THE WEATHER CAN STAY COLD AS LONG AS THE SABRES STAY HOT

I admit that I forgot I was going to the game tonight and because of the first two periods I wasn’t so sure I was glad I remembered. They were just awful, but the complete hideousness of the game was broken up by Derek Roy’s goal with 3:53 left in the second and everyone in the arena at that point was thinking the same thing “It’s about time”. Through the first two periods it seemed as if the team couldn’t do anything right. Their passing was horrible and they couldn’t seem to get the puck out of our end with Rangers outshooting us 14 to 7 in the first period. The second period was even worse with first shot on goal coming with 10 minutes already gone in the period. The fans were getting frustrated with good reason because that shot was met with derisive cheering and clapping. The Sabres stepped it up in the third because I’m pretty sure I could hear Ruff yelling, from the dressing room up in the 300s, to get their asses in gear something they seemed to have a problem with in the first and second. The only player who showed up for all three periods was Miller and I’ll even forgive him that goal because he was screened and it came from a wrist shot almost out at the blue line.

Overtime was back and forth between zones which was really frustrating because at that point you know that it’s going to a shootout. I hate shootouts, I hate them on principle usually because we’re always on the losing end but tonight the Sabres pulled it off. Ales Kotalik had the lone goal in the shootout for the Sabres but it turned out to be just enough with Miller stone walling the three New York shots.

It’s horrible to say but the Sabres deserved to lose that game because of their play in the first two periods. The Rangers were the superior team for most of the game both out shooting, out skating and overall out playing the Sabres but once again the Sabres managed to pull a goal out of their butts and sneak away with a win in the shootout.

The scariest part of the game came with 16 minutes left in the first period when, after colliding with Paul Gaustad, Michal Rosival fell face into the open doorway at the Sabres bench hitting his face on the corner of the boards. He skated across the ice to the Ranger bench and sat down next to Henrik Lundquist who sat out the game allowing Steve Valiquette to get the start. After being examined by the trainer Rosival was escorted to the Ranger locker room and didn’t return to the game. On the post game show it was reported that Rosival had recieved a gash that stretched the length of his cheek. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he also suffered a neck injury after the way he hit those boards with his neck snapping back so quickly it looked like his head was replaced with a bouncy ball.

Speaking of neck injuries from the seats where my mom and I sit for the games we can see the part of the press box that the injured players sit in during the national anthem I turned around to see Pat Kaleta sporting a neck brace and managed to snap a picture of it with the phone on my camera, which is why it’s really fuzzy, during one of the stoppages in play. He looked really bored which I would be if I had to sit and watch my teammates play without me. Max Afinogenov put in an appearance leaning over the edge to look out at the crowd during the first intermission. Jeanerette showed up during the second intermission talking to Kaleta all the while chowing down on a cookie.

That’s him on the left.

Today marked the halfway point in the Sabres season and before tonights game they were dead even in wins and losses with 20 each counting shootout and overtime losses. Tonight’s game was also the 4th win in a row for the Sabres putting them at 4-0 since the New Year if this streak continues the Sabres can say hello to a playoff spot (let’s hope) because as it stands right now they are tied with Carolina for 7th place in the Eastern conference.

As the guy in the booth at the parking ramp said tonight it was an important win for the Sabres tonight because tomorrow we play (shudder, cringe) Detroit who we haven’t played at all this season and who I’m not looking forward to playing at all for obvious reasons mainly Henrik Zetterberg and Ty Conklin (why is it that we get rid of a player and they do fantastically on another team it’s got to be part of the Buffalo curse I tell you).

Well I’m attending the blogger get together tomorrow so for those of you who are going it’ll be nice to put a blog with a face I look forward to meeting you.

BIRTHDAYS, BICEPS, AND NATHAN GERBE IS NOT A FAN OF SANTA

So if any of you are friends with me on Facebook, you may have noticed that my status as of last night after the game read like such: “Carianne is really sick of Sidney Crosby, the biased referees, and the anti-Buffalo NHL. But thanks for the birthday wishes!”

I think that pretty much sums up my day.

No, really. It does. I had a fairly decent birthday, if you look past the fact that while I was driving home from work (my Monday shift) around midnight, my windshield cracked. And then Kim and I didn’t go to the Sabres’ practice or Chef’s yesterday, because we figured the streets would have been horrendously snow-bogged. So I missed the possibility of having the guys serenade me with the birthday song over some delicious chicken parmesan. Sad.

Instead, we went to visit our friend Karina (who is home from school in Pittsburgh) and her sister Andrea (who is home from school in Chicago) and we played some Guitar Hero, and they’re both terrible, but Andrea’s singing made it all worthwhile.

Then we sat in the waiting room at the glass place for almost 2 hours, and then it was game time.

Psh. Bullshit. There is no way in hell that the height of Crosby’s stick was less than that of the crossbar. No way. Thanks, Sid. You ruined a perfect pretty good birthday.

I was happy with the play of the Sabres (excluding some glaring mishaps by Numminen, Afinogenov, and some other turnovers and such), but the officiating just blew.

And I’m too angry at the refs and the War Zone operators to say anything else.

I’m just glad Patty K doesn’t have a concussion.

But since my birthday was pretty shitty hockey-wise, I hope Ales Kotalik’s 30th birthday is 1000 times better than my 20th.

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG AL!!

Aww, shucks. We’re nine years and 364 days apart. Ain’t that sweet? No, not really.

But, while I’m in the mood to post pictures, here’s a beauty for the Christmas lovers in all of us:

That’s right, kids. The toddler-version of Nathan Gerbe is tearfully afraid of Santa Claus. Now that is sweet.

And do you know what else is sweet? Tim Connolly’s biceps.

To steal a phrase from Caroline, ZANG BABY BOY!!! Hot damn… I knew there was a reason I found you attractive! (Oh, and I stole this picture from the wonderful Shelby Rose’s Facebook.)

Hmm… I suppose I should get to cleaning, since I have a ton of it to do, and it has to be done by 2 pm tomorrow when my Aunt’s flight lands. If it lands. I hate it when relatives stay at my house, because the houses in my area of Kenmore are not that big, and we have a three bedroom house. I live with my parents and my brother, so obviously all three bedrooms are occupied. But who gets the boot every time someone visits? This girl. Fair? Hardly. So I’m going to take up residence on the futon in my game room until Sunday. I hate futons. This is going to be a really uncomfortable week.

So I probably won’t be back until Friday after shopping(!!!), so I hope you, my dear lovelies, have a beautiful holiday season, and if you go out to snow blow your driveway, don’t pull a Joe Sakic and stick your hand in the blades, please!! xoxo

WELCOME TO THE SQUIDNEY CROTCHBY SHOW

Once again the NHL got the picture perfect ending to a nationally televised hockey game, Sidney Crosby scoring the game winner in overtime. Does that remind anyone of a certain Ice Bowl where said golden boy scored a shootout goal successfully clinching the game for Pittsburgh also on national television? Even better then Crosby scoring the game winner was that, most likely, the guys on Versus, I was at the game so I didn’t hear what they were saying, turned tonights broadcast into ‘How many times can we say how great Crosby is? All I can say is that I’m grateful to Cari, who bought my ticket for tonight’s game for my birthday, that I was able to miss that because usually the Versus broadcasters make me want to projectile vomit all over my TV, successfully covering Squidney’s reasonably handsome, stupid face. Oh Versus, where the commentators know even less about the game then the nearest puck bunny and that’s saying something.
When Buffalo scored less then a minute in the game I got nervous because usually that translates into a quick goal for the other team. However, when we ended the first period still up by a goal my spirits were temporarily lifted, then when Kotalik scored making it 2-0 I was flying high. But my dreams of conquest slowly started to dissipate and the cartoon cloud of doom started to hover when Pittsburgh scored twice tying the score at 2. But Sparky Clarky who has been on fire lately scored on the power play allowing the Sabres to pull ahead 3-2 at the end of the second. Why do you build me up Buffalo Sabres just to let me down? Then everyone knows what happens next Pittsburgh scores sending the game into overtime, which against Pittsburgh usually never bodes well for us, and Squidney gets the game winner with a VERY questionable goal. I still say that the stick was higher then the crossbar as did all the other Sabres’ fans left in the arena who still had hope that the goal would be disallowed. But once again we were all disappointed which to Buffalo is really nothing new I swear we’re getting battered wife syndrome, they keep beating us down yet we keep coming back for more. Go figure.

And how about Petey’s ‘fight’? Or as I like to call it Bromance on Ice because they were literally hugging each other for a good half a minute before the first punch was thrown which got them both 5 minute majors for fighting. How about 2 minutes for unnecessary hugging? I think that would have been a much more appropriatepenalty. Sorry I’m just a little bitter. Okay, well that was a huge understatement a lot bitter but that’s besides the point. Once again Happy Birthday to the best PIC ever and I guess it’s better luck next time we go to a game together which is Saturday actually. Until then Happy Holidays everyone.

LOOK WHO’S BACK, BACK AGAIN.

Shady’s back. Celebrate.

Errr, maybe… Sabres are back? Celebrate? Ehh, my attempt at rewriting Eminem’s lyrics are no where near as good as some of the others I’ve attempted, like Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’, Lou Bega’s Mambo #5, or The Foundation’s Build Me Up Buttercup.

Wow. I don’t go off on tangents much…

Are those the Sabres I’m in love with, winning before my very eyes once again? ARE THEY BACK AGAIN? I can honestly say that I think the Sabres have finally woken up and turned the ship around. At least it appears that way, right?

I think we finally got some of that good puck luck that Lindy’s been talking about, ever since the guys apparently gave up on The System.

But seriously, though, I’m too overjoyed that they finally are putting a GOOD streak together to even figure out something to write about… That’s terrible.

OHHHH. But seriously guys? You need to look for me and my beautiful friend Brittany on TV tomorrow. I’ll show you exactly where we’re sitting tomorrow, but I’m still looking for the right picture, but anyways, we’ll be sitting front row in a corner, behind Ryan twice. EXCITING SHIT, as I’ve never sat front row before. And I’ve been going to Sabres games my whole life. Strange…

Did anyone else get really, really, REALLY annoyed that the (a) Versus guys kept talking about the Crosby and Malkin Shows, and the (b) refs totally tried to screw us over and hand the game to the Pens on a silver platter??

It’s a damn good thing we have awesome penalty killers…

And I seriously think Derek is trying to win me back with pretty goals, and a nice point streak, and a point total that’s approaching his pace for last season. Well, it’s working.

BUT DEREK… We need to take our relationship slowly. Obviously, jumping in that deep, that quickly distracted you, and I apologize for being responsible for your slow start. If we take it slow, maybe you can focus more on your game and not be so overwhelmed by our amazing compatibility. That way, you’re happy because you’re playing better, and Lindy’s happy because you’re playing better, and most likely the team is happier because they’ll be winning more, and I’ll be happy because you guys are all happy.

It’s a win-win situation, really.

You know what else is a win-win situation?

AL SCORED!! Okay, so maybe that didn’t make sense, but whatever. I almost never make sense, so it’s appropriate.

But he really does score in all areas of life, because this is his girlfriend:

I’m shocked that it’s not another blonde. Not that there’s anything wrong with blondes, or anything. One of my best friends is blonde. I just think it’s funny that most of them are blonde… Very pretty, though.

And can I just say that I’m really glad that Crosby (or Crotch-by, as I dubbed him at one point last night) was held to a -2, and that my Pittsburgh BF Jordan Staal got nothing. Nothing at all. Love it.

Well, I guess that’s about all I can come up with for now. I’ll probably post later when I’m not in an I-just-woke-up-and-cannot-focus-on-anything stupor.

<3 Sabres.

I’m a bit behind, I know…

Okay, so I got a little bit caught up in shopping, being girly, eating at Chef’s, watching lots of hockey, and also Slap Shot, so I haven’t posted in the past 48 hours like I said that I would.  So here goes a small recap of this weekend’s activities and findings:

Vancouver @ Buffalo, Friday 10.17.08

First off, Kim and I had spectacular seats!  (We were in the 19th row, dead center behind the net where we shot twice.)  I’m proud to say that I took her to her first Sabres game in the HSBC Arena outside of the 300 level.  Awwww.

The game was fantastic.  Kotalik’s 2 goals, power play keeping it hot, penalty kill still perfect, Kaleta causing a raucous, Vanek sort of tackling Kotalik, and Derek Roy’s playlist…  What more could I ask for?  Not much.  And God forbid I forget to mention that I got to see two of my Western Conference Loves, Taylor “Bedroom Eyes” Pyatt (thanks, Grandma!) and Steve “Big Bear” Bernier.  Love!  And Steve got a goal…  Not sure how I feel about that, but I guess it’s okay since his goal was pretty much nebulous.

Buffalo @ Atlanta, Saturday 10.18.08

Definitely not overly pleased with this game.  Roy’s performance was far from perfect, yet again, and the effort from the entire team for an entire 60 minutes wasn’t there.  Something new and different!  But really, though, we’re lucky to have come away from that with a point in hand.  Lalime was awesome; I can’t fault him at all.  And yet again, our special teams were outstanding!  Vanek, too, was fabulous, continuing his hot ways; he’s now on pace for 114.8 goals, and 147.6 points for the season.  Roy?  Not nearly as good; 0 goals and 32.8 points.  Kind of lack-luster numbers for the defending scoring champion…

Does anybody else think it’s a bit coincidental that our streak came to a screeching halt against the Thrashers last night, when our 10-game winning streak was ended by the same team in 2006-07??  Anybody?  Because I do.

And I have to say that I paid extra special attention to the crowd in Atlanta, because I have family there.  Two of my favorite cousins live there with their husbands and children, as do my aunt and uncle.  Funny thing is, though, my cousin Jen’s husband is from Connecticut, but he’s a huge Sabres fan.  One day, two years ago, he surprised my uncle with a Sabres jersey and tickets to one of their games there.  So I was hoping that I’d see them in their Sabres jerseys, but since Jen was supposed to have a baby last week (I don’t know if she had the baby, yet…  I should get on that.), I didn’t totally expect them to be there.

10 Questions

I have to say, I LOVE PATRICK KALETA MORE THAN DEREK ROY…  For a moment, at least.  When posed the question “Mary Ann or Ginger?”, Pat chose the redhead!  Now I’m forever endeared to him.  Everyone else (Derek, Miller, Lalime, and Mair) chose Mary Ann.  I don’t have anything against Mary Ann, or blondes in general, for that matter, but when a really cute hockey player says he likes redheads, I love him.  Pretty much the same thing as when I started liking Brian Campbell because he had curly red hair.  Redheads are not that common, so we have to band together when we get the opportunity.  =]

Anyone know when that’s supposed/going to be posted online?  Because I’m dying to see it.

hockeysockpuppettheatre, by Charlie Teljeur

Speaking of Brian Campbell, he was the focus of this cute little comic strip, run regularly in The Hockey News.  This is the banter between Soupy and, I presume, an interviewer:

Guy:  Brian Campbell, you signed for mega-bucks over the summer.  I suppose money can really change a young guy’s life…

Brian:  For some, maybe.  I’m still the same old guy, putting on one skate at a time…

Guy:  …and those would be rabbit fur-lined skates…

Brian:  Chinchilla, actually.

Oh, Brian.  You’re so fancy.

Jersey Hound

Also in this week’s issue of THN, was a small feature on the Sabres’ new third jersey.  This piece runs weekly, as well, but focuses on different jerseys in hockey, throughout history, throughout the world, in any league, anywhere.  This is what Ryan Kennedy writes:

“Sometimes justice does come for those who need it most.  In this case, fans of the Buffalo Sabres can once again wear a current sweater of which they can be proud of both the design and the team it represents.  The much-maligned ‘Buffa-slug’ is still the primary symbol of Western New York’s finest, but the Sabres have blessed the hockey world with a reworking of their classic sweater, which will now serve as the team’s third jersey.  The blue is darker than the original and the graphics are more defined, but oh, how it feels so right again.”

I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER FOR MY JERSEY!!!!  Can I please tell you all how much I want my new jersey?  I ordered a Roy jersey for myself, and a blank for my friend who is stuck in NYC until January–order numbers 155 and 156–but they won’t be in at the Sabres Store until at least Thanksgiving.  I WANT MY NEW JERSEY!!!  Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the slug too much, and I still love Tim Connolly, but I’d rather wear the jersey of someone who can actually play, and doesn’t just sit in the press box, night-in, night-out.  I guess I’ll have to wait…  But did I mention I’m not the most patient of people?  In fact, I’m downright impatient…

Portland Pirates

Nathan Gerbe had two goals to lead the Pirates to a 3-2 victory Friday night against the Springfield Falcons.  Colton Fretter also scored in the win.  The guys are playing again tonight in Portland against the Providence Bruins.

Speaking of the Pirates, the Sabres Store is now carrying a few pieces of Portland merch.  They have some blank jerseys, a hat, and player jersey t’s, featuring Nathan Gerbe, Tim Kennedy, and Mike Weber.  I would’ve bought one (or two, or three) if they had one for Mancari, Funk, and/or Card…

And their game is going to be shown on the internet today (as they all are), so since I can only listen to the Bills and their power outage, I’m planning on watching them.

I’ll post again tomorrow, as I’m sure I can find something to write about.

WE’RE ALL THINKING IT, BUT I’M NOT GOING TO SAY IT

I know what you’re all thinking, and that’s only because I’m thinking it, too. Remember how we started off the year two seasons ago, when you-know-what happened? See, I told you I wasn’t going to say it, but as soon as the final buzzer went last night, you know I was thinking it.

ANYWAYS. Since I’m helping Kim housesit, we were originally going to have a couple of her friends over to the house to watch the game on the ginormous TV here. Instead, while we were out to pick up our usual LaNova pizza beforehand, my friend Brittany calls me and invites us over to her boyfriend’s house, where we would eventually watch the game with herself, one other girl, and five 20-something, sports-fanatical guys. This could get interesting…

During the first intermission, Keith busted out his old-school XBox, which he had some sort of adapter thing that allowed him to play games from all video game systems, including Nintendo NES, so he and Scott sat through the intermission playing Ice Hockey, like 1995, or something ridiculous like that, while Phil tried to get their other TV to work in order to monitor puck drop. I haven’t seen that game since I was 7, when my brother used to pwn me in it. Yikes.

But back to the game. After Vanek scored his first goal of the night, Keith wondered what he’d be on pace for for the season, since our friend is always throwing those stats out there. Well, at that point, it would’ve been 109. Scratch that, though, since he netted YET ANOTHER shortie. 136. And Tommy? WAY TO LEAD THE LEAGUE IN GOALS.

And at some point, they must’ve shown the Campbell hit on Umberger, because Lucas decided to tell us a story about a friend of ours shopping in a department store around that time. He bumped into a little kid, and the kid stares him down, and flatly states, “BUMP INTO ME AGAIN AND I’LL UMBERGER YOU!” Only in Buffalo would you find someone saying something like that, and only in Buffalo would anyone understand it.

I really don’t have too much to say that hasn’t been said already, since I didn’t post last night, since we unexpectantly went out for the game. And there isn’t a whole lot of news to go around, EXCEPT THAT PAUL GAUSTAD IS SKATING. Yay.

I’ll post tomorrow morning with something good (hopefully), and maybe tomorrow night (probably) after the game. No liveblogging, as Kim and I will be there. =]

Oh… My three stars…

First Star : Thomas Vanek
Your prowess on the PK and the PP are still amazing me. And like I said earlier, you’re #1 in the league and on a ridiculous pace to score 136 goals. Enough said.

Second Star : Ryan Miller
Nothing surprising here; the guy was solid. He kept the door shut when we needed him to, and that was pretty much all the time, as we only managed to get 18 shots for us. Therefore, the 20 he did stop were extremely important. Plus, it’s good to see him step in after a very early night off and maintain his game.

Third Star : Ales Kotalik
Again, special teams are key to winning, and with this guy on there, it’ll make a difference in Connolly’s absence. Al’s goal tied it up at 1, and kept us in the game. Until that point, the game had ben ho-hum, with the Rangers shutting everything down. This broke the ice and allowed the Sabres to move in and take control.

Ranger’s Star : ?
I’m not going to lie; I didn’t pay much attention to anyone on that team. So they don’t get a star this time around. Shucks.

‘Til tomorrow. Great game guys!

THAT WAS A "WILD AND WOOLEY ONE!!" <3 Rick Jeanneret

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…

Buying into the System

I’ll admit that while I was bubbling over with joy and excitement and anticipation in the moments leading up to 7:30 last night, I was extremely skeptical as well.

Montreal, as a team, scares me.  We never seem to beat them when we need to, and there was always the chance of the inevitable overtime and shootout, in which, last season, we never seemed to come out on top.  But hey!!  I can be wrong sometimes.  And I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to the Sabres.  And I could not be happier that I was wrong yesterday.

That being said, this post is by no means whatsoever a serious post about last night’s game.  If you want that, read this.  This is just my normal ramblings about Sabres life in general, everything I’m used to.  Let us begin:

Player Tunes  :  Jason Pominville

Jason, like Anne said, I’m a bit disappointed that Les Cowboys Fringants didn’t make the cut this time around.  And you do seem to have a love affair with Kanye West this fall, but there’s nothing wrong with that.  I do, however, have a problem with your lack of Jonas Brothers, because like I said before, I can see you driving around in your Expedition, rocking the aviators, breaking it down to “Burnin’ Up,” and crooning your passengers when “Love Bug” plays.  Sad.  Overall, good playlist, though.

Dear Tim Connolly,

A hairline fracture?  Really?  I should’ve known something would keep you out of the game.  I should have known.  At first, I thought that maybe I jinxed you when I got home and put your jersey on.  But then I realized that putting faith in you, and hoping against hope that you’d have a decent, injury-free year is a lot to ask.  And Tim, as much as I’ve loved you since the day your curly-haired, polo-shirt-wearing, nervous self had your introductory Sabres press conference with Taylor Pyatt way back in the day, AND THAT’S A LOT, trust me, I just can’t bring myself to get past the idea that you truly are injured.  Now, I’m not saying that you’re faking, I just find it a little hard to believe that after a week, you’re not absolutely 100% like you said, but instead, you’re on the shelf, for possibly a week.  What gives, Tim?  What gives?  Please explain this to me, because I’ll be the first to jump back on the Tim Connolly bandwagon.  In fact, I’m only one foot off right now, because when I fall for a player, I fall hard.  Take that from Brian Holzinger, Jay McKee, Marty Biron, and Brian Campbell, all of whom I still love and hold dear in my heart.  So you’ll always be there with them.  It’s just a question of how I remember you.  So, please, Tim, I’m begging you:  Prove me wrong.  Love, Cari.

Home is Where Al’s Heart Is

Now, I’m not saying that Al doesn’t love being in Buffalo, because he does.  But honestly, how can you not go “awwww” when a grown man, let alone one of Ales Kotalik’s size, stature, and talent, says he gets homesick?  That’s just adorable.  On the Sabres Show yesterday, Maria Genero did a spot with Al, interviewing him over a game of pool at the Pearl Street Grille and Brewery.  He admitted that he fits the European stereotype of liking fashion, and it was made known that he has his own line of hats and headwear.  I want to see these hats.  He also revealed that his mother is a school teacher, his father is a dentist, and his older brother Adam is a TV analyst (I believe that’s what they said).  And while he loves the steakhouses here, but hates eggs.  He never eats them in any way, shape, or form.  His favorite movie is “Pulp Fiction,” and the person he most wants to meet is Quentin Tarantino.  Oh, and Derek was wrong; Al does have a special lady friend.  ”But she’s not a Buffalo girl; she’s Czech.”  They’ve been dating for three years.  Cute.

Teppo’s Heart Surgery

I still can honestly say that I think Teppo Numminen is the most adorable and the most awe-worthy guy on the roster whenever I hear him say that he thinks it’s funny that he’s 40 and teams are still calling him.  And he always says it with that adorable, sheepish smile he always has on his face.  And what makes me like him and Craig even more is what Craig said about him:  ”Teppo’s my biggest surprise, coming out of camp.”  Okay, Craig, I love you too.

Okay, I lied.  One thing I have to say about the game last night was in response to Derek’s hooking penalty.  Now, Kim and I–I don’t know where we got this, but it’s now our saying–whenever a player we really like gets a hooking penalty, say this, so I have to share it with you.  Derek Roy is a hooker, right?  Well, he can stand on my corner anytime he wants.  =]

And I was in heaven this morning because there were four, COUNT ‘EM:  4, articles about the Sabres in the Buffalo News this morning.  I love hockey season!  And Bucky Gleason’s article was happy, and cheerful, and positive!  What is this world coming to?

More tomorrow.