I saw Buffalo State in person just once this year at Nazareth. Granted it was early in the season, but I was not impressed with them (nor with Nazareth for that matter). Certainly not as impressed as I was with Buffalo State the past few years. Yet, Buffalo State has turned in some impressive results since then, and did finish third in the standings (Geneseo no longer in the league, not withstanding).
They seem to be a team that finds a way to win. Is able to always hang in close enough, get good enough goaltending, and scores when it matters. Yeah, that's a cliché way to look at their success, but it appears to be what they do.
Maybe due to their best players being young (Vadim Kiriakov and two freshmen on the All Rookie Team), it just too a while to gel.