The difference was obvious in practice Tuesday as the Buffalo Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Thrashers. The Sabres were smiling and loose, calm and confident, during a short workout. They were together. They found what had been missing for most of the season: life.

It’s amazing how three straight victories, including wins on back-to-back nights for the first time all year, can quickly improve the collective psyche of a team. If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought the Sabres rattled off 10 straight and were surging toward the Eastern Conference title.

“It can only help,” goaltender Ryan Miller said. “We’ve been uptight, and look where it’s gotten us. We’ve come to the rink feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ve come to the rink holding our heads low a few times. It hasn’t gotten us anywhere. We’ve put together a good run, and we’ve had some good victories. We should feel good about it.”

Miller, their franchise player and voice of reason for two years, was right. The Sabres should feel good. They’re skating in the right direction with seven games remaining, and their playoff hopes are still alive.

They also should be furious with themselves for getting into this position. They remain in 10th place in the conference, where they were before this little streak began. I’ve maintained all season that the Sabres had enough talent to get into the postseason. Whether or not they get there remains to be seen.

“The talent is here,” Miller said. “We have to grow. This is part of our education. We put ourselves in a tough position. [Two years ago], things seemed to come easy to us. I think we have a new respect for what it means to be a playoff-caliber team. We’re learning. We’re starting to figure out we have a lot of life left in us. No matter what direction this goes, this has been a great education.”

If you’re from Buffalo, you have a master’s degree in expecting the worst. Your instincts suggest the playoff door will get slammed in their face the minute they come knocking. Nobody would be shocked if they moved past Florida and Montreal for the final playoff spot and fell down again.

Mikael Tellqvist had the audacity after a win last week to boast about the Sabres’ response to questions about their character, as if the former backup goalie in Phoenix somehow became an authority. It amazes me how often players shower each other with praise for showing up after they’ve been pushed into a corner when, in fact, true competitiveness is revealed long before they ever get there.

Yes, the Sabres’ recent spurt should be maddening to every person who has watched them underachieve. Hockey is an effort sport, and their effort hasn’t been there nearly enough. If anything, their recent success speaks to their fragility, not their character.

Tim Connolly and Jason Pominville shouldn’t need to be pulled aside by Lindy Ruff and endure a public flogging before showing up. Is that what Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy need to wake up now? It’s no wonder why Ruff looks exasperated at times. Adam Mair doesn’t need to be told to play hard. Neither do Patrick Kaleta, Paul Gaustad or a few other gamers with less talent.

Ruff, who had claimed he wouldn’t use injuries as an excuse, again blamed the Sabres’ slide on Miller’s injury. Their downfall and his sprained ankle coincided, but to tether them was a shallow defense. The Sabres merely needed 14 of 26 points, a shade over .500, without Miller to be ahead of Florida and tied with Montreal going into Tuesday.

In truth, they weren’t mentally tough enough or competitive enough. They lacked what showed up for practice Tuesday, the life that comes with confidence, confidence that comes with success. Now, they’re fighting to get it back.