2009-2010 Regular Season Grades: Forwards

by Anne

Continuing where we left off yesterday: the forwards.

#9 Derek Roy

80gm, 26G, 43A, +9, 19:22

All in all a somewhat typical season for Royzie. He took FOREVER to get his first goal of the season and he didn't amass as many points as he has in previous seasons. However, those previous seasons he and only a small number of other forwards were contributing and this scoring by committee style has knocked his goal totals down a touch. He was good more often than he was awful. He tied for first in GWG and had 3 OT winners.

Grade: B

 #13 Tim Kennedy

78gm, 10G, 16A, -3, 12:57

This being his first full season in the NHL, I'm going to go easy on Lil' Timmers. He was ok. He has signs of being better in years to come. Pommer, Royzie and Vanek all had just "meh" rookie seasons. He'll be better next season.

Grade: B-

#19 Tim Connolly

73G, 17G, 48A, +10, 18:37

Aside from his recent injury, Timmah was an iron man this season. He had an epic point-streak in December/January and lead the team in assists. There were several nights when he was the best player on the ice and was frequently the best forward. Remember how we said a healthy Timmah makes the Sabres better? True dat.

Grade: A-

#21 Drew Stafford

71gm, 14G, 20A, +4, 14:28

I think the thing about his stats I found most surprising was that he finished the season a + player. He's been better, he should be better and he's just not. I'm glad to see, though, that we stopped relying on him as a consistently top-6 player because he's not one. He's had a few solid games but not enough.

Grade: C-

 #22 Adam Mair

69gm, 6G, 8A, -2, 9:14

Remember when he was put on waivers? Yikes. I'm glad Mairsy is still here. He works hard, he took the waiver wire with professionalism and the Sabres are the better for it. He knows his role and he does it well. As a whole, the team fought less this season and tried to limit penalties as a whole. He did his job.

Grade: B

 #25 Mike Grier

73gm, 10G, 12A, -4, 15:47

Mikey had a very Mikey season. He has hands of stone and he's slower than molasses on a cold day but he's consistent! He was topnotch on the PK, a great veteran mentor for Tim Kennedy and just made everything better.

Grade: B+

#26 Thomas Vanek

71gm, 28G, 25A, +9, 16:45

Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. Yet another frustrating season in which you went bananas at the end. He should just always be told it's mid-March/early April. He seems to play really well then. However, his four-goal game could not make up for his endless stretches of goal-lessness. He was a + player, which has been a struggle for him since his +47 season.

Grade: B-

#28 Paul Gaustad

65gm, 12G, 10A, -7, 15:44

Tied a career-high in goals (set last season). His greatest contribution to the team has been faceoff wins, which he produced at 57.4% this season. Goose doesn't get much fanfare and got even less than usual this season. His +/- is a tad unsettling but bottom six players rarely have high +/-. I'm fairly confident that he, Miller, Grier and Rivs were responsible for keeping certain players in line and being held accountable. That topic didn't come up nearly as often this season as it has in the past two (non-playoff) seasons.

Grade: B+

 #29 Jason Pominville

82gm 24G, 38A, +13, 18:44

Pommer was the Sabres most consistent forward for most of the season. Once again, he played all 82 games this season. He hasn't missed a regular season game since he was a healthy scratch April 7, 2006. I really don't have much bad to say about his season. Like every other forward, his points total was lower than last season or the season before. It's the new system and I think we all have to accept that.

Grade: B+

#36 Patrick Kaleta

55gm, 10G, 5A, +2, 10:09

One of the only exceptions to the above statement about players scoring less is Pat Kaleta. He more than doubled his career high in goals and lead the team with 2 shorthanded goals. He had 148 hits in only 55 games. He was consistent and did his job as was expected of him. He even had a few fights and drew lots o' penalties.

Grade: A-

#37 Matt Ellis

72gm, 3G, 10A, -1, 9:03

Matty played a career-high in games and set a new career high in assists. Much like Mike Grier, he was consistent and has an incredible no-quit work ethic. I often describe his work ethic as "If I don't play well tonight, they'll feed me to the lions tomorrow." He was responsbile (12 PIM) and won some faceoffs. What more can you really ask?

Grade: B+

 #55 Jochen Hecht

79gm, 21G, 21A, +14, 17:11

Lead the team in +/-. Thank goodness he's back in his defensively-responsible mode. We definitely needed that from him this season. He was consistent and consistently solid. I liked seeing him and Pommer occasionally reunited this season. It made my heart all a-flutter. Same thing with Royzie and Vanek. Sometimes the old chemistry worked for them.

Grade: A-

These three players played only 10-20 games in a Sabres uniform (and are still with the team):

 #17 Raffi Torres

14gm, 0G, 5A, -3, 13:20

Go away. I don't like you.

Grade: D

 #42 Nathan Gerbe

10gm, 2G, 3A, +1, 14:38

I definitely like what I've seen. The 3G Network^TM (Gerbe-Gaustad-Grier) has been clicking. A huge sigh of relief to see him produce at the NHL level. Thank goodness.

Grade: B+

 #63 Tyler Ennis

10gm, 3G, 6A, +1, 15:20

He can score in the AHL and in the NHL. Gee, the 2009 AHL rookie of the year (Gerbe) and now the 2010 AHL rookie of the year (Tennis the Menace) actually playing well in their call-ups? Wa-hoo! Here's hoping things stay consistent and they don't suffer Chris Butler-like collapses when they inevitably make the club next season :)

Grade: A-

Overall this "scoring by committee" has diminished most players scoring. Having Ryan Miller in net still made it possible for us to win. Lots of players had scoring bursts at the end of the season which makes me feel little more optimistic about their ability to score in the post season.

Forwards overall grade: B+

Howdy from Nashville!

by Anne

Howdy, y'all!

I'm sitting in our hotel room while Moms takes a nap. We'll soon be heading out to explore some of what "Smashville" has to offer us this afternoon. The flight down was uneventful and the weather is gorgeous. It's a little cool but we Buffalo gals can handle it just fine. The hotel is really nice and very close to the Bridgesrone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

I don't have much nice to say about the Kings after last night's game other than to essentially BEG them to win because they never beat the Predators and Bernier needs the wins to earn him a roster spot.

Last night's Sabres game was far more pleasant and for once the Versus broadcast didn't really bother me. I have named the unlikely lone of Gerbe-Grier-Gaustad as the 3G Network. They responded to their new name by combining for a somewhat goofy but awesome Goose goal. A week or so ago I whined a bit about how it had been too long since Goose scored and he responded with his current three game scoring streak. Thank you, Paul.

It was nice but not altogether surprising to see the team's balanced scoring continue without Vanek and Connolly. Hopefully after seeing the zip in Ennis and Gerbe, those two will come back in fighting form.

Time to get ready to head out! Let's go Kings!!

Look! I'm posting!

by Anne

Just about to head to bed when I realized I haven't posted for today. I'm so good at this.

The Sabres defeated the Hurricanes 5-3 today. The first two periods were all Sabres. They were up 4-0 at one point and allowed the Butter Snaps to sneak back up on them to pull within two goals. There were only flashes of seconds in which I was concerned that the 'Canes were going to pull some kind of crazy upset, but it was enough to make me unhappy.

One of the goals was one of Ryan Miller's annual "Ryan, now do we see why we don't play the puck too much?" moments. It was not pretty.

Jochen Hecht has become a goal-scoring maniac over the last two games. He had two goals today, one on a beautiful rush that started in the Sabres zone and was finished off by a nifty dangle. The second was another Yo-yo classic: the wrap-around. His goal against Florida was a classic "find the three centimeters of space between the goalie's elbow and his knee and use the Force to wiggle that puck behind the goal line.  Classic Jochen.

The Baby Beluga is hurt. Awesome. He's looking better and better as the days go on. I'm pretty sure we play better without him, actually. Le sigh.

Paul, you know I love you.

Are you ever going to score again?

Just curious

:(

Tomorrow night the Avs head to the Staples Center to take on the Kings.... at 10:30. Boo. BUT! Just over a week until I'm in Nashville to see the Kings play in person!!! :) :) :) :)

Aren't you excited boys?

Whoops, no one told me it was a costume party.

What exactly is Stolly?

If Greener is Luigi, who's Mario?

Thanks to Katie who found this on that girlfriends message board and sent it to me, haha

Happy Birthday, Paul Gaustad!

by Anne

Today #28 turns 28. Hooray!

I could sit here all day and never run out of superlatives to praise the many ways in which Paul Gaustad is spiffy. But I won't; I have things to do today.

I baked you this pimpin' goose cake:

 

 Woo!

We all know how much you all freak out when the Senators come to town. Maybe for your birthday you can beat them? :) ;)

Plleeeeeeease?

 

Oh please oh please oh please oh PLEASE?

Happy Birthday, Goose!

Hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ves-HA! Toskala

by Anne

Well looky there. The Sabres beat the 2nd worst team in the league again! Hooray!

That first period was downright terrifying, however. The Sabres didn't register their first shot on goal til something like 12 minutes into the first. Oh heavens, it was uncomfortable. The Sabres could NOT do anything right, it was awful to experience.

What changed, you might ask? What allowed the Sabres to come around to an eventual 5-2 victory? Was it something Lindy said? Well, I'm sure he had plenty to say. Did Mike Grier and Goose employ their Good Cop/ Bad Cop routine I've envisioned that they use? Perchance.

 But, nay friends, all the Sabres needed to really turn momentum in their favor was one really awful goaltender. Stepping up to the plate tonight was one Mr. Ves-HA! Toskala, mishandling the puck like nobodies' business. First Royzie scored a nice goal to get the Sabres on the board. Well done, Derek.  Then, the momentum changing GOAL OF THE DECADE was scored by none other than.... Toni Lydman? Yes, Toni Lydman's goal was completely awesome. After he scored I walked out into the concourse and said "Toskala for Vezina!" The Leafs fan walking past was not pleased. Just watch it again, or maybe for the very first time:

I love Toni Lydman, they need to interview him more, sidenote. Here's his commentary on how he scored his first of the season:

"Usually they're really pretty," joked Lydman, who has 30 goals in 612 career NHL games. "I can't remember scoring a goal like that before."

Grier and Lydman had two points, both 1+1 while Vanek, Ellis and Roy also scored.

Somehow Staffy was a -1. He's been pretty invisible lately, come to think of it. What's wrong with Staffy?

Oh yeah and Ryan Miller like stopped a lotta shots and junk. The Maple Leafs bring out the best in him.

I love his comments on Lydman's goal, though:

"As a goaltender you feel bad for Vesa on that play," he said. "You know what he's trying to do ... he's looking for an option. But playing against the Maple Leafs, I don't really care too much."

He hates them like we do, being all full of d-baggery and being in the division and whatnot. He know just what to say to make the fans happy.

Other things of note:

DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME AGAIN.

:)

No but really, don't leave again, like, to go to another team

YOU EITHER:

Srsly, don't get hurt anymore

Also, things that look bad, but aren't:

That doesn't look comfy

Also, some of the Minnesota Wild's equipment was destroyed in a fire in Ottawa. How crazy and that must've smelled TERRIBLE with all that fiberglass and plastic melting combined with the usual hockey-stink that sticks to equipment. GROSS. They play the Senaturds tomorrow night. Basically what I'm getting at is Ottawa is full of people who are out to sabotage opposing teams. First the Sabres get food poisoning and now the Wild's equipment is destroyed. Conspiracies abound! I'd blame the players but they were in New Jersey. EXCEPT FOR MAYBE JASON SPEZZA AND CHRIS NEIL AND PASCAL LECLAIRE! Guilty.

He's baaaaaack

by Anne

and he's looking to right this ship.

Ok, actually in the ten games he's been gone we're 7-3-0

STILL

We require Goose.

Welcome back, Paul Gaustad

:)

Firefox and I Are At Odds

by Anne

Firefox and I have not gotten along for sometime now. For example, if anyone's blog loads a video or 2 from the NHL Network, Firefox cannot handle it, and frequently shuts down. When I had to get my keypad replaced I asked the guys if there was something wrong with my computer and they said no, so basically Firefox just doesn't like me. Sometimes when I open this site, my blog looks like this:

Thank goodness I can still see the foxy beasts in the upper corners.

I assume it doesn't normally look like this for you guys. However, I have to use Firefox to update this thingydingy if I want to post pictures. Safari just doesn't seem to understand this concept of pictures. Its darn near impossible to move the pictures or format them. So unless I want all the pictures to stay at the top of a post, its not a good time.

This "starting lineup" for the All-Star game is Grade A baloney. I have no interest in the top line-up. I'm far more interested in seeing which players are named to the rest of the team, ya know, the players that SHOULD have been voted in because they DESERVE to be there. They like to name players from as many teams as possible so I'm thinking Vanek probably gets a nod, and maybe (but probably not) Miller. I hope at least one of our boys goes so I have some reason to wear my jersey while watching the festivities and getting wasted (hopefully) like last year. Last year we made the skills competition into a drinking game and it was one of the best decisions of 2008, right behind electing Barack Obama and bailing out the auto industry.

I realized today that I'm going to be in school forever. I won't be finished and ready to teach until I'm 25. OK, I'm already 23 but still that just seems like a long time away.

Other people have mentioned this but I keep forgetting to. There's been talk that Brian Burke is looking at Paul Gaustad for Team USA for the 2010 Olympics in his attempts to put together a more physical and tough team. They don't get much more physical or tougher than Goose. This makes me very excited. We all know about his long road to the NHL and how much of a longshot he was to even play one game in this league. Fast forward 9 years from when he was drafted and he's an integral part of the Buffalo Sabres and could be an integral part of representing our country in the Olympics. He was supposed to play for Team USA in the World Championships this summer but had to have surgery so had to withdraw. The World Championships are made up of whichever players' teams did not make the playoffs or were eliminated in the first round so its not as big of a deal to be selected. I'm sure its still an honor, but its not as competitive. The NHL season ceases for the Olympics so basically everyone is available. Therefore, to be selected to the 25ish so player roster carries much more weight. Basically all that rambling was to say that I really hope Goose is selected for the team with Miller, who is clearly a lock for the goaltending job, and they make us all extra proud.

Brian Burke, you know who else is gritty and physical and tough and American?

Santa Claus

.... oh yeah, and Matt Greene

If Finals Weren't Over, I'd Probably Be Digging My Car Out Right Now

by Anne

Not that colleges are THAT cruel, I mean, UB did close when there were downed power lines... but only because the power was out in the gym so the basketball team couldn't play and the Asian students couldn't read by candlelight. Seriously, if you live on North Campus you can thank the Asian students for all the perks.

Anyway, I love snow. I love waking up and looking out my window and being unable to see anything resembling the actual ground upon which we walk.

MK (obviously) had school canceled today and she was pretty excited at the thought last night. I can't imagine much more would've gotten accomplished today, the last day of school before break. We all know how bouncing off the wall kids are the day before a break. Add to that cookies and candy and parties and stuff and its just that much crazier. So a day off works for everyone, I think.

My dog's vet appointment was canceled today so we'll have to wait to see if his meds are working for him. He's celebrating by frolicking in the snow and rolling over so I'll rub his tummy. Yeah, he's reeeeeeeeeal sick.

Tonight's game will be really interesting. Will people come? They were already having trouble selling tickets (you can still get lower bowl center ice behind the penalty box tickets)and with this weather, there will be a LOT of empty seats. Meaning it will probably cost me more in gas money to get to the game than I will make working the game. Boo. Maybe Matt Greene will score a goal for my benefit...?

Goose is hurt and will not play tonight :(

I'm looking forward to seeing what Butler has to offer the team tonight. We haven't been as excited about him as Kennedy and Gerbe, but I'm looking forward to see why Darcy decided to sign him and give him the shot over Weber. My theory on him getting tapped is first to see how he fares in a real high paced NHL game and because we really cannot afford Weber's penchant for taking copious penalties. He had 9 PIM in 2 games and that doesn't sound too bad but I recall his pre-season penalty stats to be well above average. He was a +12 in 16 games last year and -2 in 2 games this year. Butler has 12 pts (2+1) with 14 PIM, -3 and 50 SOG and Weber has 4 points (0+4), (get this) 68 PIM, +3, 22 SOG in 26 games.

Wow. I just let my dog in from outside and could barely open and close the door because the snow has blown up so high against the door. Yikes.

Moms and I are baking away up in here, peeps. We're working on my favorite cookies next, so it requires my full and undivided attention!!

Ok, but honestly, if I can't get to work how mad will I be that the first time in forever Matthew Greene comes to Buffalo and I won't be able to be there? haha. Lovely.

What a way to welcome the LA Kings to Buffalo. Hahaha, we ordered it up especially for you, Kings.

I kind of hope no one comes to the game tonight so I can chillax and just like hangout and watch the game with like 30 other fans in the 300s. If I'm not going to make any money, I'd at least like to be able to watch the game.

Woooooooooooooo!!!!!! I'm sure there will be like 5 more posts today as I wait around for the scary drive downtown. The game will be played as scheduled, FYI.

A Night of Highs and Lows

by Anne

Low points:

- Obviously, losing sucks.

-Lots of empty seats in the corners where we sell which means less $$ :/

-AWFUL sales night. Like, really terrible.

-Traffic on the way to the Arena was terrible and I was late, but it doesn't really matter, but I hate being late

-I was too late to grab dinner so I was hungry during the game

-Last night I was up suuuuuuuuuuper late finishing some work and generally not being tired so I'm super drained today

- If you and I have never spent a great deal of time together, let this serve as a warning: if I'm tired and hungry, its best to try to remedy one of those setbacks as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if I allow myself to be supremely crabby in front of you it means we've reached a certain level of friendship. I guess being bitchy to you means I love you? Just ask my sister, hahaha. What a jerk she is.

High points!

-Its Toronto so the goal total pool in my commissary was $50 bucks and I won! I wasn't happy that the Sabres lost but if they did, I'm glad the score was 2-1 so I could win the pool. Wooooo!

- I always forget to mention this, but there's something to be said for tradition and superstitions. I didn't realize until tonight that there's a certain player's superstition that, while it probably helps them get ready, it also helps me calm down.

Every night Paul Gaustad sits on the bench and contemplates life or thinks about what he ate for dinner or how just generally wicked sweet he is at this thing called life, or whatever he thinks about before he goes off and plays hockey. Every game he tosses a puck on the ice and it always stops at the top of the left face off dot in the West (i think) end of the Arena. Today I walked in to the seating a little late to do my useless pre-game wander and I looked down and my puck of reassurance was not there. WHA-? IS GOOSE NOT PLAYING?!? GREAT! THIS IS TERRIBLE WHAT HAPPENED TO HI- oh, wait, he's still all zen-like on the bench. Phew. The puck landed in its usual place shortly there after. I didn't realize how comforting this was to me until it wasn't there. Its kind of like "Goose is ready, are you?"

-I was walking out of the Arena tonight and was quite literally about 2 feet from Craig Rivet and did not realize it until I was like right up in his business. I was just not at all expecting to see him. I literally could've reached out and touched his arm. I think he was looking at the new calendar, but I didn't want to linger and be a creeper. I'm fond of my job, I'd like to keep it, thanks.

-Every game there are obviously TONS of people in jerseys, most have numbers, some do not. I enjoy looking at the persons's player of choice and then debating with myself if this person's selection seems to fit them.Usually, the answer is yes. This more applies to players that are not Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller because they're so common there's way too much variety in those people to find a pattern. The people who wear Jochen Hecht jerseys are definitely a type, as are Pominville jersey wearers. Peters jerseys are always male and always look like they're wasted, Drury/Campbell/Briere jersey wearers that are not children tend to look unhappy, hahahaha. There are also the occasional Vanek Golden Gophers or Staffy Fighitng Sioux or Miller Spartans jerseys and those people never buy from me ever. No exaggeration. The whole point of this rambling ties into the previous point I made. I've discovered that the nicest people wear Paul Gaustad and Henrik Tallinder jerseys (Heather! haha). No lie. I really paid attention to it tonight, of those that wore numbered jerseys that I interacted with or waited on, the ones that were the nicest were those wearing Goose or Hank jerseys and they were all dudes. There wasn't really one that was rudest because no one was particularly rude, contrary to what most people think. Now, are these people made nicer by Goose and Hank's aura or are nicer people drawn to Goose and Hank? I have never seen a douchebag wearing either of their jerseys. Ugh, I hate to be so stereotypical and douchebags rarely wear numbered jerseys but if they do, they frequently rock #9 (sorry Royzie, I know you wouldn't be friends with these dudes).

Anyway, the only negative interaction I had with Toronto fans were this dude and his girlfriend making out against a wall across from me. I felt like I was in high school again. But then we chatted about overly buttered popcorn and now we're lifelong friends.

-Finally, I discovered today that my computer will actually out loud tell me what time it is if I check a certain box. It just said "Its 12:15" to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance"

- My cat is really freakin' cute

-My doggy is doing better but he isn't 100% out of the woods. I have to take him back to the vet next week for a check up. On the plus side he is truly the gentlest sweetest most loving dog you'll ever meet and even through all his medical issues he's the sweetest puppy you could ever hope to meet.

-Oh yeah, hockey. Both Fabian Brunnstrom and former Wings WCB Brett Lebda scored in Dallas' 3-1 victory over Detroit.

-Steve Downie was sent to the minors again today. How must his self-esteem be if Tampa has decided that who they have is better than him? OUCH.

- The Caps dressed a person who works on their website as their back-up goalie tonight. He had to sign an amatuer try-out contract in order to be able to play and the Caps had to get a special dispensation from the NHL to be able to dress three goalies. He wasn't just some random dude, he tended goal in college and has helped out by playing goalie in practice a few times for the Caps. That is completely awesome. Can Maria Genero be our emergency goalie?

In Retrospect, His Hand Wasn't Bandaged.

by Anne

See?:

It looks like its actually just padding to protect the back of his hand and not some crazy bandage. I feel less like someone should be smacking him upside the head now. And, yes I fixed the date so its no longer 2082 on my camera.

Yes I did take a picture of the newspaper because I couldn't find the images online and I don't feel like writing a 4 page paper about how Chekhov wrote The Cherry Orchard to be a comedy but Stanislavsky felt otherwise. Seriously, I have a Bachelor's degree in theatre with a concentration in dramatic lit and I took 3x the required number of dramatic literature credits. I can't believe I don't already have a paper somewhere already written about this topic.

I'm so freakin' tired. My dog is kind of sick so I was up late being all paranoid about him. He was at the groomer's yesterday and I think it really stresses him out because he's blind and he gets all disoriented. We'll probably have to start grooming him ourselves if that's what caused him to be all sickly last night. One dog is deaf and one is blind. My cat appears to still have all 5 sense firing on all cylinders so 1 out of 3 fully functioning pets ain't bad.

I keep forgetting to link to this story. Read the article and experience a taste of why Jarome Iginla is my favorite hockey player. There's a nice inset story about Mike Cammalleri and Iggy clicking together. Anyone who makes Iggy look better is A-OK in my book, Michael.

Woooo!
If anyone wants to buy me an Iginla jersey I'll definitely wear it
haha

Even though I have 2 assignments (1 came up unexpectedly) to do tonight, I'll probably still watch a game. Too bad the best one looks like it'll be Anaheim at San Jose... but that doesn't start until 10:30. It must be kind of sweet to be a hockey fan on the West coast, the "late games" are at, like 7:30. Although if your team plays in the East, the game starts while most people are still at work. Eh, ya win some ya lose some. I'll probably watch at least the first period of that one.

Two Minutes for....Doing Your Job?

by Anne

That was the weirdest penalty I've ever seen. It was like time stood still. Miller snatched the puck and nothing in the Arena happened. We were all just kind of like "doot doot doo whistle people can go their sea- wait, where's the whistle? What's happening?"

That was one of the weirder moments I've experienced in person. The chorus of "BUUUUUULLSHIT BUUUUUULLSHIT" that rained down was magical.

Even Vinny Prospal who was like at the net was like "uhhhh, where's the whistle? Ok I'll just keep inching toward the goal.....?"

The linesman that was just standing there is fired. Where was the ref?

I'm Rule Book happy today:

Rule 63 – Delaying the Game

63.1 Delaying the Game – A player, goalkeeper or a team may be penalized when, in the opinion of the Referee, is delaying the game in any manner.

63.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player, including the goalkeeper, who holds, freezes or plays the puck with his stick, skates or body in such a manner as to deliberately cause a stoppage of play. With regard to a goalkeeper, this rule applies outside of his goal crease area.

A minor penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who, when he is in his own goal crease, deliberately falls on or gathers the puck into his body or who holds or places the puck against any part of the goal in such a manner as to cause a stoppage of play unless he is actually being checked by an opponent. (he didn't hold it against the goal, he had it in his glove).

I guess the ref decided that there's a new rule that if you don't hear a whistle within a second of freezing the puck you have to keep it moving, even if a player is right on top of your crease....? Te only rule that really applies is the first one and its a judgment call so its pretty hard to dispute that.

Weird. Well, I guess that's what happens when you call out refs in the media, RYAN.

Anyway, Thomas Vanek, have my babies, both of those goals were beautiful.

Goose and Mairsy, thank you for having sweet fights even if the tide turned against you at the end of your fight Mairsy, you were still B.A.

Goose's fight was a great example of a momentum changing fight. Because he won so clearly, the team and the fans were definitely motivated and I think it really helped to bring the team back around.

I really like come from behind victories, but I'd prefer "holding onto early lead" victories. But, a win is a win and I'll take it.

Dear Bill Clinton,

You were a great President, yours was the first presidency I paid any attention to. I think your wife is pretty cool too. I hope she'll be a great Secretary of State.

Thanks for coming to the Sabres game. The downstairs area was the cleanest its ever been.

I do, however, have 2 complaints.

1. Who told you that sweater looked good? and 2. thanks for shutting down the elevators so I had to walk up to the 300s. Its really not that far but I'm tired from being up all hours working on papers and my job is kind of physically demanding in that I'm on my feet for 4 hours straight. I never sit down, EVER. Sometimes I kneel, but usually when I kneel I'm balancing a large metal tray on one knee.

Anyway, thanks for supporting us!

Love,
Anne

I've heard so many horror stories about working Maple Leafs' games and I'm really not looking forward to Friday's game.

Pommer had quite possibly the most under the radar 3 point game of his career. I really had no idea he had 3 points until I checked the boxscore. LISTEN, SELLING ODDLY COLORED COTTON CANDY TAKES A LOT OF FOCUS. For real, some of that cotton candy looked downright bizzare. There was one bag that was a mixture of pink and green that just looked gray, and basically looked like a human brain. mmmmmmmm break me off a chunka that!

Anyway, picture time!

Goose! Your hand is still bandaged, I'm not so sure you should be pounding it into anything harder than your pillow at night!!
But that fight helped a lot, so good job.
Also I watched you and Gerbe chatting on the bench and it made me smile so thanks for just being awesome in general.
ETA: The other adorable Goose-moment was at one point he was chatting with a ref and they shared a chuckle (post-awkward penalty).
Paul Gaustad for UN Peace Ambassador
He'll sweep into Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan and have these misunderstandings all taken care of in a jiffy.
Israel and Pakistan will be BFFL once Goose gets in the mix.

Nathan, its fundamentals time. Puck in net, Player not in net.


Theeeeere ya go.

Dear Adam Mair,

You did not win "most hilarious facial expression" tonight. Sissy did by a LANDSLIDE vote of me and Oscar:


Ahahahahahahahahhahahaha
He looks like a cartoon caricature representing the North Wind

Only 1 more paper and 1 more test to go!!!!!!!!!

OK ITS ALL A FACADE! ITS ALL LIES! I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE!!

by Anne

I CAN'T PRETEND I DON'T CARE!!! I DO CARE! I. CARE. SO. MUCH.

I'm a girl, I'm emotional, I cannot help but feel emotionally invested and somewhat protective of our boys in blue and gold. I can whine about them all I want, because I know that its coming from the heart, but SO HELP ME, if an outside analyst starts talkin' smack, I am QUICK to defend.

Ok, these last few weeks have been really tough as a Sabres fan. I think we are all aware of that. We all feel this frustration. I've tried going for the "EFF YOU, SABRES!" angle, but to no avail. I thought that if I acted like I didn't care it would be easier to take but its just not.

The reason this is all coming out now is because I read Ryan Miller's recently updated blog and I was reminded that "oh yeah, they don't like losing either." and that, oh yeah "I totally love Ryan Miller and this team will be ok".

Look, as much as I enjoy Pittsburgh and Vancouver, there is no team that I could ever throw as much of my heart and soul behind as the Buffalo Sabres. They're my team from my city and someday this painful losing streak will all be a distant, unpleasant memory and we'll be ok. We will. I promise. Remember 2002? That was a time when we almost lost the TEAM. This ain't nothing. They'll turn it around. It'll be ok. The Bills lost like 4 games in a row, turned around and beat the snot out of a crappy team that they HAD to beat. They needed that game for confidence and they got it and gave us all a little something to smile about. It'll get better.

I feel this picture is appropriate for most situations and I love it.
and him.
PIE!!! IT'S GONNA BE OK!


Sissy's working his hardest to climb out of this hole.
PULL, SISSY! PULL!


GOOSE! YOU KNOW WHAT ITS TIME FOR:



YER DAMN RIGHT, PAUL GAUSTAD.
DAMN.
RIGHT.
JUST DON'T LOOK AT THE FISH BEHIND YOU AND IT'LL BE OK



LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!

Matt Greene Appreciation Day

by Anne

Matthew Xavier Greene, my LA Kings WCB is trying DESPERATELY to score those two goals I guaranteed he'd score.

In last night's 5-2 win over the Caps, Ovie turned over the puck in the King's zone, Greener snatched it up and made a great pass ahead to Patrick O'Sullivan who zoomed into the Caps zone and scored!! Weeeeee!!!

That gives him his 2nd point of the season! Woo!! Now he's on pace for 9 whole points in 82 games! Take THAT, Alexander Semin!

I did not make this sign but the person who did and I are surely kindred spirits

Private to Paul Gaustad:

Dear Goose,

I'm sorry you're dead to me. Really, I am. However, Craigory is not afraid to touch a fish:

Oh, I went there.

Watch the latest episode of SabresTV if you have no idea what I'm talking about. I have to admit that as much as I love Goose for his "Grrrr and I love the environment" ways, I love that his Achilles' heel is fish and worms. I agree Goose, fish freak me out as well.

Love,

Anne

oh yeah, and:

MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK!!!! HE'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Max and Hank are sitting and Paetsch is playing!! yay!!!!!

They're the only ones I have left to love...

:)

Yay! Yay! Yay! Honk!

by Anne

Hooooooooooooooray!

Do We Really Need Him?

by Anne

The answer is, of course, yes. We were a better team last season when he was in the line-up. 40 pts in 48 games is nothing to just dismiss...

I'm just so sick of hearing him describe all the things that are wrong with his body. Maybe he's just doing it for attention. Let's try as an entire city to ignore Timmy's next injury completely and see how fast he gets back on the ice.

I miss Goose and Yoyo :'(

No Go for Yo Yo

by Anne

:*(

According to Mike Harrington at Sabres Edge Yoyo's hurt and won't play tomorrow. CMac is centering the line with Paille and Pommer. Iiiiiiiii was not aware that Grizz ever played center.

Matt Ellis will center the 4th line and if any of our other centers go down, be prepared for Nathan Gerbe to appear from Portland after, uhhhh like 2 weeks of seasoning. *HEADDESK*.

IT IS WAAAAAYYYYYY TO EARLY IN THE SEASON FOR THIS TYPE OF INJURY CHIT CHAT.

Whyyyyy does it have to always be centers? TimmyHo, Goose, Yoyo???

Center is where we're thinnest up front and that's where we're feeling the most hurt. Perfection.

ITS FINE. REALLY, ITS FINE. I'M NOT WORRIED. NOT AT ALL. NOPE. TOTALLY FINE WITH THIS.

PAUL!
STOP PROMOTING UNDERAGE SMOKING AND GET BACK TO WORK!



Timmy, Timmy, Timmy.....
I hate you. You're still dead to me.
Your fractured vertebrae is immaterial because you have ceased to exist to me
Remember when I loved this phantom "Tim Connolly"? Yeah that's over

At least Trent practiced yesterday!!! That's one ray of sunshine on the Buffalo injury front!!!

Photo not actually from yesterday's practice but
WOOOOOOO!!! Anyway
The football gods were at least smiling on Buffalo and inserted this injury just before a bye week
Hopefully Trent will be ready to go on Sunday.
Lord knows we don't want him to aggravate anything if he isn't fully recovered

Sunday giveth and Sunday taketh away

by Anne

I hate posting this close together but.

Sunday giveth:

The Bills are 4-0!


Sunday taketh away:

Goose jammed his thumb, tore a ligament and had or will have surgery today.

:) / :(

Keep smilin'!

How does one rehab a thumb?

Thumb wrestling?

Hitchhiking?

Several rounds of "Heads Up Seven Up"?

Reviewing movies?

Poor Goose. At least its before the season starts. That's 2 surgeries in like 7 months for him. Boooooo. He's definitely going to miss the beginning of the season. :(

Call me if you need help writing things or tying your shoes, Paul!

Sabres Lose to Wild, No One Cares

by Anne

Ok, its not that NO ONE cares but that game was HELLA boring. You could tell by the faces of the people as they came out of the stands to NOT buy popcorn and cotton candy that the game was less than exhilarating.

Yoyo scored one and Staffers scored on the shootout. Ok, Sissy kind of scored a goal, as it deflected off of him... and into our net. IT'S OK SISSSY, I STILL LOVE YOU. CALL ME WHEN YOU GET BACK FROM MINNESOTA!!

Its only the preseason. Whatevs. However, MK is never allowed to go to a game again. They've lost EVERY SINGLE GAME SHE'S EVER GONE TO. No joke, this is at least game # 6 or 7. My sister is a bad omen.

There isn't much else to report about the game except that Goose fight was awesome (except for the thumb thing). Gerbe looked good, a little all over the place (in good and bad ways) but he actually delivered some hits which was sweeeeeet. He went first in the shootout with no success, but that's a lot of pressure for a new player. Kennedy missed the shootout, too but that's ok, I can forgive them both. Lalime had a good game, that goal was totally not his fault. The shootout wasn't OUTSTANDING but eh? Its the pre-season.

Oh, and can people PLEASE stop asking Lala how many games he's going to play this season? 15-20ish, k? There. WRITE IT.

TO MORE IMPORTANT GOINGS ON FROM LAST NIGHT:

On the way out of the Arena I passed Miller who was talking to some dude who looked like but was not Tim Kennedy about golf while demonstrating his swing and Goose was talking to some woman, unless Goose is into cougars (which hey, get it, boy) she wasn't a girlfriend, so don't worry ladies! hahaha. Goose's back was to me, sad sad times. I contemplated asking about why he left the game (they don't tell the people actually AT the games when a player is injured unless its quite obvious). However, I did not because 1. I'm too chicken (ha Goose, Chicken!) and 2. we're not allowed to solicit autographs from them and therefore, trying to strike up casual conversation is probably frowned upon.

In other news, if it were possible I would eat nothing but Tortilla chips and queso dip for my entire life.

I ordered a new digital camera that UPS.com tells me has been in New Stanton, PA since Saturday morning. What can Brown do for me? Torture me with a nearby but not in my possession camera from Overstock.com.

Blahhhhhhhhhh. Less than two weeks to the start of the regular season!!!! Yeeeeee!!!

Pre-Season Home Opener or No One Else Seems to Care About Tim Kennedy Like I Do

by Anne

So last night was the pre-season opener and of the little that I saw, the game was a lot more entertaining than the 0-0 score through the first 40 minutes indicated. The game was definitely fast, at least on the Sabres' side of things. Can we just discuss that Tyler Myers was definitely in on that little scrum that happened during the 2nd (I think). Yay! Rosie doing a number on Hollweg, the announcer accidentally calling Pat Kaleta "Andrew", and that entire row of kids from the Kitchener Jr. Rangers and their big sign up for Royzie (and then they got to see Royzie score a goal!!). Woooo!

I worked in the 100s last night and no one seemed to have any thing for me to do or anyone to show me how to do anything. (I know its pre-season, but a little "hey Anne, I'm your manager so and so let's get you to where you need to go" would've been nice.)

Anyway, I followed around a guy named Dave who was really nice and showed me a lot about how things work. The only thing I don't quite understand fully is how the buying of products works but I'm sure I'll figure it out and they won't expect me to know how to do it all tonight.

All I know is that my back and legs are really tired, which is to be expected, I suppose.

Anyway, on the "players I randomly saw" front:

During the first intermission, Tim Kennedy and his girlfriend were just kind of walking around the 100 level acting all nonchalant and "I don't play for the Sabres." It was a little weird to see him walking by and no one paying any attention to him. I mean, just the fact that the guy was wearing a suit probably should've drawn some attention his way. For those who've never been to a game at HSBC Arena, the only people who wear suits are Arena and Sabres bigwigs and players. That's it. Most people are in jeans and a jersey or a sweatshirt. Of course you get the random girls wearing too much makeup, 4 inch stilettos and a lot of cleavage as though Ryan Miller will see them in the crowd, stop the game, leap over the boards and propose marriage at first sight of their potentially frostbitten ta-tas. Come to think of it, Tim kennedy's girlfriend was dressed kind of like that. Whoops.

Anyway, as I was leaving at the end of the night I was not anticipating running into any Sabres, but Whoops. I was wrong. On the way out I passed Pommer, Stafford and Funk and some other dudes that are probably Sabres but I just don't know who they are. I'd probably recognize their names but their faces were totally lost on me. Sorry random dudes! But good times anyway, am I right?!?!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL:

We won!!! We won!!! WooooooHoOOOOOOOO!!!! Royzie! Goose! Al! It would've been nice if those goals had been perhaps spread out over more than the last few minutes of the 3rd period and overtime, but I'll take it!!!

I stole some pictures from a random girl's Facebook album, hope she doesn't mind!

Someone please tell Nate to "Get his legs goin" to a good tailor

Ahahahahahahahahhahaa
LOVE

ALSO! If you told me he would single-handedly rid the world of hunger and poverty and then offer to come over and clean my cat's litterbox everyday, I could not love Patrick Lalalime any more than I do. THEN YOU ADD THIS PICTURE AND I AM LOST. TOTALLY LOST.

OMG
Could his daughters be anymore adorable?!?!?!!!
The little matching shoes and skirts and hats!!
the little pigtail braids!
Daddy's sweaters!
Their adorably shy little smiles!
The Lalime family is TOO CUTE
Never having seen any other players children, I hereby declare Liliana and Rosemary Lalime the cutest children in hockey.

Oh, this also blows some more SERIOUS holes into Ryan Miller's "We don't live like rockstars" slant on things. Red carpets, RYAN!?!?!?! jk jk

Next game tonight at 7:00! From Sabres Edge, the lines that skated this morning:

Paille-Gaustad-Stafford; (interesting, lots of size on this line)
MacArthur-Hecht-Pominville; (This line did well for us at times this season)
Gerbe-Kennedy-Afinogenov; (Gerbe and Kennedy are kind of like Royzie and Vanek Jr.)
Mancari-Zagrapan-Gogulla

Defensemen dressing (with my own pairings assigned)
Butler, Spacek;
Rivet, Tallinder;
Sekera, Weber

Lalalime will be in goal and Marian Gaborik won't be playing :(

So Hecht or Pommer with the C? I'm guessing that there will be an A and a C on both of those shoulders. The other A.... Rivet and Goose had them last night, there's also Jaro and Hank. I think it might be Sissy because I don't think he's worn a letter in this pre-season yet.

yay!!!! Gerbe's Buffalo debut!!! (remind me to post my updated thoughts on my life long BFF Nate Gerbe soon.)

Good times, good times.

WOOOO!!!!

by Anne

So I'm soouuuuuuuper tired and I have much to report on the comings and goings from the pre-season home opener, but I'm wicked tired.

Instead of my WITTY repartee, enjoy some snaps from the red carpet event I almost accidentally crashed in order to get to work faster. Whoops.

ITS THE WHITE SUIT!!!!!!!
You WEAR that white after Labor Day girrrrrrrrl!!



Aww lookit Ryan Miller lookin' all sassy and filling out that suit
This anti-emaciated lifestyle he's living is appreciated on and off the ice
I never noticed that Ryan Miller's legs seem to comprise about 75% of his body
He's like 2 or 3 inches shorter than Goose and his legs look about 2 or 3 inches longer than Goose's
It's also hard to tell if they're standing right next to each other or not which throws off the perspective
I can't think about Paul Gaustad in this picture too much. I'm afraid of what might happen.
GAHHHH WHY IS HE SO BEAUTIFUL IN SO MANY WAYS



There isn't nearly enough genuflecting going on at this moment
CAP'N TEPPPPPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!



Crrraaaaaiiiiiiiig, is that the beginnings of a smiiile?
Awww shucks, Rosie!
You're so lovable with your "I kind of hate it here" attitude
I bet they don't have red carpets in silly old San Jose!!!
Thanks for assisting on Goose's goal
and wearing the A
and beating up Hollweg
and acknowledging that you might, one day, in the distant future, after you've retired and moved far far far away from Western New York,
admit that you don't hate Buffalo.


Buffalo DEFINITELY loves you.