Enroth to Start?

by Anne

The scuttlebutt around the Sabres is that Jhonas Enroth may get his first NHL start tonight. That was the idea earlier in the week when Lalime was hurt, and after last night's five goals allowed by Miller, it looks like he may need to cleanse his palate of that effort.

Let's all remember how atrocious Ryan Miller was in his first NHL season, 2002-2003. Well, maybe "atrocious" is the wrong word, but he certainly wasn't the "Millerrrrrr stops 'em cold!" we know him to be today. His first season in the NHL he played 15 games and was 6-6-2-1 with 1 shutout, 2.63 GAA and SV% of .902. Not bad, but not phenomenal. He actually regressed the next season, had three starts, was 0-3 with 5.06 GAA and a .795 SV%. Basically we learn almost nothing about the longterm capabilities of a goaltender based on his first NHL start. I'm sure all the brilliant folks who read this blog knew that already.

The Bruins have been struggling offensively, shutout two games in a row and scoring only one goal in the last three games. Looks like being without Savard, Kessel, Lucic and Krejci is adding up to some serious goal-scoring droughts. I have no doubt they'll turn it around... just hopefully not tonight, especially if Enroth plays.

Don't be nervous!

I'm sure you'll do just fine, kiddo!

Enroth needs a nickname. That shall be my project for the evening. I've already created two nicknames that others have picked up, maybe I can create a 3rd and SWEEP THE NATION... or the Sabres' fanbase...well the fans I talk to... ok just maybe my Mom.

Puck drops at 7:00 at TD Banknorth Garden! ETA: Apparently it's just TD Garden now? Lame.

The Kings play the Predators at 4:00 and the Pens play the Sharks at 10:30 (ugh). Yay for all-day (or afternoon and evening) hockey!

Ummm...

by Anne

The Canucks won a game against the New York Rangers that was crazy and punchy and fun  eventhough Avery wasn't really involved on the ice but Shane O'Brien poked him with a stick on the bench and that was weird and Ryan Kesler is totally badass and I love him and Andrew Raycroft has played outstandingly well and here's a fun picture:

Ryan Keslerrr who's your favorite player and you can't say y- OVECHKIN!

Good answer

Ok, now that that's taken care of, Jhonas Enroth has been recalled but no one has said for whom. Quite obviously it's for either Miller or Lalime (I know, the insight of that statement has MY head reeling too). But no one Sabres-related has bothered to type, tweet, text, call or e-mail to let any of us know who is hurt. Smoke signals? Morse code? After practice?!

This Tweet went out around 9:30 this morning and as of 10:30 (right now) they haven't said anything. I guess we'll wait until after practice? Miller CANNOT be hurt or sick.

If Goose or Patty or Griz got him sick, they will be in DEEP doo-doo. Maybe Lalime has realized that he's adorable but terrible and has quit?! :)

Let's see what they say after practice. :/

ETA: Ok sweet, it's Lalime.

I Love Jhonas Enroth

by Anne

Jhonas Enroth and I are friends on Facebook, as I'm sure many of you are also his friend on Facebook.

Those of you on Facebook are more than likely aware of the "Suggestions" box in the top right corner of the Facebook homepage. In this "Suggestion" box we are often prompted to become fans of things such as "Hugs," "Lost" and "Not Being On Fire." When a friend or friends of yours are also fans of something, it lists it as such. When only one friend is a fan of something, that persons name appears instead of "1 friend is a fan."

Here is what I saw when I was flipping through these fan page suggestions:

Brilliant.
I like a goalie with a little self-assurance

Only 108 days until next season

Also, if you're not friends with Jhonas yet, I recommend it, he's quite entertaining. Especially a few days ago when he was drafted(?!) by the KHL team that Ray Emery just left.

Playoffs, Kids!

by Anne

The Portland Pirates won tonight 6-5 over the Providence Bruins to clinch a playoff berth!

Mathieu Darche scored his 30th and 31st goalsof the season including his AHL-leading 10th game-winning goal!

The team handed out some awards as well.

Most Valuable Player (as voted by fans): Jhonas Enroth

Fan Favorite (as voted by fans, duh): Nathan Gerbe

Unsung Hero (as voted by fans): Tim Kennedy

Player's Player (as voted by his teammates): Tyler Bouck

Ebright Award (player that best exemplifies what it means to be a Portland Pirate): Paul Baier

Jack Button Award (given to the Pirates' top prospect who is also aging backwards): Jhonas Enroth

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars Award (given to the Pirate who was named a star of the game the most times): Jhonas Enroth

Congrats to the baby Sabres! Maybe some of you will be grown-up big boy Sabres next season?!

Hooray! Playoffs!

The Foreseeable Future

by Anne

I hope we see a lot of this over the next few games:

Pouliot didn't score on this shot, I checked the scoresheet
Good boy, blocker

And maybe if we're lucky enough, we can see Jhonas Enroth do this:

Jhonas chills out

I really love that his helmet is totally Sabred-out. There is no attempt to come close to matching the Pirates color scheme. It just shows where Enroth's head is. Literally. He wants to wear the sweater that matches his helmet.

We all can look up Lalime's NHL stats because they are many. He's in his 10th season of NHL action. A cursory glance of his record shows that the more games he plays, the higher his win %. He had a career high 39 wins in only 67 games in 2002-2003 with eight shut outs. I'm not really all that worried about Patty. If it were Thibault I'd be in hysterics and screaming for a trade.

Enroth is the big question mark. Chances are he won't see much (if any) ice time but its hard to say. As Lindy said in his interview yesterday it depends on how Patty plays. If he's struggling, Jhonas may get the nod for a game or two. I'm not sure how to feel about this because he's had basically zero NHL experience. He played in one pre-season game and allowed three goals on thirteen shots. In his defense, Ryan Miller allowed three goals on eleven shots in the same game. He's the top rookie goaltender in the AHL but that's not saying much about his play in the NHL.

Cory Schneider in the Canucks system had completely ridiculous stats in the AHL and basically floundered when he was called up to the NHL earlier this season. That wasn't entirely his fault of course, but he's a good example of stellar minor league play does not guarantee stellar NHL play. I hate to say it but: Gerbe anyone?

Then again we could have another Steve Mason on our hands here and that would be sweeeeet.

I'm more excited about this adventure than worried. If we lose tonight I will probably become worried but right now I think this is actually kind of fun. Let's all chill out and see what unfolds, who knows what could happen?

Lots of criticism and lots of challenges have been hurled at the Sabres early. If they can overcome this and make the playoffs, think of the confidence and bite they'll have when the pieces come back together.

Puck drops at 7:00.

This Waiting is Unpleasant

by Anne

I love my cousin Jimmy desperately but if spending the weekends with him is any indication of what motherhood is going to be like, I am straight-up not ready for it any time soon. I'm exhausted. When my Mom left Sunday morning, it was all Annie all the time.

Anyway, I feel like I haven't been able to fully commit a freak-out over AnkleWatch 2009.

Puck Daddy offers a real picker-upper for Sabres fans. If you haven't already slipped into the depths of despair over this story, head on over there and join us as we wallow.

Unless Patrick Lalime and Jhonas Enroth can get the kind of play from the players in front of them they need and make anything close to the big saves Miller can provide, this team is not making the playoffs. End of story.

Miller could be out a week or he could be out the rest of the regular season. Who knows. Ankles are very tricky things, especially for goaltenders who rely on lateral movement so much.

If the magic playoff points number is 90, we need at least eleven wins to get there. Of course that number might go up or down a point or two but no team has made the playoffs with fewer than 90 points since the lockout. Truth be told, the Sabres finished last season with 90 points and 10th place so let's say 92 is the likely number. Last season in it was 94 and the two seasons before that it was 92. So we'll go with the average of 92.6 which in hockey means 92.

We need to go 12-10 down the stretch, starting tomorrow at home against Anaheim.

In his career, Lalime is 6-3-0 against the Ducks with a 2.40 GAA and a SV% of .916. He played in the team's other game against Anaheim this season in which he made 34 saves but lost.

One of those teams pushing for the playoffs with us is the New York Rangers who just fired their coach. Good or bad for the Sabres? The Pens have started to show signs of life under Dan Bylsma.

Lindy just added notch #139 to his hockey stick where he marks guys he's outlasted.

12-10

Welcome Aboard, Jhonas Enroth!

by Anne


Today the Buffalo Sabres signed Swedish goaltender prospect Jhonas Enroth to a 3 year entry level contract.

As is tradition, I will now find out all I can about him.

• Jhonas Enroth was born June 25, 1988 in Stockholm, Sweden
• He's 5'10", 174 lbs
• He has 2 hockey playing brothers - Tommy and Mattias
  
• He was drafted 46th overall in 2006
• He was the #1 ranked European goaltender in the 2006 draft
  
• He was nominated for Elitserien Rookie Of The Year 2008 (the Swedish pro league)
  
• He, like most goaltenders, needs to work on his stickhandling most
• He stated months ago that his goal was to play in North America this coming season.
• He's down with playing in the AHL if thats what's best. But he knows that our goaltending depth is...less than deep, so he feels confident
• Buffalo has never had a Swedish netminder
• Is widely viewed as the best Swedish goaltender since Lundqvist
• Ummm, yeah, there ain't a whole lot to find about him
• He plays butterfly style, his speed and agility are his strengths
• He was 33-16 with 3 shutouts with .933 SV% with a 1.76 GAA in the 2007-2008 season
• His effect on the team's overall sexaliciousbadassitude is yet to be seen.
  

Hot. Stuff.