All Entries in the "Buffalo Sabres" Category
Well, That Was Fun. Now Back to Work!
We know it’s been a while since we posted, but we wanted to bask in the rare light of an Islanders playoff appearance by taking in the games, atmosphere, and enjoyment that came with a series that ran one game longer than we predicted which included two embarrassing shutouts, yet somehow left Islander fans with the feeling that [...]
Rink Recollections: Jeff Odgers, NHL, 1991-2003
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jeff Odgers played every NHL game as if it were his final. He never took a game for granted –scared that his career could fade away at any moment. Odgers scrapped and gritted his way onto the roster and he made sure he never provided his coaches with a sufficient reason to [...]
Sabres Steal the Game, but Boston Wins the Night
BOSTON, MA – It was an emotional night at the TD Garden on Wednesday evening. One that the city of Boston will not soon forget. The game’s opening ceremony and video package, fittingly set to country music star Phillip Phillips’ “Home”, pulled at the heartstrings of everyone in attendance as images of Monday’s horrifying attack was [...]
Brendan Witt: A Life of Old-Time Hockey, New Beginnings
By Brian D’Ambrosio Brendan Witt knew one of the Philadelphia Flyers would approach. After all, the bruising fourth line tended to drop the gloves. Slightly after the six-minute mark of the first period, the “Dan Line” -consisting of Dan Kordic, Daniel Lacroix and Scott Daniels - hoped to send a message. “Philly put these guys [...]
Honey, I Lost the Kids (part 2 of 2)
In the first part of this epic, we promised three pieces of evidence to explain how Garth Snow does things with the sole intention of job preservation. We pointed out how he is relatively awful at drafting in part one. Part two will speak to other shortcomings, starting here: Two- Garth Snow uses salary cap [...]
Role Reversal: Third Period Collapse Dooms Bruins in 4-2 Loss to Sabres
On the quest to secure points in five consecutive games, the Boston Bruins met the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center in a Friday night Northeast division showdown. However, in a massive role reversal, the Bruins were beaten at their own game by three third period goals from the Sabres. Entering Friday’s action as the [...]
Honey, I Lost the Kids – part one of two
It’s almost like a reflex when you ask hockey fans about the best way to build a winner “It’s the draft!” Drafting allow you to develop players or trade for established ones. Since the Isles have had no playoffs since 07-08, they’ve been in rebuild mode. We’re going to look at this draft rebuild with [...]
Hockey Myths Exposed – Defensemen Need Time to Develop
Anyone who has watched more than a handful of hockey games gets serenaded with statements that are undisputed in the hockey world, but in reality it doesnt make a lot of sense. We’ve already disproved the myth that power forwards need years to develop in our article “Ninogate,” in which we use the “talent is [...]
Rink Recollections: Chris Tamer, NHL defenseman, 1993-2004
By Brian D’Ambrosio Dearborn, Michigan native Chris Tamer grew up watching Bob Probert play hockey. Tamer even had a picture of the rugged Detroit Red Wings battler on his wall when he was attending college at the University of Michigan. It was the only photo on his wall, he says. Probert will always evoke memories [...]
WHEN does the rebuild begin?
As constructed on paper, the 2012-2013 Islanders seemed as if their goal was to have a competitive shot at the #1 pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft. That is mildly surprising, considering that two other teams in recent memory – Pittsburgh and Chicago- also used a five year rebuild plan, each culminating with a [...]
Jim Agnew: Ex- NHL Tough Guy Turned Missoula, Montana Sheriff
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jim Agnew is a man in uniform who is most deeply proud of being a wholehearted team player. These days, he buttons up a beige and brown shirt before excitedly starting his work time as a deputy sheriff in Missoula, Montana. In earlier years, he wore another type of distinguishing outfit, [...]
Vanek Dominates in 7-4 Buffalo Win Over Boston
BOSTON, MA – On Thursday evening, the Boston Bruins welcomed the Buffalo Sabres to the TD Garden for their first Northeast division clash of the 2013 season. Unfortunately for the 17, 565 sellout crowd that packed into the arena, the Bruins were unable to hold a 3-1 second period lead as Buffalo forward Thomas Vanek ran [...]
Deep Six DP
This is the most obvious, to the point thing we’re ever going to write. The DP era has to end. Not should end. Not must end. Those are thoughts, not actions. Rick DiPietro is a good guy. He wanted to be an Islander for life. He signed a lifetime contract which, at the [...]
Mike Hartman, NHL Tough Guy, 1986-1994
By Brian D’Ambrosio Mike Hartman was a resilient, keen, scrappy winger who played in 397 regular season NHL games during a career which spanned 1986-1994. At 6′ 1″, 190, Hartman once established the Buffalo Sabres’ team record for penalty minutes in one season (316). Selected in the seventh round, 131st overall, by the Buffalo [...]
Fan Un-Appreciation
Lets start with some basic info. The “authors” of this blog are two former Islander ticket holders. Although we ended our tickets at different times and for different reasons, one thing both of us felt was the lack of appreciation by the Islanders team in taking care of their fans. As a season ticket holder, [...]
Destination Unknown, Part 3
Part Three: Free Agents aren’t actually Free Chronicling the failures of the Garth Snow regime takes time, energy, and ideally, beer. In fact, watching the Islanders play is best done through a haze of sudsy goodness. We suggest that if you’re looking for a Belgian Style ale that’s full of deliciousness, you’d be good to [...]
Destination Unknown, part 1
When it comes to the Islanders, there are two storied histories. One is the epic run including 19 consecutive playoff series wins, something not done by the likes of Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Terry Bradshaw, or whatever teams you associate with winners. Speaking of associating with winners, one team that is universally not associated [...]
Opening Night Misery
Opening Night Misery Why does the NHL act like the NHL? Seriously, its a league that cost Teemu Selanne two full seasons of sharing an all time great career with fans. A league that did it’s best to prevent Martin Brodeur from becoming the Cy Young of goaltending wins. Its a league that has [...]
Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions
Hello everyone and welcome again to the Hockey Independent Roundtable. In today’s piece, five HI writers will provide you all with their early picks for the playoffs ad the Stanley Cup. This piece will double as Part III of my five-part 2013 NHL season preview. Part I –> Northeast Division Preview Part II –> Eastern [...]
2013 NHL Season Preview: Part II: Eastern Conference Outlook
In part II of my 2013 NHL season preview, check out previews and predictions for the entire Eastern Conference. Part I –> Northeast Division Preview Part II –> Eastern Conference Preview Part III –> Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions Part IV –> 2013 Boston Bruins Roster Predictions 1) New York Rangers – Even [...]
