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Okay so we all know how bad last night’s game was well until the third period at least which is why I’m grateful that my mom and I were in Rochester for the Bandits’ game. Who by the way lost in overtime, hey sound familiar? Now not to rag on Buffalo sports, but seriously it’s like they don’t want me to be happy. On a side note: MAXXX you make me happy and Paul and Pie and that’s about it at this point.
Because I was at the Bandit’s game last night Cari and S(h)ara were texting me updates the whole night to the never ending glee of the guy sitting next to me, who also happened to be a rabid Sabres fan. At one point, when Max scored, I got so excited that my phone flew out of my hands and into his lap where he saw the text I was sending S(h)ara something like “Max my heart my soul thrives only for you” or something equally ridiculous. Needless to say he made fun of me the rest of the night for obsessively checking my cell phone asking me if “my heart” had scored anymore goals. Max score two goals in one night? Perish the thought.
Now I’m not sure how many of you have any idea how much of a rivalry there is between the Bandits and the Rochester Knighthawks, lets just say that it pretty much equals the rivalry between Ottawa and the Sabres. Unfortunately, and much to my disappointment, Brandon Francis our new go to fighter got scratched so things weren’t getting nearly as interesting as usual. The Bandits’ lost mainly because we couldn’t seem to keep the ball out of our end and the Knighthawks defense kept shutting down the Bandits’ best goal scorer, and Cari’s Bandits sweetie, Mark (Whose House?) Steenhuis. It was a heartbreaking loss especially against a team who we had no problem beating the last time we played them, it ended up being 23 to 6 in favor of the Bandits. I do however have a new shirt idea for the next time we play Rochester a guy walking up the stairs had a Fuck The Knighthawks t-shirt on. Well in an effort to keep everything PG I figure I’ll make a T-Shirt that says Pluck the Hawks, it both gets the point across and won’t offend anyone, well except maybe Knighthawks fans.
Oh and thanks to the lovely Clare from All Hawks Hockey I have my new summer project. I try to undertake at least one large project over the summer, last year it was scrapbooking all my pictures from my family’s trip to California. This year it’ll be to create a wall of pictures mounted on plaks (and as Clare pointed out no this isn’t spelled wrong) to hang on my bedroom wall at home. These pictures are going to be hockey related and I’m going to need some help because, if you don’t know it already, I have dial up at home so therefore to search for pictures takes an unbelievably long time. I’m asking any of our readers to send me their favorite pictures of hockey players regardless of the team the player might come from, I’m trying to broaden my horizons, and I’ll pick the best ones to put on my wall. The pictures can be anything action shots, stylized, posed, ones you’ve personally taken, ‘borrowed’ from other people, gotten off google whatever the point is that I’d appreciate any help you guys could give me in the picture department. My email address is km.sabrechaser@gmail.com. Thanks guys (in the generic sense).
I need a few days to recover from the two losses so I’m going to go watch the first two periods of last nights game that we DVRed basically forgetting that hockey has a third period and that the Sabres used it to fall apart.
The trade deadline is Wednesday and for now it all comes down to who stays and who goes. Now I’m not going to get into any great theories about who we should get and who should go because, let’s face it, I’m not managment for the Sabres and they probably know a whole hell of a lot more than I can ever hope to about what they’re looking for.
However, there is one thing that I do know for certain, Max needs to go. Now I love Max don’t get me wrong but the man has been nothing but a waste of roster space for the last two seasons, performing well below average. In an interview Max claimed that he has been ready to play since the middle of February but Ruff hasn’t put him in the line up, well needless to say it’s the beginning of March and Max hasn’t set foot out on the ice in a playing capacity. I’ll be sad to see Max go, he was my first Sabres love and you never forget your first love, but it’s time that he was put out to greener pastures or at least given to another team for a bag of pucks or maybe a pretty new pair of gloves or some skates.
It would have killed me a few years ago to admit that Max needs to go but right now he’s using up valuble roster space that could go to a player who’s actually going to play and who’s going to play well. Instead of trading for another player how about we get some draft picks and we bring up one of the guys from Portland to fill Max’s skates?
I get the text updates from the Sabres and if you do too you know the sinking feeling you get when a new text pops up on the screen. The texts can mean just about anything ranging from someone’s hurt, someone’s been called up from the minors, that the new mini pucks are on sale and come tomorrow or Wednesday who’s been put up on the chopping block.
Now yesterday, because the new mini pucks go on sale on Sundays, I saw I had a text message as I was sitting in the upper room in my church. Now let’s just say that I forgot about the whole mini puck thing and I was ready to scream when I saw the text because I thought for sure it was going to bring me bad news that I was not prepared to handle, such as the trading of beloved Pie or Staffy or someone equally as precious to my heart.
Now I’m in school all day tomorrow and I have a feeling if something’s going to happen it’s going to go down tomorrow and I will inevitably be sitting in class when the news of a trade breaks. Let’s just put it this way there are going to be a lot of inquisitive stares directed my way if I’m in class when it happens. They’re going to be wondering why all of a sudden I have a death grip on my phone, why I’m making high keening noises and I’m screaming why, why, over and over again. I’m sure they’re going to suspect that I’ve experienced some kind of psychotic breakdown.
Whatever happens in the next two days it’s inevitable that someone’s going to go. However, how many people get traded is still up in the air and who we’re going to get for said tradees remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain things are going to change but whether it’s for the better or for the worse I guess we’ll figure that out Wednesday night.
I’ve been thinking about how I was going to go about this entry for quite a while now, but I feel that it’s finally necessary, whether or not I want to write it, or whether or not I know how to do it.
Really, though, where has Daniel Paille disappeared to? (Do I really need to put this picture on the side of all milk cartons in Buffalo?)
I mean, last season, he was our diamond in the rough. He played in 77 games, had 19 goals and 16 assists, and finished a plus-nine. He showed great potential as being a guy who would go into the corners, battle with the opposition, and he showed signs of playing without fear.
Aside from the first month of the season, I haven’t noticed him on the ice, and that worries me.
At the start of the season, Paille came storming out of the gates in a presence-sense, hitting everything in sight. That tapered off in a matter of games, surprising for a guy who was voted the hardest checker in the OHL back in the day.
That, however, is not the only upsetting thing about number 20. What is? The fact that he has been wildly inconsistent and unreliable is what worries me.
In October, he only registered points in four games. Paille had one goal and four assists for the month, and was a plus-one. This was across the Sabres’ 10 games. That’s not that bad, considering that he produced an average .5 points per game, which would land him a pace of 40 points for the season.
November, though, was a travesty. Dan missed two of the Sabres’ 13 games in the month, one as a healthy scratch up in Boston (Nov. 8), and the other (also against Boston, on Nov. 26) due to illness (the flu). So he played in 11 games, in which he put up points in three, leaving him with one goal and two assists on the month. He was also a minus-three. That’s a terrible performance, if you ask me. I like to judge a player’s offensive production by averages of points per game, if you hadn’t noticed, because I think just goals or just assists doesn’t tell the whole story. But Dan’s tells a very scary story, because in November, he was only at .27 points per game. Yeah. Enough said.
The month of December was hardly better to Paille. Appearing in all 14 games for the team, Dan only racked up two goals and two assists, those coming in three games. A minus-three on the month, Paille’s points per game stat sat at .29.
Thus far in January, Paille has played in the Sabres’ four games. He had an assist in only one of those games, putting his points per game at .25, and he’s at an even zero on the plus/minus.
What does that leave him at for the season? Well, after 39 games, Paille has four goals and nine assists, totaling for 13 points, that’s .33 points per game. And he’s at a minus-five. Pace for the season? At this rate, he’ll appear in 80 games, and his stats will improve to eight goals and 18 assists, for 26 points (still only .33 per game), and finish at a minus-five.
How do I feel about this?
You all should know by now that I am a Daniel Paille fan. If you don’t, you do now. I really took a liking to him last season, but thus far in 2008-09, I’m not impressed at all. I should definitely be seeing more from a first-round draft pick, especially when he tore up the OHL. This, however, is about the level he produced at in Rochester while there.
I think, though, if someone needs to be packaged up in a trade to clear some room, or to Maxim Afinogenov look more appealing to other teams, Paille would be the guy I would send, as much as it would break my heart. Many people would say Drew Stafford would be a better guy to send packing, but Stafford is doing well on a line with Derek Roy. I’d leave him alone. Paille has struggled all year, and that could just be a general struggle.
But can we really afford to have a guy who is supposed to be one of our more gritty lower-scoring forwards on our team? It could be a deal-breaker if we’re fighting for a playoff spot come March. That’s all I’m saying…
Alas, Kim and I will be joining the other bloggers down at Casa di Pizza tonight for the game, as she mentioned last night. It will most definitely be a good time, and hopefully the Sabres will finally be able to solve Ty Conklin. I’m really sick of him having our number. Let’s get his for a change, eh?
SO this is going to be really quick because I’m sitting at Cari’s house eating hot pockets and we’re going to be picking up our friend Jen and her sister Julie so that we can all go to the game tonight and enjoy some Sabres winning… hopefully. I have prayed to the hockey gods long and hard and if they grant my request Squidney Crotchby will get hurt and will be out the rest of the season and will not be able to break his no goal streak and the Sabres will win by about a bazillion goals so if all goes to plan this should be one hell of a game. Oh yeah and it would be great if Paul played but I know the hope is futile, but hey a girl can dream can’t she.
But ANYWAY, enough of my inane rambling this post is primarily in existence to wish my PIC, or partner in crime a very very happy PAILLE BIRTHDAY. I couldn’t embarrass her today like I wanted to because we didn’t go to a restaurant where they sing to you obnoxiously about how happy they are that it’s your birthday…like they care.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CARI, may the hockey gods look favorably down upon you and may they grace us with a win tonight in honor of the day you came into existence.
Cari: Danny, I missed you tonight.
Dan: Yeah, I wish I could’ve played, but you know how it goes…
Cari: So, why did I see you all sad and lonely up in the press box this evening?
Dan: Well, you know, I got sick somehow. I think Drew might’ve given me some candy off the floor or something… Adam’s always telling me and Clarke not to take stuff from Drew because he’s a weirdo. But Drew always has the best candy and stuff, so I didn’t think it would be a problem…
Cari: Okay, you’re sick… That makes sense, I guess. But why were you all by yourself? How come you weren’t sitting with Timmy?
Dan: First of all, I’m not allowed to hang out with Timmy. Adam says he plays Doctor too much, and that I can’t play with him if he does. Second of all, I was in Time Out.
Cari: Time Out?!? How come?
Dan: Because I threw up in Nathan’s skates…
Cari: So that’s why he wasn’t playing tonight… But why all alone, though?
Dan: Adam said it was punishment for not throwing up in “that little puke Lucic’s” skates. I kinda wish I had after he tried to kill all my friends tonight. I’m going to get him one day for that. And that’s a promise. But Pat already told me that Lucic had better watch out if they’re ever on the ice at the same time.
Cari: Yeah, I don’t care for him much, either, especially after he went after Princess D.
Dan: Yeah. Oh hey! I like that jersey on you, by the way. I’ll tell Derek that you look good in his name. Hey, and maybe that’s why he played so well tonight!!
Cari: Danny, my friend, I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK. And also, tell him that I honestly believe in my heart that he should have had four goals tonight, the last coming on a penalty shot? Thanks much.
Dan: Sure thing.
Cari: And make sure everyone knows that Kim and I, next time we’re in Boston, are going to track Milan Lucic down and beat his ass. Because I hate him.
Dan: I know. Hey, I have to go. It’s past my bedtime.
Cari: Okay, Danny. I’ll talk to you later. Good night, precious.
———————————————-
So, beyond that, I’m soooooo incredibly happy about tonight’s game. But here are the things I’m thankful for:
- The guy behind us at the game tonight who said “I want to call up Gerbe just to see if he could skate through Chara’s legs.”
- The group of four 11-year-old boys who told a Bruins fan that they’d “never seen a girl look hotter in a Boston jersey.”
- The fact that no Sabres died in the making of this victory.
- Derek Roy’s inability to stop finding ways to make me love him, and make fun of him, all at the same time.
- Paul Gaustad and Ryan Miller’s inability to stop raising my expectations of men.
- Thomas Vanek’s ability to continuously light the lamp.
- Patrick Kaleta, Andrew Peters, and Adam Mair’s willingness to beat the crap out of people and sacrifice their bodies for the sake of the game.
- Tim Connolly’s strength of character, combined with his entertaining sex-capades.
- Drew Stafford’s Facebook pictures.
- Henrik Tallinder’s dancing.
- Jaroslav Spacek’s interviews.
- Nathan Paetsch’s smile.
- Mark Mancari’s voice.
- Daniel Paille’s inability to take a normal-looking picture.
- Patrick Lalime’s adoration of his daughters.
- Craig Rivet’s adoration of Buffalo.
- Jason Pominville’s loyalty to The (dreaded) System.
- Maxim Afinogenov’s best game in a long time.
- Jochen Hecht’s shortie, as well as the look on his face when he heard me say “I love you.”
- Ales Kotalik’s admission that he designed a line of hats.
- Clarke MacArthur’s curly hair.
- Toni Lydman’s choice in women.
- Teppo Numminen’s picture from 1985.
- Andrej Sekera’s polo player sweater.
- Lindy Ruff’s ability to inspire these guys, year after year, after year.
- All of the Sabres Bloggers, because they’re all foxy and incredibly intelligent, and probably some of the funniest writers I’ve ever come across.
- The city of Buffalo for being amazing.
- My cat Delilah for being the cutest fat cat around.
- And, lastly, my beautifully sexy friends, especially my dear Kimberly, as well as my mostly awesome family. Without them, I’d be completely lost in life.
So, everyone, have a beautiful holiday with your respective loved ones, and Kim and I will resume posting on Friday. I’m sure I forgot stuff about the game tonight, and I’m equally as sure Kim will let me know about it. So those things will make it up here eventually. But, until then, be safe, eat turkey, and love those Sabres!!
So looking back I realize that I haven’t post in about a week and a half and I realized that many of you, that is if you care, might be wondering where the hell I am, or maybe you didn’t notice, well if you did I thank you for caring. Let’s put it this way, I am the bug on the windshield of life, I’m feeling all good and happy and then all of a sudden it’s not so good and happy.
But anyway I have the rest of the week off so yay to vacation and sleep, which is what again? oh that’s right something I haven’t had a lot of in the past 3 weeks, unlike my wonderful counter part who has class tomorrow (sorry Cari, you know I love you). But that means I’ve also had time to update my profile information here, which previously looked like Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, as well as catch up on some reading which involved books not composed of really long complicated words that I don’t know the meaning of.
But in other good news Cari and I shall be attending tomorrow night’s game against Boston and I feel I must remind you of what happened the last time we attended a Boston game together…oh that’s right they LOST, something new and different for them (complete sarcasm there). We’ll have played Boston three times in the last three weeks tomorrow night having lost two of those contest, so needless to say our track record against Boston has been less than stellar this season.
But, hopefully we can turn that all around tomorrow night with the return of Hank and Max to the line up, oh hockey gods let’s hope.
The question remains, however, who sits out? The most obvious bench warmer for defense would be Nathan because he’s been the odd man out all year, but well, I happen to think he played pretty damn well for someone who’s had a pretty good view of the ice from the press box for most of the season. Offense is trickier, Boston is a pretty physical team which means we’re going to need the enforcers patrolling the ice so that rules out Peters and Kaleta most likely. Paille is another player who could take a seat but seeing as it was his line that scored the first goal, YAY MARK, in Saturday night’s game I’m thinking he’s probably going to be playing. That leaves us with everyone’s favorite rockstar, Drew Stafford, who, and it pains me to say this, has been really sucky lately, so he has my vote for bench warmer tomorrow night. But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Lindy decides is best for the team.
Anyways, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving, I’ll be going to my brother’s in Rochester, gorging myself on turkey, stuffing and potato puff, staying over and then going shopping with my sister-in-law early on Friday. Which means I probably won’t be posting until after Friday night’s game unless something drastic happens betwen now and then, let’s hope not, unless it’s of the good variety.
So until then, LET’S GO BUFFALO.
Paul: Hello?
Cari: Hey, Paul, it’s me.
Paul: Oh, hey!! How are you?
Cari: I’m good, but Paul? Why do you have bunny ears on?
Paul: Oh, Cari, don’t you know that Friday is Halloween? I have to find my costume still, you know.
Cari: So what are you trying to be with that getup? A modest cross between a Chippendales dancer and a Playboy Bunny?
Paul: How’d you guess?
Cari: It’s not that difficult… Anyways, let me get to why I called. Paul, are you healthy?
Paul: Well, I don’t know. Ultimately, that’s up to Lindy.
Cari: Well, please decide, because if you or Timmy aren’t ready to play tomorrow night, and Adam does get suspended for his shenanigans–oh my God, I just thought of this, but if Adam does get suspended, who’s going to take care of the Man Children?–but if he does get suspended, we need another guy, and it had better be one of you.
Paul: Cari, we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get to it. The NHL is quote-unquote investigating is, so…
Cari: Well, I don’t trust the NHL. I’m hoping at most they’ll slap him with a fine, but Paul, what if? Who would we get from Portland? Mark? So we can risk waiving him again? No thank you.
Paul: Stop being such a worry wart. You’re upsetting my aura. Hey, where are my milk and cookies for being hurt? I never got them. I thought you were going to leave them on my doorstep for me?
Cari: Kim wouldn’t let me. She said that would be crossing the line.
Paul: They’re cookies. Cookies never cross the line.
Cari: Good to know. But Paul?
Paul: Yes, Cari?
Cari: Hurry back, please. And next time don’t punch people too hard. Oh, and Paul?
Paul: Yes, Cari?
Cari: Can you tell your BFF Ryan that he’s kicking ass in the TSN Power Rankings? And ESPN’s for that matter?
Paul: Sure.
Cari: And you didn’t tell me who would watch Danny and Clarke in the event of Adam’s absence…
Paul: Um, I don’t know for sure… Maybe Jaro?
Cari: JARO??!! He’d probably try to lure them into the shower room with the cookies I’d make for you and then he’d fillet them, or something. And he’d probably hang Mr. Snuffles on a plaque above his mantle… No, Jaro; I love you, but no.
Paul: Drew, maybe?
Cari: Are you kidding me? Drew eats paste.
Paul: Fine. How about I give the job to the equipment guys?
Cari: They think a taxidermic pigeon is funny. Let me think, NO.
Paul: Well, who do you suggest then?
Cari: Yourself. Duh. So get healthy.
Paul: I’m working on it.
Cari: I’m going to school now. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Bye.
Paul: Bye…
Cari: (in a txt to Paul) Oh, and tell Pommers I won’t see him tonight at Dave and Adam’s because I have trip preparations to commence. And tell Petey that I’ll be listening to him on Star 102.5 tomorrow at 8:10, but I might have to turn him off for Derek. Okay? Thanks Paul!
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME APOLOGIZE… AGAIN.
This is becoming a trend with me, no? I’m always apologizing to you…
Anyways, I forgot to mention this morning that Craig Rivet was at Dave and Adam’s this evening. And before you get all excited and think that I’m going to have pictures for you, just don’t, because I don’t. I didn’t go. I wasn’t about to pay $20 to get him to scribble on a couple things. I did want to make him milk and cookies, though, as Derek suggested.
(Speaking of Derek’s suggestions, SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO HIM HERE. And if you do ask him a question, be sure to tell me what you ask him so I can totally pimp you out when he answers it.)
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I DIDN’T DO???
I’ll get to that in a second. Today, at 12:04 pm, I received this text message:
YOUR SABRES DELIVERED: Txt your questions for winger Daniel Paille until 7 p.m. tonight to 722737 (Sabres). Answers will be posted later on Sabres.com Txt End 2 quit
alohgalkgn;akjglajfglawjgflh how could I possibly have forgotten to come up with a good question for Danny??? I HAD 7 HOURS!! All I could think of though was “Does Mr. Snuffles get his own seat on the airplane during roadtrips? And who babysits him while you’re playing hockey? And how does your fiancee feel about having to share a bed with you and Mr. Snuffles?”
Yikes…
Um, and all I have to say about the whole Adam Mair fiasco is that Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu are jokes, and that’s only because that’s what Adam said. But really, I never want to be on his bad side. Ever. I do think he crossed the line, a bit, though, but I think a fine is sufficient.
AND CAN I JUST SAY THAT I ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO GO TO THAT FATEFUL NEXT GAME BETWEEN US AND THE SENS??!!?? SOOOOO excited!! Tuesday January 6, 2009. Mark it down, kids. It’s going to be a wild and wooly one!
Oh, and before I forget (again), my new friend Caroline has started a blog (Hockey Night in Buffalo. Amazing title, btw.), so be sure to read it, because I’m sure it’ll be fantastic. It’s about the Sabres; how could it not be fantastic?
‘Til tomorrow.
Please allow me to contain my ecstatic cries (and by that, I mean not at all), because THOMAS VANEK PICKED GINGER, TOO!!! Danny, I’m disappointed in you… But you do redeem yourself by saying you like chocolate. AND OH MY GOODNESS!! NEXT WEEK WE’RE TAKING A PEEK INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A DAY? Am I finally going to meet Mr. Snuffles???? Oh, Danny, I’m so excited!!
So by now I’m sure you probably have heard about the press conference being held at HSBC Arena Monday at 2 pm in regards to the 2011 WORLD JUNIORS!!!!
CAN I PLEASE JUST TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM THAT WE’RE HOSTING THIS EVENT, EVEN THOUGH IT’S NOT OFFICIAL YET??!!??!!
(1) Because I adore hockey.
(2) Because I adore foreigners.
(3) Because by 2011, I’ll be 21, and then I can watch all those youngins play hockey, realize that I’m a pedophile for thinking they’re gorgeous, and then drink away those thoughts with a nice, cold Blue Light, and then start all over again.
AHHHHHH Love.
Oh, and when you’re lacking Sabres news, and you want something interesting to hear about/listen to, I dare say you should check out the podcasts on the Sabres’ site. Yes, they’re old (from two seasons ago), but they’re entertaining as hell. You’ve got Derek talking about his house, Drew talking about limo rides and spaghetti parm, and Marty talking about his little boy.
But more about me, since I cannot find anything else to write about, at least anything I find amusing.
(34) I’d be the first person in line to buy tickets to the *N Sync reunion tour. In fact, I’d probably camp out for them.
(35) I have this theory about the number of kids I’d like to have. Ideally, in a perfect world (where I’d marry a Sabre and have a ridiculous amount of money), I’d want to have two boys and two girls. I really wouldn’t want four boys (too much testosterone) and I wouldn’t want four girls (too much estrogen). So I came up with this idea that I’d have three and evaluate my situation. If I have three boys or three girls, that’s it, I’m done. But two boys and a girl, or two girls and a boy? Go for the fourth. BUT, since that will probably never happen, I’ll probably stick with two.
(36) I cannot remember lock combinations for the life of me. However, to this day, I can remember the combo to the pink Master lock that I bought in third grade for my gym locker: 36-18-4. And I remembered it by saying Barnaby-Grosek-Wilson.
(37) When I was in fourth grade, I made in my mission in life to read all the Nancy Drew books. I got about halfway through before the library ran out them.
And right now I can’t think of anything else because Kim and I are about to go through 5 or 6 ridiculously scary haunted houses with a few guys I used to work with. So yeah. I just might die, because I get really scared at things like these. Yikes.
FINAL SCORE:
Sabres 7
Islanders 1
This little portion of this post has nothing to do with today’s game, but to my delight, when I came home from running errands, I found these on my dining room table:
If you can’t read them, they’re tickets to the November 8th game in Boston. Kim and I are road-tripping up there, and up to Portland for a game. =] 11TH ROW!!! Serious TV possibilities…
PRE-GAME
- Lalime is in net tonight; Ruff says Miller will play Wednesday in New York (Rangers). Good. Ruff’s learning.
- And Rick DiPietro isn’t playing. Shucks.
- Some of the guys were eating spaghetti for breakfast.
- The Geico gecko is at the game. (It’s Kid’s Day)
FIRST PERIOD
20:00 Poor Ryan has to sit all by himself in the Zamboni entrance. I’ll sit with him. And he’s wearing a beanie.
16:00 I love when Rick’s voice cracks. And so far, this game has been kinda boring. =/
13:31 Derek Roy is a beast. He took on 4 Islanders, dumped the puck in, and recovered it. Then had a decent shot on goal. This is why I love him.
9:51 Power play goal by Jochen Hecht!!!!!!! Nice goal, from the side of the net, using the goalie as a means of banking the puck in. 1-0 Buffalo.
6:22 Mike Comrie is a joke. Jumping Henrik in retaliation… I guess it was a little bit of an iffy hit, but that doesn’t warrant cross-checking and slashing him, and then punching him with a glove on. 4 minute power play!!
2:19 ANOTHER blown 4 minute power play. Lindy needs to do more work with the PP, and yes, I know Jochen just got a PP goal.
0:00 1-0 Buffalo. Shots: 13-7 in favor of Buffalo
SECOND PERIOD
18:46 Lalime poke check! I love a good poke check…
17:38 ADAM MAIRRRRR!!!! Yay! Way to go to the net!! 2-0 Buffalo.
17:12 Rick just said Jochen went to the dressing room at the last whistle… And Derek looked pissed off at himself for missing a wide-open net. I’m pissed too, Derek.
13:00 Daniel Paille (BEAST) and Thomas Vanek are my heroes!!! Vanek scores shorthanded. 3-0 Buffalo.
11:21 The Population of Pominville is now 1!!!! 4-0 Buffalo.
11:17 FIGHT!!!! Rivet’s in the middle of it; I couldn’t tell what happened to him but Mair jumped someone because he did something to Rivet (I think). ”He’s eating him up!” according to Rick. And Pat just body-slammed Witt! LOVE! ”It’s a wild and wooley one!” And now Lindy is screaming at the Islander’s bench. Remember what Lindy does when he argues with the other bench? I do. That was awesome! =] ”There’s room on the bench for Ryan Miller if he wants to go over there.” PENALTIES: Rivet get 5 minutes, and 2 game misconducts, Kaleta got a 5 and a 10, and Mair got 5. Bergenehim got 5 and a game, same with Witt, and Thompson got a 5. Put it all together? 80 minutes. From one fight. Talk about old time hockey.
10:40 Danny Paille beats out an Islander to cancel out an icing for the second time this afternoon. Again, Beast.
9:28 Another puck banked off MacDonald for Vanek’s second of the night! And another PPG, at that. 5-0 Buffalo.
8:30 Injury Update: Jochen Hecht’s return is questionable, due to an upper body injury. Great.
7:30 Derek jumps over someone to drive to the net with the puck. Too bad MacDonald managed to stop that one.
3:14 Jaro got a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass. I despise that penalty. 2:1 rush for Derek and Jason; no results.
2:00 Danny Paille possibly hurt? Hobbled, in the least…
0:51 5:3 power play coming up!! Haha, Comrie, you fool. I love you. And when I say I love you, I mean I cannot stand you. And waving a white flag in the penalty box? Well, there’s no room in the NHL for quitters. Bye bye. Haha, they’re playing “SOS” by the Jonas Brothers….
0:00 5-0 Buffalo. Harry: ”The Sabres have the Islanders by the throat, and I don’t think they’re going to let up in the third.” Shots: 26-15 Buffalo.
THIRD PERIOD
20:00 Because Rivet got 2 game misconducts, he may or may not be suspended for a game… That’s up to the league. I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see.
19:02 Big Al, one-timer, on the power play… 6-0 Buffalo.
14:39 Islanders finally get on the board. 2:1 rush, and Hunter buries it; well, it deflected off of Spacek anyways. 6-1 Buffalo.
14:14 Vanek takes a stupid goaltender interference penalty. Tommy, you should know better.
9:12 Danny sets up Sparky-Clarkey on a give-and-go. Yay!!! 7-1 Buffalo.
5:20 Lalime pulls a Hasek and comes flying out of the net, up past the faceoff circle to play the puck.
0:00 7-1 Buffalo. Shots: 35-24, Buffalo.
What. A. Game. I LOVE THE SABRES!! I don’t have much time to write an elaborate recap because I’m housesitting with Kim, and the house doesn’t have wireless capabilities (well, it does, but they forgot the password), so I have to post before I go over there. And I’m going over there in about 15 minutes. SO! Wow. We were physical, smart, consistent, solid, and mentally-prepared and aware. AND OUT POWER PLAY WORKED!! I’m so proud! And to top it all off, Mike Comrie made a fool of himself. It couldn’t be better. And it truly says something about a team when 14 different players get on the score sheet (see below for details).
1st Star : Thomas Vanek / Adam Mair
Tommy makes his case by scoring 2 goals and stepping it up on the special teams, scoring on both the power play and while shorthanded. Adam kicked ass in that fight, and netted the game winner.
2nd Star : Jason Pominville / Ales Kotalik
Both guys had a goal and 2 assists, and Al’s goal on the power play boosted the team.
3rd Star : Patrick Lalime
Way to step in and be solid in your first game in the blue and gold. Keep it up! Plus, I quote: ”The guys played a hell of a game!”
Islanders’ Star : Rick DiPietro
He’s the only guy on that team that can’t be held accountable for this catastrophe.
Stats
For a complete list, go here, but like I said: 14 guys got on the scoresheet for Buffalo:
Vanek (2-0)
Kotalik (1-2)
Pominville (1-2)
Hecht (1-1)
MacArthur (1-0)
Mair (1-0)
Afinogenov (0-2)
Paille (0-2)
Numminen (0-1)
Rivet (0-1)
Roy (0-1)
Sekera (0-1)
Spacek (0-1)
Tallinder (0-1)
Rivet’s status for Wednesday’s game is up in the air, although the guys seem to think nothing will come of his 2 game misconducts. Hecht, however, will be out for a little bit of time, according to Ruff, with an upper body injury. More details to come with that, I’m sure. Again, a great game. I love these guys…
