......

....maybe my whole philosophy on this one point thing is wrong. One point is NOT better than nothing, because at this point it FEELS like nothing.

Booo Sabres, just boo.

Brad Boyes scored again this game though, and that was nice. Keep doin' what you're doin' with that sir.

Sabres vs. NY Islanders

Hmmmm.

-Ryan Miller needs to rest, we all know this. Lalime is not a great backup, and it is pretty much a risk each and every time to put him in to play a game. Miller has played so many in a row and he is cranky and tired. This needs a solution. Hopefully when our new owner is in, he can help management fix our situation, because the people there now are obviously now sure how to fix it.

-Drew Stafford and his awesome amount of hat tricks, I love it. That was the high point of the game, regardless of the fact we didn't win. I am glad he is having a good year.

-I still think Sekera and Butler are useless as d-men, and I really hope they both go sometime soon.

-Paul Gaustad did a few things wrong this game, and I guess pointing them out is half the battle because he can do a lot and I still will not be angry with him, so yeah.

-Patrick Kaleta came back and he was stirring it up a little out there. Glad he's back, hopefully he can stay healthy for longer than like 2 games...lol.

-Our captain is still MIA and it is pretty laughable at this point, and just crazy. He will either retire it seems, or at least not be here next year. It just can't happen.

I still have faith in this team, I do. This was a crazy game, the number of goals were high and we still couldn't capitalize, but this isn't the first time. I can't just stand here and say one thing will make me not want to root for them anymore. When you are a real, true fan you stand behind your team 100% no matter what, and the people of Buffalo know that. This isn't a song that hasn't been sung before. In saying that, the new ownership knows what is in front of them. They know that we have had a lot of these guys for a long time, and things need to probably be shaken up for next season if we want to get somewhere. This man wants to win a cup, and he seems like hockey man, not just a money man. If he is all that he says he is, I'm sure he can get us going in the right direction and help us get closer to winning. Game on!!

Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings

I didn't even really watch this game. I was out and I listened to a little bit in the car, and got home during the 3rd period, but still didn't really pay attention to a lot of it. I'm just usually doing something on Saturday nights, I prefer Sunday night games instead. Hello NHL, people have lives, thank you. I guess I didn't miss MUCH, we got one point, and Jochen was the only one doing any scoring it would seem. After that I don't know much more except that mama Miller was in the crowd to watch BOTH her sons, and the younger Miller prevails. That must be kind of hard to watch, but I'm sure she is really proud.

Random notes:

-I heard something about Ryan Miller getting very mad over something. Temper tantrum maybe? Awww, why do I have to miss the good stuff?

-Paul Gaustad is a bum. My new favorite Sabre is Jochen Hecht. At least he wouldn't let me down by getting into a useless fight and injuring something the night before I have four games lined up, only to be all better the night AFTER the last game I attend. He is a BIG BIG BUM.

-I was reading a little bit about Robi in the Buffalo news. I hope he continues to get better and comes back soon, I miss him. :(

-Wegmans puts The Hockey News in the front of the store with the newspapers instead of in the back with the magazines. I get it, it's labeled NEWS, but come on. You're just confusing me.

No game again until Tuesday in Atlanta, and Clarke MacArthur will be there! Wow, that will be weird. He should punch Paul Gaustad in the nose...just cause. Game on!!

Stop.

Ughhhhh!!!

Ok, so getting past that, luckily there is only one more game left. I wanted to buy tickets to it too! Ha! That will not be happening. I think the fans will need this break just as much as the players at this rate. I'm not even getting into all the points of this game, but Derek Roy did score two goals. Thank you for that. Jochen Hecht, thank you also, you both did a good job tonight.

Random notes:

-Gaustad got his "A" back!
-I like to make up scenarios of what I think Lindy might do/say when he goes into the locker room between periods and after games such as this one. They sometimes come out pretty hilarious.
-Tyler Myers battle wound on his neck looks somewhat like a huge hickey from far away. Haha awww, poor boy :(
-Are we ever going to get two points again? EVER???
-I liked watching the team USA stuff on MSG after the game because it showed awesome people who aren't on the sabres and made me breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you Zach Parise, you have restored my faith in hockey.

So, that's that. As we hold our collective fan breath for Saturday, let's all hope that this break kicks something into gear, and when they get back they are like some sort of crazy robot winning machine. As least we can all wish.

Some kind of alternate universe I guess.

So, ok, we didn't technically LOSE this one, but as everyone seems to think, this isn't all that great either. Lindy was super pissed at the press conference, and trying to make the media all squirmy with his one word answers. I'm sure he expects more out of them, as the fans seem to also, but ya know, teams go into slumps every now and then. I try not to be too mad at them for losing. Ryan Miller needs to get ready for the Olympics, and Patty isn't ready to go out there and win for us, so who knows what to do. Maybe people like Jason Pominville (skdkjdkj) and Derek Roy need to step up. Although Derek did score one, it just wasn't enough to bring two points.

Tyler Myers with that hit to the face with a stick or a puck or something...ouch! I generally get very, VERY nervous when things like that happen, and just stare at my tv waiting for the person to move like come onnn, please get up. Lindy didn't have much to say after the game except for that he was "ok", so hopefully it will all really be ok and he won't miss the next two games or anything.

Paul Gaustad was out there being a boss tonight, and even got an assist in. Lexus leader and one of the three stars of the game? Geez man. He also got the Carubba Collision (which reminds me, come back soon PK...) so he had a really great night. He got knocked around and hit some guys and was gone after the whole night. He got that one penalty which was bogus, but sometimes I don't know what the heck the refs are doing out there. I also always enjoy Gaustad's "deer in the headlights" look when he is on the bench. Like he doesn't know where he is or what's happening and he doesn't blink too much. Pretty fun to watch sometimes...haha.

So we got one point, are now 5th in the conference falling behind Ottawa and Pittsburgh and have two more games this week including one on the road. Someone please help, I'm a little scared.

Sabres vs. L.A. Kings

From the start of this game, it seemed like this team was fierce. I mean, they aren't really high in the standings or anything, but they gave off a vibe like, "mess with us and see what happens" so, I was a little bit intimidated I must say.

Now I am thinking "oh cool, late starts are cool" but the thing is, I was actually kind of tired before the game even started. It's hard to remember specifics when you are just groggy like that. Clarke MacArthur scored one for us in the 1st period (it helped to bring that -10 to a -9 at least...) and then Tommy Vanek scored in the 2nd period to make it 2-1 because the Kings scored somewhere in there. Oh yeah, it was in the 1st and they had that awesome breathless interview with Brad Richardson (yes -breath- I -breath- scored -breath- please -breath- give me -breath- a -breath- second to catch my breath) so that was amusing to say the least.

2nd starts off 2-1 Sabres and it's all high action and fast paced and the l.a. announcers seem to like that...a lot. 2nd period looks like it might end in our favor when some old geezer (ha) from the Kings scored to tie it up 2-2 to end the 2nd period. Damn damn.

Craig Rivet scored very early in the 3rd to restore some hope that this could happen. Being ahead by one is always nice, but with almost a full period left to play, it seems unrealistic to say it would stay that way. Kings tied the game 3-3 with about 12 mins. left in the period and it was uh-oh ville (which is what Pominville could always be re-named, it seems appropriate at this point...). A shootout looms in the distance, but hey now wait, what time is it? Am I in bed at this point? Yes. Have I missed things here and there from falling in and out of sleep? Yes. Did I miss the shootout? Of course I did. Thank goodness for MSG's replay of the game this morning, because reading about it is just never the same ya know.

Shootout players chosen (Pominville? why must you keep tourturing us Lindy?) starts off with Stafford though, and he makes it look easy. So they score, we score, Jason goes ehhh and misses, but then they miss too. Connolly, come on buddy you have to help us....oh. Well, at least we got one point, which is ok at this point. Ryan Miller is point hungry, and he gets to eat up one at least.

A few random things:

-It was Jason Pominville's 300th consecutive played game with the Sabres. It's like that kid in high school who never missed a day all four years. Like whoa man, how do you do that? What an over-achiever you are. -throws confetti-

-Brad Richardson is cute and his hair was all crazy and him not being able to catch his breath made me crush on him. I am a weirdy, yes.

-Lindy, pleasepleasePLEASE shake up this shootout line-up for the love of Stu Barnes. I get it, I get it, it works sometimes. But Pominville should be in time out for now because he hasn't been all that good and maybe someone like Hecht should be there, he deserves it. He delivers better than Domino's.

-I wish they would mic up guys sometimes, the sabres never do that. Well they used to, but they have since stopped, I don't know why though, it was awesome. I want one sabre every few games just mic-ed up for fun. Paul Gaustad would be nice, but then again, do they have enough money and time to censor all that? Even reading lips can give me a good idea what he's saying sometimes. My goodness Paul, you kiss your mother with that mouth? ha

So, as it goes, on to San Jose tomorrow night. Seems scary, again, because I'm pretty sure they are the leaders in the west. Yes they are. My gosh, even their stats are kinda scary. The boys better prepare for this one really well because it looks like they will need it. One point and only two road games left (thank GOD). Game on!!!

Hmmm...

Ok, so I missed the first period completely, but got in the car sometime in the beginning of the 2nd to hear the awful awesome play by play of Kevin Slyvester. The radio usually makes me ehhh, because I need more visualizations and all that, but it's better than nothing. I know Mike Grier got a goal at some point on the ride home, and then I busted into the apartment so I could see the whole 3rd period on a good old fashion tv set.

Now from what I had heard from those actually watching the 1st period was that Miller looked "shaky" and he just seemed kind of out of it, and we were down by one at that point. So, I don't know, but things shaped up when Stafford scored in the third and tied us 2-2. OT went by and then it was time for dundundun...a shootout!

Now, not to hate on my dudes here, but they seem to kinda choke a lot of times on these. Lindy's choices for shooters also boggles my mind most of the time. I yell at my tv with such a fierceness! The obvious choices seem to always be Stafford, Vanek, Roy, Connolly, and then down from there to Hecht and MacArthur if needed (which has been the case). Butttt, there are times he throws someone in there like, ummm, excuse my Lindy, why in the world would you do that??! Now, I love P. Kaleta, I really do, but in the shootout? Nonono. You can say he scored the other day, yes, but Mike Grier scored TONIGHT, put him out there. So it goes that PK misses and the game comes to a close.

A point is a point though friends, and I have to give it up to them, because the game looked like it could have easily been a complete wash. With it being not that far into the road trip, a complete loss would not have been good at this point. Kevin Slyvester, you get a honorable mention because well, it takes a big person to fill those shoes in that booth, and you did...pretty alright for a noob. He also taught me a few things, like the fact that Paul Gaustad wears contacts. This I did not know. Thanks Kev for the info! Just don't quit your day job...ha.

Game on!!

Oh, and random note: me and my father saw Bill Hajt in a restaurant the other day, and my dad goes on to talk to him and I go on to have that "we're gonna win that cup" song stuck in my head for the last handful of days. Now of course I would have trouble recognizing this man in public, seeing as my father was just a kid when he played, but my dad knew right away...dang. It's not like standing next to Jason Pominville in Wegman's and watching him order some kind of ham, but it's close.

I don't even know.

The beginning of this whole "game" made me all "booo" because I could feel the happiness being taken away. Like "uh-oh dudes, don't let this go to your heads" but it seemed like it was going to be a bad night. Poor Patrick Lalime gets crapped on by a lot of people, but the poor guy has a tough spot. Everyone and their mama loves Miller, and he knows it, so Lalime can only get in there every once in awhile, and just needs more games played to get his record up and get his game play on. That can not be achieved though, when you know the fans want to see Miller and well, he delivers wins. I thought that Lalime did an excellent job, and yeah, some goals were given up, but ya know, it takes a whole team to stop them from going in, not just your goalie. I think all the guys tonight just seemed ehhh, like it was all going in slow-mo, and the road trip hasn't even started yet.

Butttt, we were able to tie it up by some goals from Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht (needed a call up to Toronto my ass). Tommy Vanek, 1st goal in 7 games huh? Wow. Derek Roy, are you still with us? Yeah, I dunno. There are just some people that don't seem to be pulling their weight to me. Yes, Vanek leads the team with 12 goals, but he scored triple that in a season not so long ago. Soooo, you decide. He has it in him, we all know. I know the season still has a ways to go though, so we shall see. Maybe I will be eating my words come Spring...

Let's get to the meat here though people, that DAMN SHOOTOUT. Now, shootouts in general make me sweaty, nervous, a mental case, etc. I wasn't sure who Lindy would have enough confidence in to send out there, but I knew it would probably be Stafford first. The whole back and forth of it all had me (and my parents) screaming at the tv like nutcases. Lindy made some unusual choices in my opinion, but I think everyone was thinking "it won't take more than those couple names on the sheet" but yeah, well, it did. A lot more. 22 shooters in all is what it took. Pominville (uhh), Tallinder??! (umm, ok) Tyler Myers (I get it, but oh my it was so bad, even he gave himself the omg what the hell did I do? face) and so on and so on. Lalime can only take so much it seems. Poor guy tried, he really did. I give him a ton of credit for tonight because he made a lot of good saves. Good job Limey!

Ok ok now. We have 7 games on the road now and won't be back home until the 27th vs. the devils (and I will be there!! :) One point in the right direction and praying for some love on the road. Come on boys!! Game on!!