is so much interest in this year's draft.

"You have some fan hysteria," Daly said. "I had an email (recently) from a Buffalo fan saying he wanted to be the Buffalo fan representative to observe the draft lottery. There is no doubt there is a higher focus on this draft."

Social media have helped heighten the awareness of the stakes of the Arizona-Buffalo game. The Edmonton Oilers, who have drafted first from 2010-12, also are in the mix.

Daly said general managers have asked him whether the league should consider a rule preventing teams from drafting No. 1 overall two seasons in a row.

"That never appealed to me," Daly said, "because as long as you have the right structure, whatever it generates, it generates."

The Amherst Pizza and Ale House in Buffalo is having fun with the McDavid/Eichel sweepstakes.

The establishment is selling a special vodka drink honoring McDavid for 4.97 (McDavid wears No. 97 for the Erie Otters) and one saluting Eichel for 4.09 (he wears No. 9).

Here's the catch: According to sales material, "if you order a McDavid drink, you have an 80% chance of getting an Eichel drink, instead."