Well That was Terrible

by Anne

Monday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks started off pretty darn sweet with the Sabres quickly going up 2-0 over the reigning (albeit dismantled) Stanley Cup Champions.

Then it all went to hell in a handbasket. They lost their 2-goal lead then lost one of their key players.

Everyone send happy thoughts to Jason Pominville and suspension thoughts to Colin Campbell as he spins the wheel of justice.

Blindside hit, player didn't have the puck, had to leave the ice on a stretcher. Usually that equals at least a one-game suspension from Overlord Campbell.

They need to get their act together and fast. Pommer's game streak ends at 336. His last missed game was April 7, 2006 when Lindy benched him. :(

Get well soon, Pommer.

Tucker Suspended for hit on Greene

by Anne

Last night, long after I had drifted off into Dreamland, Darcy Tucker pulled a classic Tucker douchemove^TM.

Matt Greene was skating down the ice for an icing when he was hit from behind with unnecessary force by Tucker. Granted, while watching the video, you can see Greener's feet start to slide as he and Tucker meet up for the icing. However, Tucker is leaning into Greener, causing him to be unable to regain his balance and Tucker's body weight leaning on Greener pushes him into the boards hard enough to knock his helmet off. A tricky call, but Tucker was paying more attention to the puck than his or the other player's safety that close to the boards and at that speed, which is (typical Tucker) dangerous. Basically, there was no way Tucker was going to be able to make it to the puck before Greener and he should've slowed down. Tucker seemed awfully cavalier about slamming into the boards that hard unless he had planned to use Greene to soften the blow; the slipping just makes it look worse.

In retrospect, I'm somewhat glad I didn't see the hit in person because I probably would've freaked. Also, he barely seemed phased by what happened and immediately turns to Tucker like "WTF is your problem? Why'd you do that?"

Tucker will not be there tomorrow night when the Kings head to Denver to take on the Avs in an immediate re-match.

This feels a lot better

by Anne

Wheee!

Between Friday and Tuesday the Pens, Canucks, Kings and Sabres played eight games. In those games those four teams went a combined 0-8-0. WHAT? That's terrible. I was not too happy. Eight straight games of FAIL.

Tonight, my two favorite teams (Canucks, you'd better get your act together to try to reclaim this title from the Kings) played two splendid games.

Clearly, I saw the Sabres game, but I did not see the Kings game because they are in the midst of an East coast trip and their game was also at 7:00.

First my beloved Sabres won somewhat of a snoozer against Edmonton at HSBC Arena tonight.

Steve Montador scored his first as a Sabre and the line of Stafford - Connolly - Vanek, known (by me only) as the Should line (because it SHOULD work) contributed the first goal from Staffy and then provided some stifling offensive zone pressure to set up the Full Monty's goal. Yoyo added the empty netter to seal the 3-1 win.

The Sabres powerful is godawful terrible. Good LORD. They were 0 for 7 against the Bruins the other night and tonight they went 0 for 4. Maybe practice the power play in practice lots and lots? Thanks.

Clarke MacArthur accidentally pulverized Liam Reddox into the boards with only a few minutes left in the third period which drew a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. I didn't see the hit but me may be suspended. Dang. Although maybe Mairsy will play? Grier had a strained groin and if he misses time, Mair will definitely be back. Maybe Paetsch will be in at forward? I hope Grizz doesn't get suspended. I think it's clear that he had no intention of hitting him hard from behind; Maybe taking the body to knock him off the puck, but he seems to lose his footing at the last second.

Still scary, regardless of intent.

That five minute penalty was interesting. For the first two minutes of it, the crowd was holding its collective breath, as if we were willing the puck to stay out of the net. Then as the PKers started to really control the situation, a loud "Let's go Buff-a-lo!" chant energized the Arena and the penalty was killed and met by a standing ovation from the crowd.

Hey Should line.

Good job

Cookies for you.

Well, maybe not you, Tommy. You took lotsa penalties.

Next game IGGY COMES TO BUFFALO!

:) :) :)

Also on tap, and experienced by me via boxscore checks and LAKings.com highlights, was the Kings 5-2 win over the flailing Carolina Hurricanes. Tonight's loss brings the Butter Snaps losing streak to 13 games. I believe they are 0-10-3 in their last 13. Yeesh.

Erik Ersberg made his second start of the season and got his first win.  Anze Kopi-star had two assists upping his league-leading points total to 30 (14+16). Oh snap.

Randy Jones, the Kings 7th defenseman recently acquired from Philly, played in his first game as a King and recorded the game winning goal and an assist. Woo!

This line is also foxy.

This line contributed six points tonight (2+4)

Well done, boys.

I love you.

Lots.

Both teams are off tomorrow and then both teams play Friday. Then, of course, both teams play Saturday. Yeesh, schedulers!

Joe DiPenta is a D-Bag

by Anne

I'm not sure why he thought this was a good idea:

But it's not. One game suspension. Awesome. Glad we have him leading by example down on the farm. I would love to know what was going through his head when he decided that was the best option.

Note to self and everyone else: If a hockey stick was intended to be swung like a baseball bat, you would play hockey with baseball bats

Suspension City

by Anne

Denis "Sucker Punch" Gauthier has been suspended for five games for his hit in Josh Georges in the Kings/Habs game on Saturday.

Tyler Kennedy has been suspended for one game for instigating a fight with Luke Schenn for hitting Malkin. Kennedy was on the bench when the hit happened and the fight occurred during a line change during a stoppage in play, before play had resumed. That's a no-no.

Apparently a beating at this man's hands was not enough

Prospects Tearin' it Up, All-Star Games and Ruutu Gets Tuu

by Anne

Its been a great couple of days for Sabres' prospects.

First Team Canada, featuring Tylers Ennis and Myers, wins a 5th straight gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa. The Jolly Blonde Giant finished the tournament with 1 goal, 2 PIM and a +5. His smaller teammate, Tyler Ennis finished the tournament with 7 points (3+4), 0 PIM and a +1. Congratulations, Tylers!

Ennis battling for the puck against Kazakhstan


The Jolly Blonde Giant calmly moving the puck against Germany

Also, Mark Mancari has been named to the Canadian All-Star team for the AHL All-Star Game. The AHL All-Star Game is Canada v. Players from Everywhere Else. Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy have been named to the PlanetUSA All-Star team. If y'all remember, last year at the AHL All-Star game, Mancari broke the AHL hardest shot record. Can't wait to see what these guys do! Hooray!

Tim and Nate: Uh, yeah, Mark, weeeee're not on the same team.

In other All-Star news, the Western Conference reserves were announced today and WCBs Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla and Ryan Getzlaf were named to the team. Hooray! Eastern Conference reserves are announced tomorrow and I'm hoping there's at least 1 slug on that roster. I know the All-Star Game is stupid and voting is lame but I enjoy the ridiculousness of the festivities and the feeling I get that I'm having a wild weekend fling with the rest of the NHL while watching the goings on. I'd rather watch this all with at least one Eastern Conference player I won't feel dirty about cheering for (other than Ovechkin).

Also, voting closes soon for our All-Star Rosters. Things are getting close! Don't let your favorites go unappreciated!! Its Wednesday, which is apparently usually the day I update these standings, so here they are:

Eastern Conference Forwards
1. Gaustad
2. Lecavalier
3. Eaves
4. Laich
5. Upshall

Eastern Conference D-Men
1. Ference
2. Schenn
3. Rivet
4. Komisarek

Eastern Conference Goalies
1. DiPietro
2. Lalime
3. Price

Western Conference Forwards
1. Berglund
2. Sharp
3. Nash
4. Toews
5. Cammalleri

Western Conference D-Men
1. O'Brien
2. Liles
3. Souray
4. Weber

Western Conference Goalies
T1. Boucher and Raycroft
3. Huet

There ya have it. Some of these races are extreeeemely close.

Oh yeah, and Ruutu got 2 games for gnawing on Petey, and is now considered a "repeat offender".

I'm convinced no one edits articles on NHL.com. From the above linked article:

It is the second time this season that Ruutu has been suspended this season. On Nov. 12, Ruutu earned a two-game ban for an elbow he delivered to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre in a Nov. 11 game.

Really driving the point home, aren't we "Staff"? I write bad sentences, but I don't write for the NHL.

Good times were had by all.

VERDICT IS IN

by Anne

Six games, retroactive to Tuesday's game in Calgary, plus an anger management evaluation.

Discuss.

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