If the Sabres have anything to prove, it’s going to be during this 7-game road trip in January. It started in Atlanta and will end in this year’s Olympics host city, Vancouver. So far, the Sabres have managed to take 5 points of the potential 14 that lie within this trip.

Buffalo’s first game, at Atlanta, was a 2-1 OT win, followed by a SO loss at the New York Islanders. With tonight’s win, the Sabres are 8-0-3 in the last 11 and have thus earned a point in each of those games.

Buffalo had a blowout game against Phoenix, hounding the Coyotes to the tune of a 7-2 rout. With the two points earned in the game, the Sabres have currently squeezed into the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference, with 66 points. The Washington Capitals also have 66 points, but the Sabres have done it with one less game played.

Buffalo has another chance against Anaheim on January 20th, as the West Coast swing continues. The wins have been opportune, as the New Jersey Devils are currently on a rare losing streak- this Western Conference tour is the best moment possible for the Sabres, for two reasons:

1. The Sabres have the best record against Western teams, at 8-0-1. Many critics and Western fans have touted their supremacy, but Buffalo has the chance to prove that Eastern teams still have the mettle to tango with the West.

2. Buffalo has the opportunity to pull away, even if it is temporary, and claim the top spot legitimately. This stretch is one of the longest and toughest in this season, and if the Sabres emerge with a winning record, they will have proved much to the NHL.

Both Anaheim and Los Angeles have  experienced slides of their own, and while Anaheim has righted the ship, a streaking Buffalo team may have what it takes to steal 2 wins and 4 points from California-with the biggest test being at the Shark Tank.

So what has the Sabres going? What has made them an elite team?

No doubt, people are going to point out the stellar play of Ryan Miller, and he deserves all the accolades that he receives. But I’m going to try and focus on the players around Miller- he always tries to share the spotlight, and I’ll join him in his efforts.

While the Sabres’ defense is ranked 25th in terms of shots against per game [31.9], Buffalo has a huge star-in-the-making in Tyler Myers. He’s leading the entire team in ice time per game, and he also has been pegged as a favorite, or at least a legitimate contender, for the Calder Trophy. He added another tally during the Sabres’ rout of Phoenix, and now has scored 7 goals and 27 points.

The re-emergence of Tim Connolly and the rest of the Sabres offense has also been crucial to Buffalo’s success. Buffalo is currently ranked 9th in terms of shots on goal per game, averaging just under 31 shots/game. Connolly is on a points binge, adding at least one point in the last 12 contests. He’s at 11 goals and 31 assists for a team-high 42 points.

Lindy Ruff’s “scoring by committee” system has finally broken through and found success. In the last 11 games in which the Sabres have gained at least one point, Buffalo has scored 39 goals, averaging out to just about 3.5 goals per game. That has boosted their “goals for” ranking, from 19th up to the current 11th place spot.

Miller’s GAA is 2.01, so basic math tells us that the offense is doing it’s job.

The lack of an offensive superstar may be cause for concern, or at the very least some wishful thinking, but the Sabres currently have a system that works for them. The biggest danger is having the defense slide- then the team relies on Miller too heavily, which can wear him down.

The defense will also have to step it up, especially just before and after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Ryan Miller’s position on the USA squad is practically a guarantee that Buffalo will see backup Patrick Lalime minding the net for quite a few games. If the Sabres want to continue winning, they must adjust their defense accordingly.

But in the grand scope of things, the Sabres are doing just fine. 66 points and a 30-11-6 record is proof of that.

Theodore Roosevelt has a famous quote, that states “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

The Sabres seem to be taking his advice quite well.

First and foremost, I would like to say that I am incredibly pleased with the way that the Sabres season has gone thus far. Buffalo is atop the Northeast Division and 3rd in the Eastern Conference, and boasts one of the best defenses in the league.

I’m also incredibly happy with some players on the team, such as star netminder Ryan Miller, and even his backup Patrick Lalime. Rookie sensation Tyler Myers has been absolutely stellar this season, and is picking up the most ice time per game than any other rookie in the league. He’s been a cornerstone on the blue and gold’s defense.

Clarke MacArthur has impressed this season also, with a team high 10 goals this season.

And that’s when I start to worry, after typing that sentence.

“…a team high 10 goals…”

And that sentence is why I’m writing this article. Again, I am not complaining or being pessimistic, I would just like to point this issue out.

League leaders in scoring include Gaborik, Marleau, Ovechkin, Crosby, etc…and while I realize that Buffalo may not get a player of that magnitude in the near future, I’m just concerned that the Sabres’ best goal scorer has less than half of the league leaders.

However, what is apparent among the Sabres and lacking in other squads is the “goals by committee” system that Lindy Ruff is pushing among his players, and so far it’s working just fine. As long as the defense keeps going the way it is.

Only 3 Sabres starters [Rivet, Mair, Butler] are without goals. Four players have scored 1 apiece, another four have scored 2, two have scored 6, three have scored 7, Derek Roy has 9 and MacArthur and Vanek both have 10.

The system of pushing towards the net and simply putting shots on goal has worked, especially in times of dire need [such as Buffalo's last win against Toronto].

Other times, when the system fails, the outcome is ugly [such as Buffalo's loss against Washington last night]. That was painfully obvious watching the Sabres fall to the Capitals, as Ryan Miller did all he could to stop Washington. But, a goalie can only do so much, and especially without the offensive help that’s needed.

That’s why I get this feeling that if Buffalo had that one stud forward, a power scorer that could ignite this Sabres offense, the team would be just about unstoppable. I’m trying not to be a homer, but I truly believe that.

One of the biggest disappointments so far is Buffalo’s supposed superstar, Thomas Vanek. He’s injured, yes, but only 10 goals so far? In many fans opinions, he is not earning the salary that Buffalo is shelling out for him.

Am I calling for a trade? Perhaps. Something, please something, to get this offense going. Buffalo is currently ranked 21st with just 94 goals for, compared to league-leader Washington’s 132.

There are many rumors about players like Lecavalier, Carter, and Kovulchuk being moved within or after this season, and the Sabres might want to consider pursuing a top-ranked offensive machine.

I’m not saying capturing one of the mentioned three is likely, but in my opinion the Sabres management needs to do something.

I want to open this up to the readers, Sabres fans or not. What do you think could help out this offense, and relieve some pressure on the defense?

And to those reading: A blessed and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Scoring at Madison Square Garden opened at the 06:25 mark in the first period, with Buffalo’s Derek Roy adding a tally and giving the Sabres the 1-0 lead. New York replied with 2 goals, scored by Callahan and Gaborik. Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta tied the game late in the first period.

Kaleta also scored in the 2nd period to lift Buffalo to a 3-2 lead, with a short-handed breakaway goal. No scoring took place in the 3rd period, and Buffalo killed off penalties and an extra-man situation for New York en route to the 3-2 road win.

Buffalo was out-shot again, by a margin of 38-32. The Sabres’ goaltending has been and will continue to be the backbone of the team. Buffalo’s league #2 penalty kill was also stellar in the game.

Buffalo’s previous two wins, against league leaders Washington and Chicago, are convincing evidence that the Sabres should be counted among the league’s top teams.  Buffalo was the first team to shut out the Capitals this season, and did so by a score of 3-0.

Buffalo’s win against Chicago was remarkable- mostly because franchise star Ryan Miller was not in the lineup. Many Sabres fans acted in disbelief when it was announced that Patrick Lalime would take the start against the Blackhawks.

Lalime quickly proved that he deserved the start, holding Chicago scoreless into the third period, and turning away close to 40 shots on goal in the 2-1 win.

These past three wins have been great for the organization. The Sabres’ offense, posting 8 goals in the games,is showing some potential of lighting the spark that is necessary to really take off in the standings.  Thomas Vanek has also showed some signs of life, leading the Sabres in goals with 9 (along with Clarke MacArthur, who also has 9).

The Sabres look to extend their winning streak and their Northeast Division lead Monday when they visit the Centre Bell in Montreal to take on the Canadiens.

Ryan Miller made 35 saves against the league-leading Washington offense, and recorded his 16th career shutout. That also ties him with Phoenix’s goalie for the most shutouts this year, with 4. Jose Theodore was Washington’s netminder, as Simeon Varlamov was injured prior to the game’s start.

The game was evenly matched in every aspect of the game besides the scoreboard. Both the Sabres and Capitals had good offensive rushes and great defensive breakups. A few unlucky breaks for Washington’s Ovechkin and others kept the game scoreless for the Capitals, and the Sabres were led by Miller’s heroics between the pipes.

Buffalo started scoring in the first period with defenseman Steve Montador ripping a shot from near the blue line and past Jose Theodore to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Nathan Gerbe of the Sabres’ AHL affiliate Portland (ME) Pirates was called up for the game against Washington, and soon left his mark. Gerbe, drafted in 2005, scored his first NHL goal tonight in the second period,  banking the puck off of Theodore and into the Capitals net. The celebration that ensued was fit for such an occasion.

The Sabres’ final tally came from Henrik Tallinder also in the second period, and gave Buffalo the 3-0 lead that would remain through a scoreless third period and be the final score.

The Sabres’ offense was out-shot 28 to 35, again exposing the problem that faces this Buffalo squad: generating offensive opportunities and putting shots on goal. Granted, the test against Washington tonight was incredibly hard, but overall, the Sabres’ offensive statistics are far from stellar, and many of the W’s that Buffalo owns are thanks to brilliant goaltending by Ryan Miller.

The Sabres are ranked 20th in the league, scoring only 74 goals in 28 games, with an average of about 2 and a half goals scored per game. However, Buffalo is a league-leader in goals allowed, only 62- tied with 1st and 2nd place New Jersey and Chicago.

While the offense did its job this game, the team cannot continue to rely on the defense to carry them. The offense must ignite, and sooner and rather than later.

Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin was quick to write off the loss: “They just played solidly defensively…But I think we didn’t play our game at all. We didn’t get the puck in deep, and we didn’t control the offensive blue line. I had a couple of chances, especially in the first period, but I just missed the puck and missed the net. It happens.”

Sabres’ head coach Lindy Ruff was pleased with Buffalo’s effort, stating that ”Our guys did a heck of a job playing the highest scoring team in the league. We took a lot of ice away from (their) key personnel. There was a lot to like with the way we defended.”

With the 2 earned points, Buffalo recaptures the Northeast Division lead and the #3 spot in the Eastern Conference, behind (1) Washington and (2) New Jersey.

The Sabres’ last game of their home stand is Friday, when Buffalo native Pat Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks visit HSBC Arena.

source for quotes: http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009020442

Buffalo opened the scoring a little more than 2 minutes into the game with Clarke MacArthur’s eighth goal of the season. Pominville and Roy both added goals before the halfway point in the first period to propel the Sabres to a 3-0 lead over the defenseless Canadiens.

In the first period, Buffalo’s Ryan Miller blocked all 3 Montreal shots on goal. Montreal’s Halak blocked 12 of 15.

The Sabres came out swinging again the second period and Buffalo native Tim Kennedy put the puck past Halak to gain the 4-0 advantage. Montreal answered back later in the the period with a wrist-shot goal by Scott Gomez.

Montreal increased their shots on goal by 2 for the second period, placing 5 shots on Miller. The Sabres bombarded Halak with 14 shots on goal.

The third period would see another Montreal goal, by Josh Gorges, halving Buffalo’s lead to 4-2. The Sabres’ powerful offensive efforts would strike two more times with goals by Andrej Sekera and Mike Grier, giving the game its 6-2 final score.

Montreal’s total shots on goal was 23, while Buffalo bombarded Halak with 37 shots.

The game had a relatively low number of penalties (5, with Montreal taking 3, Buffalo taking 2) including offsetting 5-minute majors for fighting to Patrick Kaleta (surprise.) and Paul Mara.

Keeping in suit with the majority of the season, 6 different Buffalo players found the back of the net. The same thing occurred in the Sabres’ 5-1 rout of the Carolina Hurricanes last Saturday.

Clarke MacArthur is now tied with Thomas Vanek for the most goals scored this season, with 8. Vanek continues to disappoint so far this season, with the superstar aspirations for him quickly slipping away.  4 Sabres (Roy, Pominville, Connolly, and Gaustad) are tied with 6 goals apiece. Drew Stafford has scored 7.

The Sabres’ recent offensive flurry, scoring 18 goals in their last 4 games, has pushed Buffalo to the #16 spot in the “goals for” column, with 70.

Also, with the win tonight, Buffalo pulls ahead of the Boston Bruins for the division lead. Buffalo now has 34 points, Boston has 33 (but has also played 2 more games than Buffalo). Ottawa has 30 points, Montreal has 26, and Toronto brings up the rear with 23 points.

Buffalo next faces Conference rival New York (Rangers) on Saturday, Dec 5 at HSBC Arena, in Game 4 of their 7-game homestand to kick off December.

The Sabres beat the Flyers at their own game, scoring 4 times in a highly physical game wrought with penalties. Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta was given a game misconduct after a boarding penalty, and has just finished serving a two game suspension handed down from the NHL. He’ll be eligible to play Thursday (12/3) against Montreal. Stealing 2 points from Philadelphia was a great boost to the Sabres’ morale, who had broken a 4-game losing streak with the win. However, the Sabres would be without Kaleta, Craig Rivet, or Paul Gaustad, as all had sustained injuries at the Wachovia Center.

Buffalo attempted to take that momentum back with them to HSBC Arena where they played host to the league-worst Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes scored first early and easily dominated the Sabres, who were confused and disorganized in the first two periods. Carolina’s Matt Cullen scored the Hurricanes’ first and only goal. Heroics by the Sabres defense and goalie Ryan Miller (who earned a standing ovation from Sabres fans) kept the score 1-0 after two periods. A renewed Sabres team emerged from the locker room, and lit up Carolina netminder Leighton five times (Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Clarke MacArthur, Mike Grier, and Jochen Hecht all scored) to send the Hurricanes back to Raleigh.

The Sabres’ latest campaign sent them to Canada to take on the cross-border rival Maple Leafs. These games are notorious in Western New York/Southern Ontario as a mere 90 minutes on the QEW separates these two hockey-crazed cities. The game was a back-and-forth affair with no score heading midway in the second period, when Buffalo’s Tim Kennedy tallied the first goal at the 13:07 mark. The score remained 1-0 going into the third period, and Henrik Tallinder extended the Buffalo lead with a goal 20 seconds into the period.  Jochen Hecht scored about 10 minutes later to bring the game to its final score, 3-0.

Buffalo’s Ryan Miller has proven time and time again that he is the backbone of this Sabres squad. He leads in the NHL in save percentage (.937), GAA (1.97) and has recorded his third shutout of the season. He’s been helped by the defense- Buffalo’s is one of the stingiest, only allowing 55 goals in 24 games.

The good news is that the Sabres’ offense has found some life on the rink. They’ve scored 12 goals in their last three games, and the scoring has been even across the roster. Thomas Vanek now has 8 goals,  Stafford and MacArthur both have 7, Gaustad and Connolly have tallied 6 apiece, and Jason Pominville and Derek Roy each have 5. The Buffalo Sabres’ offense, despite their current goal flurry, must find a way to keep producing numbers like the past three games. The league leader (Dany Heatley, SJS) is nearing 20 goals so far this season, 12 ahead of the Sabres’ Vanek. Vanek was signed to be Buffalo’s superstar player, and the Sabres need him to be. The other Sabres forwards must also spark their game.

Another thing to watch for in upcoming games will be the play of Patrick Lalime, the Sabres’ backup goaltender. With Ryan Miller starting almost every game, fans and management alike are becoming concerned with the possibility of fatigue hitting Miller.  When Lalime goes between the pipes, the Sabres need to make sure that the defense rallies around him to keep pucks away from the net, and that the offense scores enough goals to allow an opposing goal or two, and still walk away with 2 points. Buffalo has struggled with Lalime in net, as his record this season in 0-2.

Buffalo should also be looking to sign a reliable backup goalie, as faith in Lalime is all but gone. There have been many rumors flying around that former Sabre Martin Biron could be brought back to Buffalo. Once Rick DiPietro returns, the New York Islanders’ abundance of goaltenders could help make the move happen. It would be beneficial to both the team and Biron- the team needs a backup goalie, and Biron’s family and residence are still in the Western New York area. Having Biron back in the Blue and Gold could be a huge step forward for this organization.

Buffalo begins a 5-game home stand against Montreal this Thursday (12/3),and continuing against the New York Rangers (12/5),New Jersey (12/7), Washington (12/9), and Chicago (12/11).

The Sabres are looking forward to the return of captain Craig Rivet and Paul Gaustad. December is going to prove to be a crucial month as the Sabres look to fend off the Bruins and Senators to pad their division lead.

tsn.ca reports that Guillaume Latendresse has been traded to the Minnesota Wild for Benoit Pouliot.

http://www.tsn.ca/tradecentre/story/?id=299611

Buffalo surprised most critics and opponents by racing out of the gate and being one of the last teams to be unbeaten in regulation before falling in Atlanta. Ryan Miller has been the center of the team’s success thus far, and continues to be the star of the franchise. Through 20 games, he has a league-leading 1.97 GAA, a .931 save % and 12 wins. The Sabres are currently 12-6-2, with 26 points and is sitting 3rd in the Eastern Conference. The first 20 games have included matchups where the Sabres have played with stellar efforts, as well as matches in which Buffalo has fallen flat. Here are some of the more memorable and forgettable games of the first quarter of the 09-10 NHL season:

Buffalo 1, Nashville 0- In an intense goalie’s duel, the Sabres outlasted the Predators in Nashville and won on a third-period tally by Mike Grier. Miller and Rinne (NSH) both had great games.

Buffalo 6, Detroit 2- The Sabres stunned the defending Western Conference champions in Buffalo during a game that was televised by Versus. Buffalo was firing on all cylinders as the Red Wings failed to show up in Western New York. This was the game that many people began to follow the Sabres after.

Atlanta 4, Buffalo 2- The defense failed to show up to the game in Patrick Lalime’s 2009 debut between Buffalo’s pipes. The offense outshot the Thrashers 42-27, but Atlanta’s Hedberg continuously denied Buffalo goals. Former Sabres Max Afinogenov also scored against Lalime.

Buffalo 5, Florida 2- Buffalo scored 5 times in the first period to put the Panthers away. 3 of those 5 occurred in the first 5 minutes of the game.

Buffalo 2, Tampa Bay 1 (SO)- The Sabres rallied back in the 3rd period to score with 17 seconds left, and stun the Lightning after 6 rounds of the shoot out. Drew Stafford tied the game, and rookie sensation Tyler Myers won the game in the SO.

New York Islanders 5, Buffalo 0- New York dominated the Sabres all 60 minutes, and won with a stellar showing in net by Martin Biron and Tambellini’s hat trick. Biron won his 200th game against his old team and Buffalo went 0-5 on the power play.

Boston 4, Buffalo 2- The Sabres defense hung rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth out to dry in his NHL debut, falling 4-2 in Boston.

Buffalo 3, Edmonton 1 and Buffalo 2, Calgary 1-Buffalo beat Western Conference teams back-to-back in one week, proving again that this Sabres squad has the mettle necessary to be a post-season contender. Dousing the Flames in a SO capped off a fantastic netminder battle between Buffalo’s Miller and Calgary’s Kiprusoff.

Florida 6, Buffalo 2…Boston 2, Buffalo 1 (OT)…Ottawa 5, Buffalo 3- All three of these games were lost because of a few fundamental errors, including lack of focus and physicality. The Sabres started with good effort then continued to slide going into the second and third periods of each game. What should have been 6 points for Buffalo quickly dwindled to a measly 1.

In my opinion, the Sabres’ overall grade for right now is a B-. Their defense, despite not showing up for some games, remains one of the league’s best and goalie Ryan Miller continues to be a league leader in his position. My only concern about the defense is Craig Rivet- Buffalo signed him for defensive prowess and veteran leadership, and may be lacking in both categories. He is also the captain, and might not be the best person on the squad for it. My pick for Sabres captain is Paul Gaustad. He’s the workhorse of the team, a good leader and an experienced player- he always gives his all.

The Buffalo offense has been even on scoring among players, with Clarke MacArthur and Drew Stafford both scoring 6, and Thomas Vanek leading with 7. A few players also have 5 and 4 goals so far. The Sabres are waiting on Vanek to ignite offensively and start to light the lamp more consistently- he needs to do better than last season, or at least as well, to help Buffalo score as many goals as possible. Through 20 games, the Sabres have only scored 52 goals- 22nd in the league.

The Sabres need to regain their focus and work hard the next 20 games. Within the next quarter, Buffalo faces very tough opponents in Pittsburgh, Washington, and New Jersey, as well as Chicago in a rare Blackhawks visit to HSBC Arena.

Buffalo’s GM needs to start scouting around for a reliable backup goaltender. The Sabres’ current success lies solely on the play of Ryan Miller, and might even give a false impression of the team’s ability. I’ve said it before, and I reiterate: if Ryan Miller is unable to play, this team will quickly fall apart.

Here is the link (to the Buffalo Sabres page, you can access the home page, too)

http://pickmynhlteam.com/2009/11/15/the-buffalo-sabres/#comments

He’s also on Twitter. I’ve commented 2x about why he should be a Sabres fan. Currently the Anaheim Ducks are in the lead (for mentioning him on their official team page) but he’s keeping the contest open until January.

A little off-the-wall perhaps, but it is very interesting to see what people have to say about their own teams.

May the best team win!

Let’s Go Buffalo!

The Good:

-The Sabres are currently 12-4-1, sitting atop the Northeast Division with 25 points. Boston is 5 points behind, Ottawa is -6, Montréal is -7, and Toronto is a distant 14 points behind.

-Buffalo also is holding on to the #3 spot in the Eastern Conference, between Washington (2) and Pittsburgh (4).

-They’re currently on a 3 game winning streak, beating Western Conference opponents Edmonton and Calgary, before squeaking out a win at Philadelphia. This past weekend was arguably their toughest test in November and the Sabres escaped unscathed.

- Not only did they beat Calgary and Philadelphia, they halted their 4 and 5 game winning streaks, respectively.

-Ryan Miller is having an absolutely stellar season: he leads the league in GAA (1.77) and in save% (.939). He also is in a three-way tie for most wins, with 12, and has posted 2 shutouts. His defense has also been a big help.

-Buffalo’s rookies have proven invaluable, especially D sensation Tyler Myers- he’s scored 3 goals, and paired with 6 assists he has 9 points. Tyler Ennis starred in his first NHL game, scoring a goal against Ray Emery in Philadelphia.

The Bad:

-Buffalo’s offense has been stumbling, only producing 46 goals in 17 games, or 2.71 per game-good for 19th place in the league.

- With the lack of offensive production, Buffalo has been playing a gritty, defensive game. So far it’s paid off, but how long can that possibly last?

-The Sabres’ PK is about 83%, and the PP is 18.8%, 10th and 18th in the league…mediocre at best. Buffalo’s given up 3 shorthanded goals, which ties for 2nd most in the league with Los Angeles, Boston, Tampa Bay, and Anaheim. Minnesota has the most with 5. This aspect of the Sabres’ game needs to improve immediately.

The Ugly:

-Buffalo’s goaltending situation is the biggest problem facing the team. Some people are blissfully unaware of the problem, reveling in Miller’s success, but I am not convinced that the depth is there. Miller is no doubt an elite goaltender, but after the Gomez/Miller fiasco last February, the possibility of an injury concerns me.

-Patrick Lalime, Buffalo’s backup, is back from an injury and has thus far started 1 game and was lit up with 4 goals in Atlanta. He started during Miler’s injury last year and posted a 5-13-3 record for 2008-2009. Lalime’s age may be catching up with him, along with a hip surgery this past summer.

-Jhonas Enroth was called up from Portland to start against the Sabres’ first meeting against Boston, and was scored on 4 times, with no help from his defense.

So far, the Buffalo Sabres have been on track. They’re doing fine in games, and scoring enough goals to barely spot Ryan Miller enough space to move around in. The defense has been clicking and is one of the stingiest in the league, but the offense needs to light that spark and get more pucks in the net, regardless of how many SOG they have. I’m still saying that the Sabres need to get a good, reliable backup goalie. If Miller becomes unable to play, the team simply is not putting forth the effort needed to get by without him. The Sabres need a backup, now.

He’s been the franchise player so far, and many critics and other writers have been crediting Buffalo’s success with him, and I completely agree. While the Sabres are cruising along right now, the rest of the team (mainly the offense) needs to prove that they can score the goals necessary to propel this team towards the playoffs.

I feel if the Sabres can lock down a good backup (some rumors keep saying Marty Biron’s return to Buffalo, but he’s contracted with the Isles) and if Buffalo’s offense does what it’s paid for, Buffalo will be a force to be reckoned with.

Here’s to the Blue and Gold- Let’s Go Buffalo!

Buffalo scored once per period, with Drew Stafford, Steve Montador, and Jochen Hecht (empty net) all contributing to the 3-1 win. Patrick O’Sullivan scored the lone Edmonton tally, in the second period. Ryan Miller made 28 saves on 29 shots on goal, as the Oilers out-shot the Sabres 29-26.

Stafford’s goal was made from up-close, with a wrist shot hitting high above Khabibulin’s shoulder and into the top of the net. Montador’s slapshot from the circle blasted past the Oiler netminder, and Hecht’s was an empty-net goal to ensure the Sabres victory.

The scariest moment of the game, bar none, was Clarke MacArthur’s hit on Liam Reddox, who was knocked out when his head collided with the boards. MacArthur showed immediate concern and knelt by Reddox’s side before being  ushered away by referees before being called on a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. Buffalo killed off the following 5 minute penalty to force Edmonton to pull the goalie.

The hit in question was called dirty, but in my (unbiased as possible) opinion, the hit was unfortunate and unintentional. MacArthur’s track record is not composed of hits and rough play such as that. Both players were tangled up at a decent speed heading towards the boards and Reddox’s head got caught between the boards and MacArthur’s knee (from what I can remember, I’m waiting on highlights to be released to make sure I’m accurately writing). I was glad to see that Reddox eventually did walk off under his own power.

The call was fair, and I’m not going to argue. What I am looking for is perhaps a suspension from the NHL- especially following the recent GM meetings on headshots, and the recent Kitchener/Erie OHL fiasco.

This season, the Sabres are 4-0 against Western Conference teams (Phoenix, Detroit, Nashville, Edmonton). They will attempt to go 5-0 when they face Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames this Friday, at The Bank in Buffalo.

The Sabres move to 10-4-1, good for the 1st place spot in the NE Division and #3 in the Eastern Conference, sneaking ahead of the struggling Penguins due to GP differences (21 points in 15 games, against Pittsburgh’s 24 pts in 18 games).

After playing Calgary on Friday, the Sabres travel to Philadelphia to take on the Broad Street Bullies.

Caniacs’ high hopes have been mercilessly dashed thus far, only about 15 games into this new season. The Hurricanes have fallen off the hockey map, sitting 2-11-3, and currently sitting on a 12-game losing streak.

What is most upsetting, however, is not only the fall from grace, but how its happened.

No one knows. The Hurricanes’ fall has not only been heartbreaking but baffling, as well. Carolina didn’t lose any key players. Quite the opposite, they added players thought to augment and bring out the potential in others. And now, the Hurricanes have sustained their worst loss yet: Cam Ward is out for at least 3-4 weeks.

Considered by some to be the face of the franchise (along with Captain Rod Brind’Amour), Ward was one of the elite goalies in the league prior to this season and a leader on the team. Backup Leighton is going to have to step up and the Hurricanes have to rally around him. Losing a goaltender is a huge loss, for any team. GM Jim Rutherford might be considering trading or signing a goaltender to make up for the loss of Ward.

Looking at Carolina’s stats is mind boggling. The entire team’s +/- rating is abysmal: the best rating is +1, by D-man Tim Gleason. The worst rating is an embarrassing -12 by Brind’Amour.  Carolina has allowed 57 goals in 16 games, for an average of 3.5 goals against per game. Carolina has been on a penalty parade, being shorthanded 79 times so far this season. If my math is correct, the Hurricanes have also racked up 301 penalty minutes.

So what is going on in Carolina?

Instead of re-writing, I’m going to post a link here, to canescountry.com, a top-tier Hurricanes blog site. It’s a great site and writer Cory Lavalette addresses the Hurricanes problems, possible theories, and how to fix Carolina. The article itself generated over 400 comments, so it is worth reading.

http://www.canescountry.com/2009/11/2/1111054/hurricanes-fall-from-grace-as

If Carolina does not right its sinking ship soon, it is entirely plausible that we can see some new faces within the Club.

Anaheim Ducks- For a team that was so hot in the playoffs last year, the Quackers have really cooled down heading into 2009. They’re currently 4-6-2 and last in the Pacific Division. How much did the loss of Chris Pronger hurt Anaheim?

Atlanta Thrashers- Netminder Pavelec has been stellar so far. Very impressive 50-save effort to beat the Senators in their last game. Kovulchuk is also doing well so far, and Atlanta is simply just chugging along. 5-4-1, 3rd in the Southeast Division.

Boston Bruins- Some are worried that the Bruins aren’t doing as well as last year, but one has to remember that the Bruins are also injury-stricken right now. Right now they’re hurting, but they’ll be stronger once Savard and Lucic come back. They are also getting stiff competition within their division from both Ottawa and Buffalo. 6-6-1, 3rd in the Northeast Division.

Buffalo Sabres- Currently the owners of the best record in the NHL (in terms of W/L/T, not points or GP), the Sabres have stunned some critics and pleased others, with an 8-2-1 record. Goalie Ryan Miller holds a Top-5 spot in all stat-aspects of goaltending, and rookie Tyler Myers has just been locked up for 3 years. Currently 1st in the Northeast Division, and 3rd in the Eastern Conference. It should be noted that they have only played 11 games.

Calgary Flames- Have already been labeled as Canada’s best bet for winning a Stanley Cup. Currently with a 7-4-1 record and 2nd in the Northwest.

Carolina Hurricanes- No team has been as big a disappointment as the Hurricanes, save for maybe the Maple Leafs. I’m hurting for these fans in Raleigh. What happened? How can the team that challenged the Penguins in the 2009 ECF fall so far? Carolina currently has a 2-8-3 record, a whopping 7 points, and are 1 point away from being the worst in the league. Some say that Paul Maurice’s days behind the Hurricanes bench are numbered. I might agree.

Chicago Blackhawks- Starting off the season as win a few, lose one or two, the Blackhawks are still looking to hit their stride and really take charge of their division and conference. I’ve seen several blogs and articles that have predicted Chicago to make a deep run to the Stanley Cup. They’re currently 8-4-1 and on top of the Central Division.

Colorado Avalanche- Currently the most surprising team in the league…I mean, honestly- who expected them to have a 10-2-2 record? I’ll be honest, I sure didn’t. Hockey fans in Denver are loving it, and at the same time hoping that this is the status quo and that the roof won’t cave in. Memories of last year’s cellar-dweller finish still remain. Currently first in their Northwest Division and the Western Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets- Heading into this season following their first-ever postseason appearance, the Jackets are looking to keep Ohio on the hockey map. Mason needs a repeat performance of last year to help this squad along. They’re 7-5-1, good for 2nd place in the Central Division and 2 points behind Chicago.

Dallas Stars- Okay, this is where this blog starts to get boring. I don’t know much about the Stars. All I can say is that they are 6-3-5, and are tied with NYI for the most games pushed to OT. Those 5 points are the reason they’re 6th in the Western Conference. The team is looking at Marty Turco to lead them, but they’re currently 4th in the Pacific Division.

Detroit Red Wings- On the bubble, either on their way to another Stanley Cup postseason or ready to fall from prominence. The loss of Marian Hossa is hurting them, along with several other key injuries, like Flippula. 5-4-3,  3rd in the Central Division and 11th in the Conference. Fans in the Motor City are hoping they turn it around, pronto.

Edmonton Oilers- Another team that I haven’t been following that much…but from what I can surmise by looking at the stats, it seems like the Oil are another team that is just chugging along and doing just fine, thank you very much. A 7-6-1 record is good for 3rd in the Northwest Division, and 9th in the Western Conference.

Florida Panthers- I still believe that there is a huge gap in their roster following the departure of Jay Bouwmeester. After threatening to make the postseason last year, the squad from Sunrise is sitting low with a 4-7-1 record, and 4th in the Southeast Division.

Los Angeles Kings- Another surprise team, although I cannot say that I am shocked to see them where they are. The management has been investing in young talent for years, and now they’re reaping the rewards. Veterans like Smyth and Scuderi have helped steer the youngsters, and it seems that successful hockey is back in the City and Angels. They are 8-4-2, 3rd in the (all of a sudden) competitive Pacific Division and 5th in the Western Conference.

Minnesota Wild- They failed to make the playoffs last year, and are hoping to change that this year. However, they are currently last in the Western Conference and have a 5-9-0 record, their most recent win a 2-1 victory at Pittsburgh (I was in attendance, it was a great game). It’s another team that I don’t know much about, but it doesn’t take an expert to see that something is awry in St. Paul.

Montreal Canadiens- The big chemistry experiment is still underway in Montreal, and so far has yielded so-so results. The Habs just came off a 5-4 SO win over rival Toronto, and have not lost in an OT/SO yet. They’re playing .500 hockey with a 7-7-0 record, and every fan is waiting for the day the team comes together. 3rd in the Northeast,  and 7th in the Conference. They have the talent, so what’s keeping them behind?

Nashville Predators- I only watched one game of the Preds’ this year, against Buffalo. It was a 1-0 game, in Buffalo’s favor, but it also was a goalie duel. The two teams seemed very evenly matched, but aside from that I am inexperienced with Nashville hockey. They’re 6-6-1, and 4th in the Central Division.

New Jersey Devils- Currently 8-4-0, and picking up where they left off last year. After being eliminated by Carolina in Game 7 last year, New Jersey is playing hockey with a vengeance, and were the 2nd team to beat division-foe Pittsburgh this season. I am still unsure about Marty Brodeur- some say he’s at his best, some say he’s past his prime. In either case, goaltending is clearly the Devils’ strong point with Brodeur and Clemmensen. They’re 3rd in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.

New York Islanders- Financial struggles, a bleak future, a crumbling arena…and a #1 draft pick that is tearing it up. Sometimes I feel as if the league is watching the Isles, and secretly hoping they rebound. Me? I absolutely do. They have one of the best histories in the league, loyal fans, and it would be a shame for them to move…but aside from that, they’re currently on the rebound and climbing out of the cellar with 4-4-5 record and a current 3-game winning streak. They’re still last in the Atlantic Division, but 10th in the Conference.

New York Rangers- After one of the hottest starts in the league, the Blueshirts have cooled down recently. Fans are enjoying Tortorella behind the bench and it seems as if the Rangers have things back in order. Lundqvist can steal games, and he just did by blanking the Bruins 1-0 in their lastest game. They’re 9-5-1 and 2nd in the Atlantic Division, 4th in the Eastern.

Ottawa Senators- Another team that I do not follow…at all…despite the fact that they’re in the same division as my Sabres. I do know that some people still believe that they’re hurting without Dany Heatley, but Alex Kovalev has added some spark to the Sens. They are currently sitting 2nd in the Northeast, 6th in the Eastern Conference, and have a 6-4-2 record thus far.

Philadelphia Flyers- Have the Broad Street Bullies returned? Philly fans like to think so. Adding Chris Pronger from Anaheim seemed to be a blockbuster move for the Flyers, but their current 6-4-1 record is disproportionate to what fans were expecting. Personally, I don’t think Philadelphia has anything to worry about, and I have seen several predictions that place the Stanley Cup in the City of Brotherly Love. They’re 4th in the Atlantic, 8th in the East.

Phoenix Coyotes- This is a team that I am so glad is doing well. If any team needs to win and in a hurry, it’s the Coyotes. Shane Doan continues to be the heart and soul of the team, and the ‘Yotes boasts one of the best netminders currently in the league- Ilya Bryzgalov. I sincerely hope the Coyotes keep their winnings ways alive- they are 9-4-0, 2nd in the Pacific and 4th in the West.

Pittsburgh Penguins- The reigning Stanley Cup Champions completed one of the hottest starts in NHL history, and currently sit on top of their division, conference, and the league with an 11-3-0 record. The Penguins’ Goligoski has the best +/- rating in the league with a +12. The Penguins are looking to return to the Stanley Cup Final, and are on pace to do just that.

San Jose Sharks- After a winning the President’s Cup in 2009 and being eliminated in the first round by the rival Ducks, San Jose is another team that is playing hockey with a vendetta. After a slow start, they have won 5 in a row and currently boast a 10-4-1 record, good for 2nd in the Western Conference and the top spot in the Pacific Division. Was acquiring Dany Heatley the final piece in the puzzle?

St. Louis Blues- Off to a rough start in October, they’re sitting 5-6-1 and last in the Central Division. They’re hoping to make it back to the playoffs, but won’t do so if they continue the un-inspired play that’s been plaguing the Blues bench. Another team that I have to watch more of.

Tampa Bay Lightning- A painful season last year has made some Bolts faithful weary, but Tampa Bay is banking on rookie Hedman to inspire the team and fanbase. Tampa Bay is a confusing team, because they have top-notch talent in St. Louis and Lecavalier, but nothing to show for it.  They have a very mediocre 4-3-4 record, and sit 2nd in the Southeast Division, 8 pts behind leader Washington. So the big question is, what is wrong in Hockey Bay, USA?

Toronto Maple Leafs- Now, this is where it gets embarrassing. I predicted that the Leafs would be the team to watch in 2009-2010, and while there is still a chance that might happen, right now things are not looking good. I thought the additions of Komisarek and Gustavsson would have sparked this team. Off to one of the worst starts in team history (and let’s not forget, they’re original 6 so that’s a crap-ton of history), the fans are finally getting sick and tired of sky-high prices and cellar-dweller performance. GM Brian Burke better think on his toes, because the Leafs’ 1-7-4 record is downright embarrassing, and ticket sales are starting to show it. They’re currently last in their division, conference, and the league.

Vancouver Canucks- Also believed to be Canada’s second chance at winning the Stanley Cup. They’re in a tight spot right know with Luongo injured, but their offensive prowess makes up for the loss. Right now they are playing .500 hockey, a 7-7-0 record- the same as the Canadiens. I personally believe that the Canucks will eventually hit their stride at start winning at GM Place- the only question is, when?

Washington Capitals- Looking at another return to the postseason, and their October has proved to be successful. They are banking on Ovechkin to be the rally point for this team and currently are 8-2-4, good for first place in the weak Southeast division and 2nd in the Eastern Conference.

The current standings for the Conferences, and if the Playoffs started today, who would go:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Pittsburgh, 2. Washington, 3. Buffalo, 4. New York Rangers, 5. New Jersey, 6. Ottawa, 7. Montreal, 8. Philadelphia

9.Boston, 10. New York Islanders, 11. Tampa Bay, 12. Atlanta, 13. Florida, 14. Carolina, 15. Toronto

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Colorado, 2. San Jose, 3. Chicago, 4. Phoenix, 5. Los Angeles, 6. Dallas, 7. Calgary, 8. Columbus

9. Edmonton, 10. Vancouver, 11. Detroit, 12. Nashville, 13. St. Louis, 14. Anaheim, 15. Minnesota

That’s October in a nutshell. I tried to not insult any team (although in some cases, it cannot be helped), in an effort to avoid any anger towards me. If anyone has comments or questions, please leave them. Here’s to another exciting month of NHL hockey!

Buffalo’s game at New Jersey this coming Wednesday [Oct 28] marks the end of rookie defenseman Tyler Myers’ nine-game trial period with the Buffalo Sabres. The Buffalo News ran an article on the topic today, and stated that GM Darcy Regier is waiting until the last moment to make the decision, in order to make it well-informed and effective.

I’m going to try and make the case for Tyler Myers to stay in Buffalo. Personally, after watching  8 games, I am simply blown away by the talent and sportsmanship that this 19 year old rookie has shown in the blue and gold. Myers was drafted by Buffalo in 2008 and played with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. This season he was granted a roster spot for the Sabres and he hasn’t looked back since.

Here are some numbers on Tyler Myers, 8 games into the 09-10 NHL Season:

Height: 6’8″

Weight: 222 lbs.

Shoots: Right

Myers has scored 2 goals in eight games: 1 against the New York Islanders, the other against the Florida Panthers.

Myers also scored Buffalo’s game-winner in the last contest with Tampa Bay. The goal was in the 6th round of the shootout.

He has also the 6th best +/- rating in the NHL, with a +8.

[statistics from NHL.com]

Myers is also highly regarded by his fellow teammates on the Buffalo Sabres, such as Ryan Miller: “He’s got the skill and he’s got the range to keep up with the top players in the league…At this age, it’s great to see. We just hope he help him along enough that he reaches his potential…he’s been a model teammate so far, which is important for this locker room, and he goes out and competes every night. On top of that, he’s chipping in, which is great.”

Mike Grier also said: “No situation fazes him…He wants the puck all the time out there. He’s trying to make plays, which is rare for a young kid to have that type of confidence. He’s been a big part of what we’ve been able to do so far.” [from The Buffalo News]

Myers has easily become one of the most popular players among Buffalo’s fans and the fanbase strongly supports an entry-level contract for him. Darcy Regier is looking at the long-term picture: offering him a contract will make him a RFA and a UFA sooner. But, in my opinion, Tyler is worth the investment. He has not only been a stellar addition to the defense, but he’s also become a player that this team and its fans have rallied around. The only blemish on Myers’ career in Buffalo so far was a defensive miscue against the Atlanta Thrashers and Maxim Afinogenov, allowing the ex-Sabre to score Atlanta’s go-ahead goal in the 4-2 loss. Some have cited the inconsistency of youthful players as a reason to be cautious with Myers and perhaps hold out for another year on offering him a permanent roster spot.

I think that the only thing that can help Myers is time in the NHL. He’s learned all that he can in the minors, and I believe that a return to Kelowna won’t help him any. Experience in the major league might be the best tool to develop Myers as a player and a defenseman.

I say make the move, Darcy. Sign Tyler Myers, and keep him around. He’s worth it.

http://www.buffalonews.com/494/story/839304.html

AC/DC and Sabres hockey? I simply couldn’t ask for more.

http://sabres.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=916&id=49436

That’s the video from SabresTV- for those of you who know the entire song, the Arena actually pulses white light with the tolling of the bells- this video from YouTube shows it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I1bcYkbvKE

I like the attitude of “Hell’s Bells”…it’s such a B.A. song.

Let’s recap, first.

Mike Grier opened the scoring 1:11 into the game, off assists by Kennedy and Hecht. 45 seconds later,  Jason Pominville scored on the powerplay after Florida’s Kamil Kreps was called for hooking. With the score 2-0 within 2 minutes, Clemmensen was pulled from the pipes and replaced by Vokoun. Matt Ellis, Tyler Myers, and Thomas Vanek would all score in the first period, along with the Panthers’  Reinprecht to make the score after 1 period 5-1.

Buffalo continued to take penalties and give Florida over 5 powerplays, on which 1 goal was scored in the 3rd period, resulting in the game’s final tally of 5-2. Goaltender Ryan Miller received the second star of the night, stopping 41 of 43 Florida shots on goal. Vokoun stopped 30 Buffalo shots.

I can honestly say that Florida got its act together after the first period and held the Sabres scoreless for 40 minutes. However, the Sabres’ 5-goal offensive in the first proved too big of a hole to dig out of. I really admired Florida’s defensive lockdown on Buffalo after the first period- and that the team never gave up.

I think the biggest thing that upset me during this game was all the empty seats in the BankAtlantic Center. The Panthers are a decent team and while I can’t say that empty seats at a South Florida hockey game surprises me, i am surprised that the arena was that barren. When the Panthers’ goals were scored, the goal horn was louder than the crowd. Even further, the crowd was just as loud [or louder] when the Sabres scored their goals. Although many fans don’t think about it, that must have had some sort of psychological effects on the players. I know it would on me.

I guess I’ve realized how lucky I am to be a fan of Northern teams who sell out their games. It’s something that I think a lot of players take for granted.

But in conclusion, I just want to commend the players of the Florida Panthers- you guys played your hearts out.

This is all we know for now. Personally, I’m a little blind-sided. I was surprised with this move, and all I can say right know is that I certainly hope that Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff know what they’re doing. I don’t think  Buffalo needed more draft picks, the Sabres have an abundance of home-grown talent skating around in Portland.

My senior year of high school I entered my 5th year of French education. We studied Quebec and French Canada, much to my pleasure, for in the summer of 2006 I spent 17 days in Jonquiere, QC at a French language immersion program and simply fell in love with the province of Quebec. I reluctantly left Quebec to fly to Toronto and return back to the United States. From then on, I dedicated my French language studies to my experience in Quebec, with intent plans to return there.

Back to senior year- in French class, we watched the film “The Rocket”- about the life and accomplishments of Maurice “the Rocket” Richard and the Montreal Canadiens.

What can I say? I was hooked! I researched the team and its successes, and I immediately was enthralled. I was impressed with the team’s history and I could easily sense a feeling of dignity, almost royalty, stemming from this hockey club. I admired the team’s fanbase, and how passionate they were about this team. Montreal ate, breathed, and slept hockey. Almost immediately after I became an avid Habs fan. Following graduation, I spent a chunk of money buying my first hockey jerseys- a vintage Sabres jersey and a Montreal Canadiens jersey. Months later, I would eventually spend  6 hours sewing the 100 Saison/Match des Etoiles patches on the jersey, fighting through mistakes and pricked fingers. I quite literally put blood, sweat, and tears into that Canadiens jersey. Yes, I was an American Canadiens fan.

My freshman year of college, I proudly wore those colors around campus, especially when Montreal squared off against the hometown Penguins. I was stunned by the firing of Guy Carbonneau.  When GM Gainey took over, I cheered for Montreal so hard after my Sabres failed to make the postseason, and instead watched the Canadiens be easily swept aside by Boston. I was crushed in the defeat, and I celebrated the re-sale of the Canadiens back to the Molson family.

And then, this past summer, I looked on in utter horror as my Canadiens were torn apart, piece by piece and spread throughout the NHL. The players that I had grown to admire and be a fan of, such as Kovalev, Komisarek, and Higgins were all gone. In their stead came players like Gionta, Camallieri,  and Buffalo’s Jaroslav Spacek.

When this new season came around, I expected the same Canadiens hockey that I had watched the previous year. Good, classy hockey from the NHL’s most respected and elite franchise. Instead, I witnessed a scrappier, dirtier, and I will say “goonier”, type of hockey. I was, and still am, absolutely appalled. These were not the Canadiens I fell in love with. Dirty, unneeded penalties against the Maple Leafs, stupid fights being started, and cocky/arrogant goal celebrations all stemmed from this “new-look” Habs team. Why, Bob Gainey, why?

And then, October 3rd came. Opening night for my Buffalo Sabres, against the Montreal Canadiens. I watched cautiously, knowing that I actually wanted the Canadiens to lose. But what I saw that night changed my perception of Montreal. Watching the Habs do battle with the Sabres in their new, more physical and goon-ish style of play was the final nail in my Canadiens coffin.

I was disgusted. And truthfully, I still am. I want my old Habs back. The ones that played with a dignified air, that I perceived as classy. As far as I am concerned, these new Canadiens cannot measure up to the squad from last year. Last year, our players had heart. They played with emotion, and wanted nothing more than to win it for the fans. They intended on coming back with a vengeance. Instead, they were shown the door, and bought out by cheap, physical talent.

As I write this, I look at my Canadiens jersey just hanging in my closet, next to my Sagueneens de Chicoutimi [QMJHL] jersey. I haven’t touched it since the Canadiens/Sabres game. I refuse to wear it, along with my two Canadiens t-shirts and winter hat.

I, in no way, want to bash the Canadiens organization, although I think that I have just done what I wanted to avoid. Deep down, I still may love this team, but I’m writing this to just express my utter disappointment in a beloved team. I realize that grit and physicality are parts of hockey, but it is possible to possess those characteristics and still keep your reputation intact.

And as far as I am concerned, the Montreal Canadiens have to win me back as a fan.

The Sabres would lead 2-0 at the end of 1, 4-2 at the end of 2, and 6-3 to end the game. Myers scored on a backhand shot that rocketed past Islander goalie Roloson. His first NHL career goal gave him the third star of the game. Clarke MacArthur scored unassisted on a penalty shot, and Tim Connolly scored in the second period.  New York’s Matt Moulson tipped in a shot past Ryan Miller to bring the game to 3-1. Jochen Hecht  soon scored to make it 4-1, and the Isles answered back with a John Tavares goal on a powerplay. Patrick Kaleta [BUF], Sutton [NYI], and Pominville [BUF] all scored in the third stanza to give the game its final tally of 6-3.

I was unable to watch the game tonight, I was at my high school’s rivalry game, which was played for the 82nd time tonight [I'm an alumni, class of '08]. Alas, they lost, but I was glad to hear that the Sabres won along with the New York Yankees. As far as I am concerned, however, the Sabres are currently proving a lot of critics wrong. While I realize that we are only 5 or so games into the season, I fully believe that this Buffalo squad is proving they are a legitimate opponent. The Sabres’ offense seemed sharp, although the defense might have been spotty, letting 3 successful Islander attacks through.

The Sabres’ next game is tomorrow, against the Atlanta Thrashers. We’ll see ex-Sabre Maxim Afinogenov in his first return to HSBC Arena as the Sabres try to beat Atlanta, against whom they posted an embarassing 0-4 record in 2008-2009.

Enjoy.

1.  Sabres 6, Red Wings 2.

2. Sabres goals, in order [period]: Stafford [1], Kaleta[2], Vanek[2], MacArthur[2], Vanek[2], Gaustad[3].

3. Red Wings Goals, in order: Filppula[1], Holmstrom[3].

4. Buffalo 38 SOG, Detroit 25 SOG

5. With tonight’s win, Buffalo takes the lead in the Northeast Division.

6. Thomas Vanek was announced to have an upper-body injury, which will keep him out for several weeks. Buffalo must find a forward that is ready and willing to step up to fill in the space left by him.

7. Andrej Sekera is also going to be out at least 2 weeks because of a rib injury, and Henrik Tallinder was announced to be ready to return to the active roster.

8. The Sabres, along with the Stars, are the only teams in the NHL that have yet to lose in regulation.

Personally, I think that the Sabres proved a strong case for themselves in this win. Earlier, I had quoted an NHL columnist that stated the Sabres had the NHL counting them out, and that fact will be used to their advantage in taking down opponents. The biggest question for Buffalo right now is who will step up and fill Vanek’s role in the high-powered Buffalo offense.

Buffalo looks to continue its winning streak to 4, with a visit to the Nassau Coliseum and the New York Islanders on Friday.

As a whole, the game was uneventful, staying scoreless until the 16:35 mark of the 3rd period, when Buffalo’s Mike Grier put a backhand shot past Rinne and the Nashville defense. Miller later said “Mike Grier, you are my hero” in support of his late goal to wrap the game up for Buffalo, who also fought through an extra attacker situation as Nashville pulled Rinne in the final minute.

Grier not only proved himself to be a welcome [re]addition to the Sabres squad, but a leader in both effort and emotion, telling this team to keep trying even though the Sabres hadn’t broken through until that point.

I was happy with the Sabres’ efforts in the game, placing a very healthy 42 shots on goal, and if it hadn’t been for Pekka Rinne’s efforts, the score would have most likely been much higher. Lindy Ruff also seemed pleased with the squad’s efforts in the last two games, and is looking to continue the Sabres’ 2-game winning streak against the reigning Western Conference Champions Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings visit The Bank in Buffalo on Tuesday, Oct 13 at 7pm.

HSBC Arena- credit: Steve Bukowski

The first two periods of the game were exciting, ultimately culminating in a goalie duel between Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller and Phoenix’s Jason Labarbera. Within the first 40 minutes, Labarbera stifled the Sabres’ offense with an amazing 30 saves, with Miller stopping a total of 18 shots.I was in attendance of this game, seated directly behind Phoenix’s  net, and completely blown away by Labarbera’s skill. He was simply on top of his game for this contest, baffling the Sabres’ forwards and presenting much frustration for both the team and the fans. Numerous close calls on both nets did end in a 0-0 tally after Period 1 and 2, despite a total of 22 minutes of penalties, all in the 2nd Period.

The third period started with a Phoenix powerplay, on which M. Lombardi put the puck past Buffalo’s Miller and took a 1-0 lead early at the 2:37 mark. The Coyotes would only have the lead for around 2 minutes as Clarke MacArthur answered back with an even-strength goal, assisted by rookie defenseman Tyler Myers, who registered his first NHL point. The tie would last through several tense minutes until Thomas Vanek would rip a shot past Labarbera and the Coyotes’ defense on a powerplay to take the lead, which they would keep to the 2-1 victory.

credit: Steve Bukowski

The Sabres looked very sharp during this game,with a few issues involving puck management. Buffalo had issues with passing and avoiding hapless turnovers, which gave the Coyotes the puck several times, and thanks to Miller’s efforts the score remained 0-0. However, that’s not to say that the defense wasn’t stellar in itself. Grier and Rivet, Myers and Tallinder worked very well together on the D lines. The defense as a whole was very solid and made up for the offensive mistakes that Buffalo continually made.

I still fully believe that the NHL is underestimating the Buffalo Sabres. But that’s fine, it’ll just work to our advantage.

I really want to comment on the Phoenix Coyotes, however. I can’t express how impressed I was with this team that in its first two games, downed my other two favorite teams, the Kings and Penguins. Phoenix kept the Sabres guessing almost the entire time and proved to be capable opponents on the ice. I made a sign for the support of the Coyotes [see the picture below] and I am ecstatic that the Coyotes have sold out their home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. My next NHL related purchase will mostly likely be a Coyotes jersey- I’m hoping that this team has a stellar year, to rally support for this team and keep them in Phoenix.

The Sabres’ next game is Saturday, at 8pm at Nashville.

Buffalo scored first, in the first period, with Tim Connolly wristing the puck past Price’s shoulder to take a 1-0 advantage. Montreal’s Moen tied it in the 2nd period, and the score would remain 1-1 until the end of the 3rd, forcing the game to go into overtime. The goals were nothing extraordinary in nature. Buffalo’s goal was initially shot by Craig Rivet, bounced of ex-Sabre Jaroslav Spacek, and right to Tim Connolly. Moen’s goal was pushed in through Buffalo netminder Miller’s legs before the net was rocked off its moorings. Montreal’s goal was shorthanded, Buffalo’s was on the powerplay.

And to overtime we go.

Now, to explain my title. I am sorry that this may seem petty or rude, but Montreal’s OT goal was simply luck and opportunistic timing. The puck took a good bounce off the boards behind Miller and the Buffalo net. While the puck rebounded, Montreal’s Gionta hit it in  mid-air past Miller’s right side and into the net, ending the game. While the goal was theatrical, I believe that Buffalo shouldn’t get worked up about it.

Buffalo simply outplayed the Canadiens and lost out to a lucky shot. The Sabres outshot the Canadiens by 18 [35-17], and the only reason that this game wasn’t a blowout was netminder Carey Price. Montreal’s defense was spotty and disoriented without Markov, and the Sabres did all they could to get past Price but were unsuccessful.

However, I am nothing more than thrilled with the way the Sabres looked tonight. Their lines were playing well together [Vanek-Pominville-Roy, Tallinder-Myers, Montador-Rivet] and Ryan Miller looked sharp between the pipes. Miller stopped 15/17 shots, including the bouncing lucky game-winner. Defensemen Tyler Myers seemed at home on the ice at HSBC Arena, marking his NHL debut.

In hindsight, the Sabres played well, and there is no reason to keep their heads down after that game.

Buffalo takes on Phoenix next, on Thursday October 8th.

This roster was taken from www.sabres.com:

FORWARDS

DEFENSEMEN

GOALIES

Buffalo’s roster does boast two faces that I am personally glad to see: Mike Grier, and Tyler Myers. Grier not only brings the experience that this squad has been aching for, but he’s a familiar face that I’m sure will have positive effects. He’ll lead in the lockerroom as well as on the ice, and I am confident that his presence will be felt when the Sabres take on the Canadiens, as well as the rest of the NHL.

Tyler Myers, as expected, is also present on the starting roster for this season. Just by looking at his stats, we can already assume his effects on the Sabres’ defense. He’s been compared to Zdeno Chara and as Myers is 6’8″ and 222lbs, I can see why. Even though he may be an NHL rookie, his size alone will make him an invaluable asset to this team.  Joining him on defense is Buffalo newcomer Steve Montador, who comes from Boston but holds valuable veteran experience as well as Western Conference experience, being drafted by the Calgary Flames.

Looking at the roster, the Sabres’ biggest worry is goaltending. Ryan Miller has proven himself as a steady, skilled, and reliable netminder. The only problem is the threat of Lindy Ruff overplaying him, and tiring Miller out from perhaps relying on him too much. Buffalo’s backup, Patrick Lalime, is getting older and underwent summer surgery on both hips. Lalime’s record when Miller was gone last season was sub-par, and that stretch is the culprit that stole away Buffalo’s postseason last year. Lalime will have to prove himself when he’s called on, but the defense also has to rally around him as they do around Miller.  If push comes to shove. Jhonas Enroth is always ready to be called up from Portland.

First of all,  Carolina’s offense in 09-10 is going to be stellar. All eyes are on Eric Staal, Carolina’s 40-goal center- with the likely linemates of veterans Eric Cole and Ray Whitney, the Hurricanes’ first line has the firepower and experience to light the lamp and score goals. However, the most remarkable thing about Carolina’s offense is simply the depth and how much talent is present on the team. That reason alone makes it hard to predict lines and combinations, because of the other forwards that are on the team:  Matt Cullen, Chad LaRose,  Jussi Jokinen, Rod Brind’Amour, Tuomo Ruutu all provide the offensive prowess that gives Carolina the goal-scoring they need.

Head coach Paul Maurice (as well as Canes Country) should be thrilled to see Aaron Ward and Eric Cole back to the team. They both have been welcomed back with open arms, and will be sure to produce this upcoming season. Heading into 2009, Carolina has 9 players from their Stanley Cup win in 2006. I’m looking to this veterans to lead the young guns of the squad.

Carolina’s blue line has not changed drastically, with the glaring exception of the re-acquired Aaron Ward. Not only is he back in Carolina, but he brings some veteran leadership and a commanding presence to the line. The other defensemen on the team, namely offensively-minded Pitkanen and Corvo (who led the defense in points, with 38) along with Wallin and Alberts to provide depth that Carolina can certainly brag about- this kind of talented spread is rare in the rest of the league.

Photo Credit: Conor Patrick (Raleigh, NC)

The Hurricanes’ ace in the hole, predictably, is the team’s other Ward, Cam. While the  NHL and the media do not give Cam Ward the kind of publicity that Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas get, ignoring him is a dire mistake that too many teams do. Underestimating Carolina’s goaltending is inadvisable. Ward has proved himself not only to be reliable (starting more than 60 games in the last two seasons) but as one of the league’s best, sporting stats such as a .916 save % and a GAA of 2.44.

In my opinion, the biggest goal that this team needs to achieve is to prove to the NHL that their playoff run last season was for real, and not a lucky fluke as some think. I can understand why people may interpret the two Game-7, sudden-death eliminations that the Hurricanes handed to Boston and New Jersey as lucky breaks, but the depth and skill that Carolina boasts is undeniable. This team is poised to steal the division title from Washington, but not without staying in the game all 60 minutes.

It may seem unfair, but the Hurricanes must prove themselves over and over as a Southern team- and they have the tools to rise to the challenge.