What's a better birthday present than a goal and a win?

by Anne

Nothing that I can think of.

Drew Stafford celebrated his 24th birthday with a goal and Timmy Connolly got him a win for his birthday. It's way better than his original gift idea:

Timmy got hungry

 

This gift is something we can all enjoy.

I like his teammates chillin' on the bench, ready to make a change

Matt Stajan isn't good at birthday gifts either.

Frankly, the Sabres came wwaaayyy too close to losing to the Laffs. At least when the Maple Leafs are THIS bad, some of their fans have come to terms and are actually pleasant at HSBC Arena. I had a pleasant conversation during the third with a Leafs fan who was very complimentary to the Sabres. It was unsettling.

Tyler Myers celebrated his first game as a legit rookie with 22:36 in ice time, including 3:29 on the PP, two penalties, four blocked shots and getting hit in the face with a stick. Frankly, I'm just impressed a player was able to get his stick that high.

Points of note:

• Britney notched his first assist of the season. That's a bit unsettling, but hey, he's got at least one!
• Derek Roy notched his eighth point of the season but still hasn't scored a freakin' goal. The only reason people aren't freaking out about this is because we're winning. 
• Rivs and Sir Christopher were both -2
• Henrik Tallinder was a +1 AGAIN. Playing with Myers has done wonders for him. Apparently he needed someone even taller and blonder to be his partner

I turned off the Canucks game when the Ducks scored their sixth unanswered goal to up their lead to 6-2. Cory Schneider is not the future, apparently. He doesn't seem to be good trade fodder at this point. It's too bad the Kings are fairly set in net, he could've been slated into their previous revolving turnstile of starting goaltenders. (They've had like 10 in the past three years, no joke).

The Leafs were playing soccer when I walked in today. Holy CRAP, Jason Blake is the tiniest and blondest man I may have ever seen in person. Niklas Hagman almost crashed into the little fence that's set up to keep the riffraff away from the players. That would've been not so great for the Leafs, Nik.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Drew Stafford!!

by Anne

Oh Little Foot. We've had our ups and downs over the years: I loved you, I hated you, you creepily remind me of a dude I went to high school with, then I loved you again, then you were obnoxious..it's a vicious cycle. Now the wheel of affection is stopped on "love," but give it time, your maddeningly frustrating goal droughts and penchant for ignoring mild concussion symptoms will, I'm sure, drive me away again.

Regardless! Today is Drew Stafford's 24th birthday! They're hosting the Maple Leafs, the worst team in the NHL, tonight. I'm sorry to say that because of these factors, we will undoubtedly lose tonight. Alack and fie.

I baked you these totally badass cupcakes

Rock on.

Happy Birthday, Drew!

Canucks Win! / Kings lose :(

by Anne

In the first of four "I don't know how to feel?!" match-ups of the season, the Canucks walked away the victors.

That game was wicked-hella boring after the first period.

It was so boring it zapped me of almost all energy to blog about it. I feel I will be unable to show a bias but all I will say is about the fans I was talking to during the game: there were a few questionable non-calls by the refs for Canucks penalties or some moments when Canucks players were getting a little too chippy for the Kings' tastes and none of the Kings fans were whining. I say that with love, Canucks fans, it was only one tweeter whining who bugged me.

Scott Parse, sans teeth, scored his first NHL goal tonight!

Stolly, Greener and Teddy are all looking at the net thinking the same thing:

"Did someone get the puck?"

Good teammates.

Check out Bailey's sweet Halloween costume

Mikael Samuelsson got the equalizer and then scored the shootout winner on a beautiful fake that totally fooled Quickie Monster. The Kings are so bad at the shootout, it hurts. Why Kopi wasn't in the top three shooters is completely beyond me. IMO it should be Kopi, Jack Johnson (apparently I've deduced I should call him "Killer") and Michal Handzus. Toss in Fro maybe to mix it up now and again.

The Kings outshot the Canucks 31 - 15. Raycroft stood tall in net in filling in for Roberto Luongo who fractured a rib the other night against Toronto, but still played against Detroit, despite the pain.

Matt Greene was named the 2nd star of the game. He was playing the intangible role, a few key hipchecks, solid presence in front of the net on the PK, including dealing with Big Bear at least once and being all defensively responsible and the like. He also played 16 seconds on the PP. I'm really not too sure how that happened, he must've been confused.

It clearly wasn't because of his crisp tape-to-tape passing skillz

Oh well, let's do this again, shall we? How about on (American) Thanksgiving? Say 10:00ish EST? Oh hell, ain't no way I'll be able to stay awake for that. I'll try. I really will.

Oh hey, Alex, Alex.

See you two then!

(Sidenote, have the Kings had their Halloween party? I'd love to hear about it. Andrew Cogliano as Dany Heatley to the Oilers party will be hard to top.)

Mr. Jones and Me

by Anne

The Los Angeles Kings have claimed defenceman Randy Jones off of re-entry waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers.

The waiver order, which is tied to last year's regular season finishes was heavily in the Kings favor and they took advantage of their high waiver spot to claim Jones. Altough why they did I'm not exactly sure. The Kings took advantage before the waiver order is adjusted in a few days and, with their great start to the season, they'll be pushed waaaaay down the list.

Jones isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut, he has 69 points in 217 NHL games (13+56) along with 134 PIM. He'll clearly be the Kings 7th defenseman, but that's an upgrade from Philly where he was their 8th defenceman. With Peter Harrold apparently sticking with his new roster move to fourth line center, I guess this is ok? Alec Martinez is hurt, so it's good to have a player in reserve who has shown he's capable of putting some points on the board. In 71 games in the 2008-2008 season, Jones had 31 points in 71 games.

Apparently he was also named one of America's Most Eligible Bachelors back in 2007? Seriously? I wonder if that's a joke.

Oh, hey there, Randy.

He fits all the criteria of a seventh defenceman: somewhat useless but kinda hot.

Perfect.

Whatevs, weclome to LA, Randy Jones!

He's Not Goin' Nowhere

by Anne

Darcy Regier announced today that Tyler Myers will remain with the Buffalo Sabres for the foreseeable future!! :)

This shouldn't have been a surprise, and it wasn't but it's still nice to see!

You've come along way, JBG!

(In case you were wondering, he's only four years old in this picture according to the person who I stole it from, anyway)

:)

A Night of Win (Mostly)

by Anne

Wooo the Sabres are the best team everrr!

Just, please, please PLEASE, no one inform them that they're playing well. They play so much better when no one's talking about them.

The Sabres beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1! Tim Kennedy scored his very first NHL goal :) It was of the game-winning variety as well. Yay Tim!

 Fighting to keep that roster spot!

(In a frightening note: Tim Kennedy's goals: 1; Derek Roy: 0)

Pommer upped the population to three, Grizz took hold of the team goal scoring lead with his fifth, and Goose flapped home his 2nd. Huzzah!

Ryan Miller continues to be totally badass. It's an amazing feeling to know that your team is totally secure between the pipes as long as your #1 netminder remains healthy. The back-up situation is still not so great, but it's hard to get a good back-up when your starter is going to play so many games. That's why Marty went to the Island. He considered Buffalo but ultimately he chose to go where he would get more playing time. Now, what happens when Rick DiPietro comes back (if he ever does) remains to be seen. Watching other teams go through their cycles of goaltenders, never finding one that's really all that great, makes me feel so lucky that the Sabres have an elite goaltender who plays every night with conviction and calm. It's pretty darn awesome.

Does it make anyone else nervous that his eyes are frequently closed in photos like this?

Open your eyes, Ryan!

Or, wait, don't.

Just do whatever it is you do, you do it well, sir.

The only Sabre I'm unhappy with at the moment (other than Patrick Lalime - sorry Patty),  is Derek Roy. Whenever you feel like scoring, Roysie, the rest of us will be right here, waiting to cheer for you. Thanks.

Elsewhere:

The Pens demolished the Habs 6-1. Sid scored a hat trick, and Chris Kunitz finally found the back of the net. Huzzah!

Sid looks like he and Kunitz are at a bar, just chillin',

not being rained upon by baseball caps.

Sid: Yeah, Chris, you know how it is, scorin' goals and whatnot.
Chris: Yeah Sid, no, no I don't.

But he did later!

Congrats, Sid!

:)

BOYS.

Mouthguards work better to protect your teeth when they are actually in your mouth

I've never been able to understand this mouthguard thing so many players do

What an odd habit.

It's quite remarkable watching them move those things around without their hands, though.

I'm going to swallow all the "that's what she said" comments that I'm thinking if I continue in this line of thought.

Yay, Pens!

Kings lost 2-1 in the shootout to the Sharks. I fell asleep during the 3rd. Sad times.

But! They still earned a point in the loss and haven't lost in regulation in five games. Alexander Frolov continues to respond well to this benching a few games ago. He had a goal tonight and has seven points (3+4) in his last four games. Oh well, they have to lose sometime, I suppose.

Lovely jeté, Brownie
Maybe work on the landing.

Tonight the Kings play the Canucks. I'm not sure how to feel. Puck drops at 10:30 at the Staples Center :/

Sabres in New Joisey

by Anne

Tonight I have a show, so of course, tonight the Sabres are playing a game. This time, the season's first match-up with the New Jersey Devils.

I have no strong feelings about the Devils. I like Zach Parise, Marty Brodeur, Paul Martin Travis Zajac and PETEY!

Petey hasn't played since last Friday. Think Jacques will let him get in on this one, especially with Jay Pandolfo out?
 ETA: Petey's out for tonight according to Sabres' Edge. Guess this will have to wait:

Please don't try this tonight, Petey.

Goose and Mairsy would turn you inside out.

No one wants to see that :(

For some reason, I have noticed I have an affinity for (some, not all) players that went to UND. I have no particular affection for UND, but clearly I like the hockey players they turn out. If you're not sure who I mean, Parise and Zajac went to UND, along with Drew Stafford, Matt Greene, James Patrick, and Mike Commodore. T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews went there as well but I don't have strong feelings about either of them. I feel badly about Ryan Johnson's injury (UND alumni) but before that I didn't feel too strongly about him, so I won't pretend that because he's injured I've adored him all long. Current Sabres prospect Corey Fienhage attends UND so I'm sure it won't be long until I love him or am indifferent about him. Portland Pirates goalie JP Lamoureux wen there as well. Hot.

Back to the Devils: I'm deeply ambivalent about David Clarkson: he's pretty but he can be kind of a dbag. But mostly he's pretty, so I'm ok with it. He's a little Goose-like in that respect. They don't really have any players that I strongly dislike, now that Bobby Holik's NHL career has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

I hope Petey doesn't try to start anything if he's playing tonight. I love Petey and that would make me love him a little less. I do, however, hope that he messes with Royzie a little, and maybe messes with Millsy a little, just to ruffle his feathers and loosen him up.

Paulie Martin has broken his arm and will be out for a month. He's one of the Devils' top defencemen so: point in our favor.

The Devils are third in the Atlantic and are coming off of a three-game winning streak including one in MSG and one at the Igloo. The Sabres are undefeated on the road this season. The Devils are 6-3-0, the Sabres are 6-1-1. Marty Brodeur, that Saucy Minx^TM, is looking for his NHL record 100th shutout. I feel confident that the Sabres can help him out in that regard.

Puck drops at 7:00!

You too may have your very own Zach Parise UND Fighting Sioux bobblehead

Enjoy it, this is their last season as the Fighting Sioux. I vote they go back to "Flickertails"

In other news:

The Kings are playing in San Jose and the Pens are hosting the Habs. Sa-weeeet. The Kings host the Canucks tomorrow and I'm not ok with it. This is the first time this season any of my four teams are playing each other. Basically, when it's not the Sabres, my loyalties are confused :(

Canucks lose game and Ryan Johnson

by Anne

At least when this player was taken off on a stretcher, it wasn't because another player hit him :/

Ryan Johnson of the Vancouver Canucks was skating into the corner, moved aside of Nick Lidstrom and then for some reason was unable to control his body and his speed and crashed (almost) head first into the end boards at full speed. The instant he hit, it was clear that he was hurt.

Here's the full video:

As soon as he hit, Red Wing (and former Sabre) Brad May was immediately to his side, gloves off to get an initial take on the situation. Clearly, May wouldn't be able to help him medically, but a veteran like him has seen enough to know the immediate signs of a severe injury, or if there was any thing that needed to be done as fast as possible after the injury like if he had cut himself badly.

RyJo was able to move his extremities, albeit only slightly, on the ice and was taken to the hospital. No word at the moment about his condition. You can see in the video the split second that he realizes he can't stop and he twists so that at least his head isn't the first thing that hits the boards. Regardless, he is in immediate and serious pain.

And to make matters worse, the Canucks lost to the Red Wings.

Feel better, RyJo.

                       
               

Happy Birthday, Chris Butler!

by Anne

Today our dearly beloved Sir Christopher turns twenty-three years of age.

I baked you this cake.

It's of Sir Christopher doing various chivalrous deeds: Making peace with his enemies, slaying dragons, protecting the fortress, you know, all in a day's work for our beloved blueliner.

Happy Birthday!

Sunday was interesting

by Anne

First the good:

The Kings won and Anze Kopitar scored yet another two goals as he takes firm control of first place in league scoring. I'm not sure he can keep up the pace all season, but if he can be at least half as hot all season, the Kings will be in good shape down the middle, especially with Jarret Stoll having a great season, points wise and in the faceoff circle.

Look at that cocky SOB, hahaha
Click to enlarge

Kopi does his best Pat Kane impression

If these two can stay consistent, the Kings will do quite well

The Canucks won 2-0, Bobby Lu set a new Canucks record for career shutouts, and Ryan Kesler cracked his stick over his knee in a fit because Tom Gilbert tripped him and nothing was called:

Oh Kes.
Big Bear just skates calmly by, opting to not respond... that is if he even noticed.

He didn't score, but he's always in this position, and it works out well for the Canucks when he is

:)

Now the bad:

Is anyone in the NHL still alive after this weekend?

First Darcy Tucker, then David Booth, Carlo Colaiacovo (the Tim Connolly of the Leafs and now the Blues) and then Jason Chimera are all the recipients of highly controversial hits. I won't post all the YouTube clips of them, Puck Daddy has them compiled nicely, as per usual.

These hits all upset me for a variety of reasons. First and foremost that I find it incredibly upsetting to see a sport, a game, come so close to seriously injuring someone. I understand that hockey is a high-speed and high-contact sport, but at some point, there has to be a limit to what is and isn't acceptable, and there must be some consistency in how these things are dealt with.

I'm not saying that Ruutu (Tucker), Richards (Booth), Ott (Colaiacovo) and Scuderi (Chimera) should all be just grouped together and suspended but the league can't treat these kinds of hits on a case-by-case basis if they want to send any kind of statement about how unacceptable these kinds of dangerous hits are.

Also, in the "good": The Bills won this weekend. Miraculous.

Tyler Myers makes my heart happy

by Anne

I was having kind of a blah day in this yucky weather in Buffalo. I had two shows today so I couldn't watch the Sabres game. :( Periodically checking the score on my phone isn't quite the same as watching it. I was mostly OK with how the game was going until the shootout when my heart burst into song. JBG scored the game winning goal in the shootout!! Stafford and Grier scored in regulation.

:) :) :) :)

Absolutely no freaking way he gets sent back to Kelowna now. Only watch this if you think your heart can take the bursting:

Elsewhere because EVERYONE PLAYED ON SATURDAY:

• Pens lost :(

This picture sums up the game: KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PUCK

• Kings won! 5-3 over the Coyotes. This game proved that Ilya Bryzgalov is fallible, but still awesome.

Scott Parse was called up to play in his first NHL game

he registered an assist!

Good job, Parse!

• Canucks won and the Maple Leafs remain win-less. Yeesh. It's really no longer funny. Now it's just sad sad sad.

Normally I frown upon Schenner being beaten up but Glasser has some crazyface goin' on here

• The Maple Leafs are so sad that I decided to drop Phil Kessel from my fantasy team. I got Kevin Bieksa in exchange. I think that's fair considering I need PIM and the other team needs goal scoring
  

• Pie got an assist again and the Bruins won :)

 Yay!

On The Road Again

by Anne

A few quotes from Chris Bandura's blog on Sabres.com.

On the "Clarke MacArthur wearing a surgical mask" tidbit:

On the way down, Clarke MacArthur had to wear a surgical mask because he was a little under the weather and had missed practice earlier in the day. Steve Montador did as well, just to make him feel a little less alone.

Aw Full Monty, what a teammate.

Then he addresses Pie's trade :(

I spoke with Dan later that night and he said how surprised he was that all the guys were downstairs to say goodbye. We gave him our own locker room tribute later the next day by sharing all our infamous Paille moments over the past few years at the morning skate.

 Hahahaha I would love love love to hear those stories.

Then finally:

When the game was over, the guys were gathered together around a television that was showing highlights of the Bruins game. When we all saw Danny pick up his assist on the Bruins game-winning goal against Nashville, all the guys cheered and gave him a loud team chant.

Once a part of the family, you’re always a part of the family.

Aw Pie :') 

I enjoy that these features and blogs have allowed we fans to finally see that yes, the Buffalo Sabres have personalities and are actually, ya know, a team you can feel good about.

:)

Treat him well, Beantown.

When the Sabres aren't playing, I talk about other teams, you're just going to have to cope

by Anne

On nights when the Sabres don't play, I appreciate it when my other teams win.

Last night, the Kings played a fantastic first period and then a solid start to the 2nd before they crapped the bed in the beginning of the 3rd, blew a three goal lead and allowed the Stars to tie. Fortunately, Michal Handzus said "Yo, eff this, I want these two points" and scored the OT winner 55 seconds in. Phew!

The biggest story of the night was Anze Kopitar's first career hat trick. Hooray! Confetti!

Bailey was so proud

This was Kopi's 12th career multi-goal game but his first hat trick. The Kings are 5-1 this season when Kopi scores. I like it.

In a related story, I really like the Kings third jerseys. Christmas is approaching. You do the math.

The Sabres are doing more stuff to make the players seem, I don't know, human? For example, a few weeks ago they started this new feature that, like most Sabres features, probably will happen three times and never be heard from again. For some reason I'd never seen it before. Here it is:

Good old Little Foot

Sabres Defeat Kitties 5-2; Pie's debut

by Anne

The Sabres are the best team everz!

When I walked into Cari's house and the Bruins' game was on, I nearly wept. I spotted Pie on the ice without seeing his number because I know his skating style and I miss it. :(

Anyway, that first period was a doozy and a half. It was all kinds of fun. Especially because each player I told a story about (almost) score while I was telling that story.

It started like this:

Kim: Who has the road A's

All of us: Roy and Hecht

Me: I don't get why Roy wears an "A." Well, really it's more that I don't understand why Mike Grier doesn't have one.

RJ: Scooooooooores! Mike Grier!

At the close of the 2008-2009 season, my list of favorite Sabres went like this: 1. Spacek; 2. Paille; 3. Rivet; 4. Butler; 5. Ellis

With 1 and 2 gone, I guess that bumps everyone up. Matt Ellis responded to his promotion by scoring a goal. Thanks, Matty!

Awwww.

Similar things happened for Myers and Ellis after recently being bumped up the ranks. Also, Derek Roy had a much better night in his own zone and made a particularly big in-the-crease save while I was telling a story about him.

Grizz had an interesting night. From the game recap:

Buffalo LW Clarke MacArthur suffered from flulike symptoms earlier in the week and wore a surgical mask on the team's flight to South Florida, but was in Buffalo's starting lineup Wednesday.

Hokay. I guess whatever works to keep the team healthy?

At the end of the 3rd, Dominic Moore draped himself aaall over Grizz, yet Grizz got a penalty. Perhaps he got a bit mouthy for the ref's taste so he was kicked out of the game. Patty Kaleta was already in the box for this:

Take THAT, Nathan Horton.

That'll teach people to start "Stafford-for-Horton" trade rumors

When Grizz arrived, all pissed off into the box and dramatically hit the door and the penalty box door holder guy with his stick, Patty gave him a reassuring fistbump to the Grizz leg when he got in there which seemed to say "It's ok Grizz, I miss Danny too."

:(

He got an assist!

Also, stop calling him "Daniel." It's Danny. :(

Woo!

Also, Big Bear scored and the Canucks won. Willie Mitchell also nearly killed Jonathan Toews :(

Finally, from the LA Kings trainer Joe Caligiuri's blog Offsides (link in the blog roll):

The most common of the pranks is the tie clipping. Make sure you have a good tie or its gonna get clipped. Last year, Kyle Calder had his tie clipped and as the circle of pranks suggests, someone must pay the dividends. As the team dress code requires, all players and coaches are to wear suits to all home games at Staples Center. With this rule in mind, Kyle Calder raced to Matt Greene’s house one morning after pre-game skate and stole every single piece of dress clothing out of his closet. Upon returning to his house, he had yet nothing in his closet but two dozen swaying hangers. Looking high and low, he managed to find an old suit, one that more closely represented his suit from first communion. Being his only suit, he squeezed himself into the little boys pants and suit coat and walked his way shamelessly through the Staples center corridors. Picture Pee-Wee Herman in a khaki suit – Priceless.

My favorite is the use of "shamlessly." Also, the suit was probably Doughty's, haha.

Vanek and Ellis are Back, Pie still gone, Anne not coping well

by Anne

Britney and Matty are back...y. This pleases me as I find both of them to be important to our team and are two of the best at filling the roles that they have been brought on board to play.

The deadline is fast approaching on the "To demote or not to demote" debate on Tyler Myers. As I'm sure you all know, for JBG it's Kelowna or Buffalo; Portland is not an option as he's only 19 years old.

I had a bad dream that Dan Paille was traded to the Bruins. Thank goodness I'm awake now. Phew! In all seriousness, to those who claim that Paille was shipped for not playing to his potential last season: name me one Sabres forward that did play to his potential? Pommer and Royzie had declines in production as well. Vanek is exempt due to injury. But, name me one, I'd love to hear it.

Sergei Kostitsyn is a fucking moron. Honestly, what is wrong with this kid? He gets involved in some bizarre sex, drugs and hookers kind of scandal last season, he fails to report to the AHL once already, gets suspended and is abandoning the dog house AGAIN. I don't know who this kid thinks he is, but I don't think the Habs are THAT attached to him. Let him go to the KHL.

Alexander Frolov was benched the other night (and the Kings won). There have long been rumors that Fro is gonna go (ha!) but that was the clearest indication of the possibility of such a move. For those hoping the Sabres will get him: one of the main reasons the Sabres moved Pie was because we have a logjam at left wing and Alexander Frolov plays guess what position? Left wing. He's not coming here, sorry. Not unless we move at least one other LW in the next few days.

Sabres at Panthers! 7:30!

SAD DAY :(

by Anne

THEY TRADED PIE TO BOSTON FOR SOME DRAFT PICKS! DREW STAFFORD'S TWEET WAS TRUE!

I KNOW DANNY I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT EITHER

Goooooooooooooooooooooose, et al.

by Anne

This is just a post to mention those few players that are pretty sweet and I don't mention them enough.

• Paul Gaustad is 2nd in the league in face-off win % at 67.1%
  

• Jason Pominville scored his 100th career goal and has played in something like 257 consecutive games. (that number is close but might not be exactly right)
  

• Henrik Tallinder, whom I don't really love, is leading the team in +/- which is nothing short of a miracle. He's  a +6
  

• Much like last season, Clarke MacArthur has jumped out to grab the team's scoring lead. He has four goals and two assists. Those numbers aren't exactly blistering but at least he's playing with some consistency
  

• Sir Christopher is leading the team in ice team and only he and Craigory are averaging more than 20 minutes/ game
  

• Jochen Hecht seems to be showing signs that he might be playing more like he did two seasons ago than last season. Only signs, basically it just means he hasn't imploded yet. He leads the team in takeaways
  

• Tim Kennedy and Tyler Myers, whom I've mentioned plenty have both been earning their roster spots and it makes me smile
  

• I really liked the Ellis-Gaustad-Kaleta line. I'm glad Mairsy is back and sad Ellis was hurt but that line was pretty BA, I'd like them back. 

What a goofball

Weekend Recap

by Anne

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a much better game than Trent Edwards has over the last few games.  Does this mean he should start? Goodness no. Neither of them should. The Bills actually won, though. At least if Fitz has to start next game he won't face the same vitriol Losman faced last season when he had to start for Edwards. No one expects anything from Fitzpatrick or from this team.

I missed my final game of the season on Saturday. There's little to no reason why I should miss any other games this season. Looks like I didn't miss a whole lot yesterday, just the Sabres usual level of suck against the Thrashers. Remember that time we beat them 10-1 in January of 2008? That was super fun. At least we were still the last team to lose in regulation.

Afinogenov scored an insurance goal that ensured the Thrashers 4-2 victory. Alas.

Not a sight we Sabres fans are used to seeing

A happy Afinogenov

A more familiar sight, Sabres goaltender crashed into while Tallinder looks helplessly on

I fell to 2nd in our fantasy league after narrowly losing to S(h)ara's Saskatoon Topnotch Lemons. Curses! My team's +/- really did me in, as was expected.

The Pens and Canucks won last night which is good. The Kings and Sabres lost which isn't good.

The Maple Leafs STILL haven't won a game. They now sit at 0-6-1. Really Leafs? Really? Phil Kessel is chillin' on IR in my fantasy team and I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop him or attempt to trade him. At this rate, I'm not sure that he'll be able to contribute to the Leafs this season. As I'm not in a keeper league, I might ditch him. My team seems to be doing ok without him. But, like any good GM, I don't want to just drop him. Maybe I can convince someone to take him...

Wooooo Kes!

Samuelsson scored and got to hug Big Bear, which part is better, really?

Lastly, the Sabres have posted one of those "Hey look! We have personalities!" locker room videos that we all so enjoy and they've done about one of over the last two seasons. TK is far more relaxed in this interview:

Next Sabres game Wednesday @ Florida.

Woooo!

Game Day All Over Again

by Anne

Tonight begins a whole bunch of weekends in which the Sabres play back to back Friday - Saturday games. Last season of the  6 or 7 back to back weekend night games we only managed to win both of them once. We got anywhere from 0-4 points from those weekends. That's not so great. It's not that I expect them to win every back-to-back series but when they're both at home, I'd like at least three points, please.

How will the trend begin this season?

Lalime will start tonight; hopefully he'll allow fewer than six goals tonight.  The Thrashers aren't quite as bad as they were last year but the season is only three weeks old.

Also, this guy:

I haven't really thought about him much.

Just please don't let him score.

:)

Puck drops at 7:00. I won't be there :(

Fortunately this will be the last game I'll miss this season. Woooo!

We won! Hooray...zzzzzz...

by Anne

Guys I totally loved tonight's game (Well except for most of the 2nd and Miller flopping around like he was hurt) but I'm so blinking tired I can't even type in complete sentences.

Things to love:

• Tyler Myers first NHL goal on a seemingly harmless backhanded chipshot
• Grizz scoring on a penalty shot with some nice hands
• Goose beating the living snot out of Jackman for breathing in Miller's general direction (ok it was more than that)
• Pommer and Yoyo getting their first of the season
• Pommer getting the 100th goal of his career, the same night Myers gets his first
  
• Pie's nice move to the net that set up Patty's goal
• Chasing a goalie. That's one of my favorite things in hockey

Things to not love:

• Miller's brain fart on Tavares' goal
• Derek Roy in general
• The majority of the second period
• Miller getting shaken up a bit in the 3rd

Other pithy thoughts about the evening include that Lalime should start tomorrow night. I know Lindy likes to use Miller as often as possible but Lalime's got to get into some games soon. If he's going to start 15-20 games, that's an average of starting roughly every 4th or 5th game. Miller needs some rest. He's been playing really well but the season is too young to push him too far.

I'm so glad that they've really started lighting the lamp these last few games. Scoring four goals in three games was not exactly inspiring or exciting.

I can't get over the quote from the recap about the Sabres having the stingiest defense. They said similar things early last season, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Of course last season there was no JBG:

Hoooooooooray!

His teammates are so happy for him
They've never hugged a teammate quite so tall

A great photo that captures a rare moment. That brief second between when the puck crosses the goal line, before the light comes on, before referee, player or crowd has realized the player has scored:

Scooooooooorrrrrrre!

Since the Stars lost tonight, once again the Sabres are the last team standing in the "Teams with no regulation losses ONLY" VIP area of the club.

Tomorrow the quest continues at home against Atlanta! There's totally no way they can keep this up, right?

Blogger Delinquency

by Anne

I haven't blogged since Tuesday?!

Yet I don't have time now.

See you all at the game tonight!

Islanders @ Sabres 7:30!!

I haven't used this picture in a long time and I love it

Bulleted Lists are easy to write

by Anne

Since I didn't watch the game :( here are a few observations from what I didn't see:

• We WON! WE SCORED LOTSA GOALS!
  

• Vanek is hurt. :(
  

• Goose, Little Foot and Patty all netted their first goals of the season;
  

• Mike Babcock can shove it about Ryan Miller. Especially after THAT performance by Ozzy;
  

• If this style of play is this "system" we've been hearing so much about, I totes have a crush on  him and I hope he stays so I can admire how pretty he is;
  

• I'm glad the Sunny Hedgehog Enchanters (who are currently PWNING the league... and I just cursed myself) benched Chris Osgood tonight;
  

• The Toronto Maple Leafs are god-damn AWFUL and it's AWESOME. I really thought they might be better this season. MAN was I wrong;
  

• Why do people keep using the word "truculence" when discussing the Leafs? I mean, it's true but people keep using it and I don't think they all really know what it means, they just think it sounds good;

• Georges Laraque is in trouuuuuuble This whole thing just screams of the reaction to the Avery "sloppy seconds" debacle. Yeah the ad was a little objectifying and in poor taste, but calm down, he said he was sorry;
  

• How much did Lindy enjoy that his team just pummeled Babcock's, his head coach for team Canada?
  

• I may be developing an inappropriate crush on Tyler Myers;

'

Hey Brad May

• I also might be ok with it.

Ohhh Patty. Nice dance

Lindy's Nashville Game Plan

by Anne

Lindy Ruff's patented "How to Suck the Life out of every game we play in Nashville" plan:

• Charge in to the offensive zone alone, Max Afinogenov style and then pass the puck to no one, allowing Nashville to clear
• Charge into offensive zone and take weak shot on net
• Fall down a lot
• Don't hit anyone
• Don't take any penalties
• Don't fight
• Fall down some more
• A few more weak shots on goal
• Eventually, when the whole crowd has been drained of all energy, Mike Grier will score a goal.

WHEN DID THE SABRES BECOME THE MINNESOTA WILD? Is Lindy Ruff just Jacques Lemaire in disguise?

That game was hella boring for the first 55 minutes, give or take a few scoring chances in the middle somewhere that kept us all from nodding off.

They still had a billion and ten shots on goal but only one went in. Poor Pekka Rinne stopped 41 shots and lost. Why do we get so many shots on goal and so few goals? Oh wait, because they shoot directly at the goaltender's mid-section. He will not suddenly become permeable, boys.

At least Miller got a shut out and was all cute scooping up the puck at the other end.

Tim Kennedy got his first NHL point tonight!!

Matt Greene got his first point of the season!

I took a gamble and benched a goalie I thought would lose and I was wrong. He won. Whoops. Oh well.

When does Lalime get his first start?

I vote for against the Islanders at home.

Feel the love.

Reggie is hurt :( It seems to be a mysterious nondescript pain down his left side pertaining to his muscles. Hell, if I didn't know they drank gatorade constantly I'd suggest he was really dehydrated as muscle pain is a symptom of dehydration.

Once again, Myers looked pretty decent. He's really solid on the point in the powerplay. His reach and size and his always surprising mobility is really a benefit to the PP.

I'm surprised that Royzie and Yoyo have the "A"s on the road. I thought Grier might have one.

Lindy: Ok, I want you to crush them like this.

Jochen, stop meditating and watch.

That "A" is velcro you know.

The Pens won, the Kings won, the Sabres won and my fantasy team continues to OWN this week's opponent.

Now begins a solid week where at least one of my teams is playing every night. The next night off is next Sunday. Yay!