Sabres vs. Florida Panthers

Let's recap:

Sabres are doing extremely well right now, winning like nobody's business (except for the whole losing the home opener thing, but I guess we can forgive that) and things are looking pretty sweet.

Ryan Miller got one, of what I'm assuming will be many, shutouts. I love those.

Paul Gaustad made Matt Bradley's face look like he was trick-or-treating early...awesome huh?

Thomas Vanek is scoring like all kinds of crazy and it's cool and I'm not mad at him at this moment.

I still wish they were winning all these games at home instead of on the road, but who cares, wins are wins.

I see Timmy Kennedy is in the sunshine state and still looks depressed. I saw him and was like "TIMMYYY!" and realized I kind of missed him. I miss only one Tim from this team, that's for sure. He wears number 8 now instead of the unlucky 13 he did here. Good for him.

I need to update this thing more.

That is all.

Sabres vs. Flyers--Game 2

Ok, so we lost, and you know what? I'm not even really that mad. Losing is sometimes part of the game, and I am so sucked into playoff mode that it's ok to me. It's early too, and I'm being optimistic. So yeah.

Randoms:

Gaustad/Hartnell fight: awesome. Ok, I don't even care who supposedly won it, I was just glad to see Gaustad go out there and woop some ass or somethin. I don't really like Scott Hartnell anyway, so yeah. Then Kaleta and Briere were trying to get into it or something (lol Briere, what?) and then that didn't happen, but Gaustad and Hartnell went, and penalties were had.

Speaking of penalties today, I guess the Sabres were lookin to see how many players could get one, like some kind of awesome club to join! Fun! :| Gerbe, Gaustad, Pominville, Montador, Sekera, and even Miller (but that was so bogus), so yeah. Need to tame it down with those boys, come on. Don't let stupid stuff be your downfall on this.

Thomas Vanek was pretty kick ass tonight and was one goal short of a hatty. I was hoping he would get one too. It would have been nice if he would have gotten one to tie up the game and then we would have went on to win. Sounds fab, but didn't happen. Oh well.

Boys are coming back to Buffalo though! I wish I could go on Monday, but I am just glad it's back at HSBC and with our fans and all that. Hopefully a house full of super excited fans will rev the boys up a little bit more if anything and help the morale out a little bit out there. Game on!

Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils

First off....Kovalchuk...what in the hell was that?? haha. It was just hilarious the way it went down, my goodness. He just looked like "that just happened? oh boy" it was just BAD. The 2nd shootout the Sabres have been in and won, does it have to come down to this everytime? That is really the long way to go about winning boys.

Tyler Ennis is still kickin ass out there, and Tyler Myers has been doing better. I don't think he was ever doing really badly, but he just got off course a little bit was all. Enroth played really well, and Thomas Vanek is still struggling with finding the back of the net. He is trying like hell, but nothing seems to be happening for him. I'm sure it's getting on his nerves, you can see it on his face sometimes. :(

Seeing Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise all injured in the press box made me laugh a little. Not like "haha you're hurt" but more like "aww they look so sad and depressed, but they are the best dressed bunch of injured people I've ever seen" hehe. They were all in shirts and ties and cruches and casts...hehe. The Devils have been struggling just as much as the Sabres lately, and it has to suck to have your top two players for the most part out with injuries like that.

So, we won again, which is good. Keeping it up would also be good. Tomorrow it's the Rangers in NY and I just hope we can keep winning, keep the moral up a little bit and get out of the losing funk. Game on!!

We won???!!

Yeah, it finally happened, it had to eventually...haha. The Thrashers really aren't that good to begin with, but I thought all the ex-hawks would have put up a little bit more of a fight tonight. The arena just looked pathetic, I don't know if I would be happy or sad about that. On one hand, you could go to a game for probably pretty cheap and not have a ton of people around you all packed in and have some nice space. Butttt, there probably isn't a lot of energy in that arena, seeing as there is hardly anyone there. Pros and cons people.

Thomas Vanek got his first goal of the season! Woo! I don't know why it was so much put upon him to get a goal, I guess cause he's one of the top forwards, but so is Connolly and he does NOTHING half the time, so yeahhh. He seemed relieved about it, and I'm sure this will shut some people up, for a little bit at least. There was also a nice goal by Cody McCormick and Tyler Ennis and I think also one from Tyler Myers, so it was a good night for a lot of guys.

Not so much for Steve Montador who was pushed around, hit in the face, bled somewhat, etc. Geez. I don't know if they had it out for him or what, but yikes. He took it all like a trooper though.

I was also glad to see Kev Slyvester interview Jason Pominville in the intermission. He looks really good and is getting better and will hopefully be back in the line-up soon. They were like "let's replay the video from that night" I'm like oh whyyy are we doing this? It makes me so creeped out every time, and just seeing him on that stretcher makes me nervous. No need to replay the video a million times thanks.

So next game is back home vs. Ottawa. Oh boy. I think we may need to prepare for this one, as we may very well get our asses handed to us, we shall see. We beat them once, but I still think that was a fluke...haha. Hopefully we can keep winning for awhile longer, it feels nice. Game on!!

Sabres vs. Bruins--Game 2

As an after thought, I am frustrated at this game. I know it's so early, but I guess that's what happens when you amp yourself up for something great and it turns out...less than great.

It started off innocent enough. NBC wet their collective pants over Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers (in true national network fashion, the rest of us Buffaloians are used to it all pretty much...haha). Ryan Miller played in the olympics and was awesome. Tyler Myers is young, tall and also awesome, but we all know that already. Let's get on with this hmmm?

Matt Ellis scored a goal, which I'm sure made him feel pretty damn awesome, seeing as his are pretty few and far in between. Pominville scored after my dad yelled at him through the tv for about 15 mins. straight (he probably did it just to shut him up...haha), and Tyler Myers scored and did a cute little jump for joy. Then that big idiot Chara (mature, I know) must have gotten all mad about something and scored twice at some point, and before we know it, we are down by one (these are all out of order, I realize this, ha). We were leading going into the 2nd, which is usually always a sign of a win, but not today. We were one upped in the 3rd until the very last minutes, when an empty net was scored and we end up losing by 2, therefore breaking our leading in the 2nd record. What a downer.

The whole thing with Thomas Vanek just made me so frustrated and sad. It's like, how much more in the injury dept. can this team take? We already have two forwards out, and now a third. I don't know if he will play Monday, as no details are available other than it's a lower body injury. It looked like it hurt like hell is all I can say. WGR was saying that if Drew Stafford is ready Monday, he can go in if needed, but who knows at this point. According to my father, Nathan Gerbe can not be called back up because he was just sent back, and there is a time period to wait or something, so I don't know. Random notes:

-I didn't even know/notice Tim Connolly was playing today. I don't know what his problem is lately, but he needs to step up, especially if Vanek ends up out for awhile.

-Tim Kennedy has been kicking ass lately, setting up plays, getting all over the place, just doing everything he needs to and being a great team player in general. For not playing in the NHL that long, he is doing an amazing job.

-NBC seemed to get some lovely scenic shots of Buffalo for the game today, it was pretty cool.

-There was an NHL/some car company commercial with Pat LaFontaine in it and I almost jumped for joy, it was so awesome. I wasn't paying close attention to the people in the commercial until I saw him put a jersey on with his name on the back and I yelled to my dad. It was so cool to see him, it made me want him to just come back on our team and play, I don't care how old he is. If Mark Recchi and Chris Chelios can do it, he can too, he is right in the middle of the two in age. Think about it Patty huh? hehe.

So, game 3 goes to Boston, and we just keep going along. Hopefully Vanek will be able to play, because we really need him and he just came off injury, so I'm sure he is just as bummed out about this as the fans and the rest of the team are. Here's sending get well wishes your way Tommy! Game on!!

Sabres vs. Bruins--Game 1

Wow. That game was just full of a lot of action I will say, and not even that much scoring action. Just more hits, checks, fighting, etc. These two teams are fired up to play each other, and for the playoffs in general. Going in, first game of the first series would have a lot of energy of course, and the hometown fans brought down the house too, which amps everyone up even more. It was a battle ground out there for a lot of the game, everybody wanted to get into it tonight, it was crazy.

Thomas Vanek, well, I was wrong about him I guess. I mean, yeah, for the better part of the season he was just ehhh, average. He wasn't doing anything special, and scoring at a pretty slow pace, nothing outstanding. Not like seasons prior when he was ending with 40 goals and upwards. After he was out for his injury and came back, he's been like a whole new player, it's amazing. He is delivering night after night, and we can always use that.

Craig Rivet also scored, which was more of a "WHOA" moment for me, but hey, playoffs are as good a time as any for players who don't usually produce to show that they can. His goal helped us keep the one goal lead that gave us the game as well. Yay for you captain!

I do not like Zdeno Chara, not at all. So what if you are freakishly tall? So is Tyler Myers. Not as tall as you, but geez, who is? Patrick Kaleta will stomp on your face, don't think he won't. He'll just have to pull you down to his level first, that's all. That Bruins coach has a lot of nerve to say he isn't afraid of Chara having to go face to face with Kaleta. I would be, the dude is a beast. I mean, he BLEEDS and SMILES during it. What is THAT??? You have a big stupid cage on your broken nose. You aren't that tough. If he didn't have that cast on this hand, he would have probably broken it again for you. So hmmpfff.

Ryan Miller was awesome, and it was kind of funny to watch him stand at the podium for the post-game press conference. He looked so tiny in that big hoodie, and also looked a little bit scared to be put in front of that firing squad of press. Not that he doesn't do it in the locker room, but it was just a weird new atmosphere. Rask and Miller are pretty much head to head in stats and all that, but Miller came out on top tonight. Random notes:

-The party in the plaza people are crazy. I was watching the news station broadcast from down there, and everyone wants to be on tv...haha.

-I don't really know why Chris Butler was scratched, and I really don't care.

-The playoff video at the beginning of the game was awesome and I love it. I hope they show it all the time.

-My dad gets really nervous during playoffs and sits on the edge of his chair, then yells at the tv, sits back, then returns to the edge of his chair....haha.

-If these guys are going to have playoff beards they better get to it. I mean, I know they just started, but I saw video of Drew Stafford at practice, and his is pretty damn full already. Come on guys!

Game 1 down, next game on Saturday at 1 (ehh) on NBC. I don't know if I will be able to watch any of it on tv, but if not, I will at least be able to hear it on the radio. Better than nothing I guess. Game on!!

Last regular season game: Sabres vs. NJ Devils

So we didn't get into 2nd place in the conference, but that is all just kind of back burner stuff to me. We won't have to worry about round 2 home ice anyway until some time down the line (if at all) so it was just a numbers game in that context. The BIG picture is that we have to play Boston in round 1. BOSTON. Now, to some that might not seem so bad, at least it isn't Ottawa blah blah and not as entertaining as it would have been to play Philly, but whoa does Tuukka Rask scare me. If it was Tim Thomas in net, it might not be too bad, but I don't think it will be him most of the time. That doesn't seem right does it? But it is. The Sabres just don't seem to be able to get ANYTHING past Rask, so this will be tough. I'm scared already.

Tonight's game was just pretty uneventful up until the weird ending and the weird empty net goal by New Jersey. Thomas Vanek got our one lone goal, and then they scored one lone goal, and the rest was just skating back and forth for the rest of the 60 mins. Who was that guy in net for us though? Patty Lalime, is that you??! Wow, he was really ON tonight, and it was pretty great. If we get a backup playing like that going into the playoffs Ryan Miller can sleep a little easier, as can the fans on if it comes to having to put Lalime in at all. He needs to play like that all the time. Random notes:

-Who told Martin Brouduer he could hit Paul Gaustad in the head? Not cool. He didn't intentionally fall into you or into the goal or whatever you might have thought. You were having more of a diva moment than Ryan Miller would. Get over it.

-Patrick Kaleta is back! Less feisty-ness seeing as the thumb is still wrapped up tight, but at least he's playing and I'm sure he'll get back to 100% soon and be kicking full-time ass before we know it.

-No Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford or Jochen Hecht tonight, and these injuries can be very costly going into the playoffs. I think too many people called Connolly "finally healthy" early in the season and jinxed it, because now he isn't. We shall see what the beginning of the playoffs bring and if the injuries can be cleared up soon.

-I hope Thomas Vanek can keep this hot streak going and kick some Bruins ass and just keep the pucks going right in. Feel free to have another hat trick (or 4) at any time Thomas, it's cool.

Playoff time guys, can you believe it?? I can't really, it seems like the season went by so fast. The schedule for times and days has yet to be released, but I heard the first game would be Wed. or Thurs. and Versus will start playoff games on Wed., so we shall see when we see our first game in Buffalo. Time to get pumped, this is what we've all waited for! Game on!!

Thomas Vanek??!!!

Holy hell, did Vanek have all this pent up awesomeness stored and he just couldn't wait to unleash it tonight? Because that's what seemed to have happened. A hat trick plus another goal is pretty damn awesome, seeing as the fans were beginning to think this team may never beat Ottawa ever again. Maybe you need to go out injured more often Vanek if you will come back and do stuff like that...haha. Awesome job dude!

Derek Roy also got a goal, and has given $26,000 to juvenile diabetes this year, which is also awesome.

I didn't get home to see the game until sometime after the 2nd had started, but had heard in the car they were up 2-0, and I knew that would happen. They are brats when I don't watch, so I think maybe I will watch NONE of the playoff games and maybe they will make it all the way to the cup! hehe. I did see a replay of the gnarly (not good gnarly) hit Drew Stafford took, which will have him out of the lineup for who knows how long. Him and Kaleta man, they are young guys, but get injured a lot. I guess that goes without saying in the NHL though, it's really physical and guys get injured all the time. Sucks to have a lot of injured players right before the playoffs though. Get better soon, all of you!

Random notes:

-Daniel Alfredsson played his 1,002 NHL career game tonight. That is a lot of damn games. My mom was baffled at trying to figure out how old this man was and how long he has been playing. From what I have learned, he is 37 and has been in the NHL since 1995. So that gives you a little look into how the timeline went for that. Awesome for him though, the arena even gave out t-shirts. Geez Sabres, get a little clue with that one huh?

-Tomorrow NY Rangers and Philly play for their little playoff lives. Who do I want to win? I don't really know. I can't help but hate Philly with a passion, but my fiancé probably wouldn't want to know that, so I will keep this under wraps. I will secretly hope for a Rangers win though. My fiancé likes baseball more than hockey anyway so, for the record, GO PHILLIES!!! :D

We just need to win tomorrow Sabres to get into that nice little 2nd place spot (because 1st waved bye bye to everyone a long time ago) and then it's done for the regular season. Zach Parise is cool and all, but we also have a U.S. Olympian, and he was even more awesome at the Olympics, so come on, you can do this! Game on!

Recalls galore!

So, accoring to sabres.com, Nathan Gerbe and Mark Mancari are being recalled to join Ennis up here until Connolly, Kaleta and Vanek get better. I don't know the extent of Vanek's injury, like if they think he will be back soon, but it doesn't seem good with Connolly and Kaleta. Ugh. Oh and I keep forgetting about the Raffi Torres injury, see how much I even NOTICE this guy is on our team? Geez.

Gerbe is precious, he is little, but I mean, little guys can have force. No one says he has to be up there trying to take on guys like Kaleta, I think he will be just fine up here. He has skill, otherwise he wouldn't be in the spot he's in already.

Mark Mancari did pretty well for us the last time he was up here, and Ennis is a beast out there so far and it's only been one game, so I think these three will be quite ok in the lineup. It will shake things up a little bit which is sometimes scary, but can also be good. These kids are fired up and ready to go, to show what they can do in the NHL most of the time, so let's let them show us hmmm? With playoffs being so close I just hope that these guys can get their injuries taken care of and rested and hopefully be back in time to start. We shall see what happens tomorrow night in Boston. I bet these guys are hyped up for it though, I know I am. Game on!!

I missed most of tonight's game.

So of course it was awesome/a lot of things happened/I still don't know what is going on. I have these things down now that the game is done with:

1. We are short one Patrick Kaleta, one Tim Connolly, and one Thomas Vanek, but have gained one Tyler Ennis. We have two Tylers plus an Ennis and an Ellis=my head explodes soon.

2. The game sounded awesome and Gaustad scored and I missed it (that seems to happen a lot) and Derek Roy got a hat trick. Alrightttt.

3. Patty Lalime finally, FINALLY got that 200th career win! It took awhile, but you did it buddy! Yay! Now you can dance to your heart's content out there (not like you wouldn't anyway, you always seem to get very jazzy out on the ice, and I like it...a lot).

4. Does the Tampa Bay lightning really suck this much? Or were we just tired of getting our asses kicked by Ottawa and had to take the rage out on somebody? Maybe it is a little bit of both at this point. The fact also that Lindy probably threatened physical violence on this team if they did not win tonight. Oh boy.

5. We got that playoff spot! and they will be selling playoff merch at the HSBC arena store! Well my my aren't we a little bit early to the party? Playoffs are not even here yet and it's time to break out the win that cup merch. I dunno, maybe we should wait and see if we make it through the first round? Eh what the hell, I'll buy some of that stuff, I admit it.

6. Tyler Ennis is some sort of kick ass guy! He plays well and he did some nice work tonight. Something about the name Tyler I guess. Maybe we should keep him around awhile...

7. I miss Kaleta already. Damn all these injuries! It sucks being your team's go to guy for fights and the like, but it must take a killer toll on his body, and often. Get better and get back to us soon PK!

8. You other two injured men....ugh. I dunno, just get back. We need a healthy, full team for the playoffs and you are NOT helping matters any. Ackkk.

9. Adam Mair also scored, and Pominville! and Jochen! My my everyone wanted in on some of the action tonight.

10. I don't know which was more heart warming, seeing the Drew Stafford/Lalime hug, or the Lalime/Miller hug. Either way, they both made me say "awwww" more than I should have.

All in all, a stellar night. This would have been a great game to be in attendance for (or even to have watched the whole thing on tv, grrrr) and it is deserved after some hard work by the guys. Off to Boston on Monday, then back home again Wed. vs. Florida. Hopefully the injuries won't hinder us too much and we can keep going like this. If only every game had this much energy and enthusiasm, we would never lose again! haha. Game on!!

Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens

This game was utterly painful to watch for more than three quarters of it. Painful and boring, a painful boring mix if you will. Oh my.

First off, they looked like they had never played a game before, like they had been on vacation for months or something. Guys falling, tripping over each other, over sticks, broken sticks galore, it was just a big mess. I bet the timbit players they bring out at intermissions could have played better than the Sabres did for 55 minutes of this game.

The last couple minutes were like a small miracle really. I'm sure a ton of people left that arena, and they were cursing in their cars on the thruway...haha. It just seemed out of reach, but with a goal by Tim Connolly (and a sly pull of Miller by Lindy) we scored one goal, and then Montador (I really thought this was a Gaustad goal :() tied it up with not much time left in the 3rd.

I was really, REALLY hoping we would be able to win it in overtime, because as any Sabre fan knows, shootouts are nerve wracking, gloomy, overall BAD experiences a lot of the time. Well well now Vanek and Pominville, you guys did it, you both scored a goal. Better late then never I guess.

So overall, I got amped at the end of the game, but most of it was a snoozefest. I guess the guys at least gave us something we wanted in the end, because the two points are what they are really after at this point. The guys just looked asleep out there tonight. Even the bench after the shootout was won was lookin' dead, geez. Come on guys!! This is the time, get it goin'! Games like tonight will NOT fly in the playoffs, not in the least. You will not be playing bottom teams just praying for playoff spots, you will be playing playoff worthy teams ready to kick ass. Wake up and hit this home stretch hard, we know you can do it. Game on!!!

Sabres vs. Minnesota Wild

This was the last game in the round of tickets I bought for now, and it went out pretty disappointing.

On top of chance after chance for the Sabres, it was just sloppy out there, and Lalime just wasn't in the right element for most of the game, and the crowd started ragging on him pretty much. Maybe it was because we didn't want to lose this one because we just started winning again. Maybe it's because a lot of people really want to put faith in Lalime, but he just doesn't deliver. He will stay at 199 career games won for...who knows how long.

But a lot of guys tonight had chances to score and help things along, and it just didn't pan out. Pominville had a ton of chances, and Hecht has a chance also along with Grier. Thomas Vanek scored the only Buffalo goals, two of them even, which is pretty impressive with the way the top line has been producing lately. Some of them are starting to finally score, but it isn't winning games and as I have heard a million times "they aren't playing 60 minutes".

I kind of wish I could take the tickets I bought for this game and trade them with a game to come...haha. I guess a lot of people feel that way, because the game was pretty much get all excited, nothing happens, get all excited, nothing happens again, repeat. Steve Montador fought someone along the way, but even that was lackluster, he got the name ripped right off the back of his jersey...geez.

So all in all, I wish I could go back in time and get this night back. Sad but true. Miller will play tomorrow in Detroit, starting the road trip, and the team won't be back home until the 24th to take on Montreal. We shall see how this road trip goes. We are still number one in the northeast with Ottawa not playing tonight, but if things keep going like this, who knows for how much longer.

Oh and I bet Gaustad will be back tomorrow, mark my words. I have horrible luck when it comes to this stuff. But, at least I got his signed hat tonight from the St. Patrick's day hat surprise at the arena!



So, at least that was a cool thing tonight. My dad got a Kaleta one like he wanted too, so that was cool.

Game on!!

Oh, and edited to add this:



Drew Stafford, Hotroit sounds like some kind of disease, or at least some ailment I do not want...lol.

Sabres vs. Dallas Stars

Exciting game last night to say the least. Between the back and forth goal scoring, the first goal coming so early and the Kaleta hits, it was a lot to take in.

Tyler Myers had 4 points last night. Redwood was on fireee, made me proud to wear my Myers shirt last night to the game. One goal and three assists, the first goal coming at about a minute into the game. Damn boy. He is awesome, and a very valuable part of our team. I hope he stays in Buffalo for a long, LONG time.

Roy, Pominville and Vanek stepped up and actually had some goals and made their presence felt, right as I was thinking that maybe they weren't part of the team anymore. Roy got an empty netter also, which I'm pretty sure was the first one of the season for the Sabres. Come on bros, how come you guys can never make those? They are great, please do it more often now.

Other "new guy" (not Raffi) got a goal also, Mark Mancari. He also got an assist if I'm not mistaken. I thought he would have been on fire his first game up, but it must have just taken him some time to adjust. Good job Mark.

PK. My goodness, something was up with him, he must have been fired up beyond belief last night. He let Steve Ott have it and then some. I particulary loved how after it was over and he skated to the box his arms up in the air, pumping up the crowd and his "woo" scream. The place went nuts, and I was right along with everyone else. Too bad I was on the far side of the second row in 104, on the side of the Sabres bench and most of the action went along the Dallas bench. Between all the people standing and the view point I had, it was hard to see at times, but still awesome. Someone needs to fire up these games, and PK has been the one doing it. Oh and I loved this quote I saw at Sabres.com:



I loved the "football player on skates" part because I never thought of that, but it's really true. PK is the man.


Random notes:

-My dad caught a practice puck shot over the glass by Toni Lydman. Toni Lydman was by the glass and then pointed to the kid next to my dad for him to give it to the kid. This could be a mixed reaction of "no way Lydman, my dad caught it, it would have hit that kid in the head if he hadn't, it's mine now" or "aww Lydman, you are so cool and nice to children". At any rate, my dad wanted it for me, and he kind of hid it in his lap, until he saw Lydman point at the kid. I mean what can you do? You can't be a jackass to a kid. My dad felt bad because he wanted to give it to me, but I told him not to worry at all. It was a blank one from practice anyway, not a Sabres official game one. If it would have been I would have been like "tough nuggets kid, it's mineee" haha.

-I loved hearing the recap on WGR of the game, complete with the "you want a kick in the butt?" call from RJ. That man is absolutely priceless.

-The Dallas goalie's gold goalie pads were really odd looking.

-Sabretooth still amuses me a lot more than he should.

Pictures:



















Amazing game, really puts some faith back in everyone that we won't lose forever, yay!! Patrick Lalime will play one of the next two games, whether it be home tomorrow vs. Minnesota, or Saturday in Detroit. The guy on WGR was saying that maybe Lindy will let Ryan Miller play Saturday in Joe Louis arena because it is his hometown with his family being there and all that, so who knows. I will be at tomorrow's game, last game at home before the five game road trip. Road trip, oh boy. Get ready guys, and Gaustad maybe will be back tomorrow? Yet?? Come on! :) Game on!!

I have a lot to say tonight.

So, this post might be maybe...a book's length perhaps? I don't know, but I have a lot to say tonight and I have that feeling like, oh boy, my keyboard might not come out of this the same. Yikes. Don't say I didn't warn you...

1st order of business: trade deadline looms

Yes it does, and at 3pm tomorrow, we will know (if anything) happens to the state of the Sabres as we now know them. Now I am pretty sure my father hates Darcy Regier more than anyone, and I have some things that bug me too, but I don't know. I mean, yes, we could use some changes, but maybe he is doing all he can. Maybe with salary caps, contract issues, etc. etc. maybe there just isn't anything else he can do. Maybe he is stuck. Maybe he is just a dumbass, who knows. Point being, I will leave all that stuff up to him. As long as Paul Gaustad is a Sabre, I am ok.

Butttt, I did get a look at players salaries today, and he does have some f-ed up things going on. Because: 1. Thomas Vanek is not worth 7 some million dollars, are you kidding? I don't think so, no way. He has his moments, but my God that is a lot of money. 2. Patrick Kaleta is worth more than a measly 500,000, come on now. A good instigator is a good find, and hey they put Adam Mair on waivers not that long ago, so obviously they don't think his stock is worth much, so PK is pretty much all we could have left at some point. Even if they just gave him a little bit more, the guy takes hits and injuries for the team like crazy, he deserves better than that. 3. A lot of people think we should trade away Stafford and I don't really know why..., I have wanted to trade away Pominville for a while now, but my father said they would never trade a fan favorite, which I guess makes sense, but I don't know what makes him a fan favorite...

2nd order of business: Olympic wrap-up and Miller out of net for the night

Ryan Miller had a hella awesome stint at the Olympics, so of course he deserved some rest tonight. I think he also needed some time to get over the shock that he was coming back to reality with the Sabres, and, no offense to my boys, but they are not the Parise's and Kane's of the NHL, so it's like, oh no, I will miss those dudes. Yeah, it's ok Ryan, we all will. Where is the petition for me to sign to bring Parise to Buffalo? Come onnnn. It's like trading baseball cards, we will give you vanekroypominville for your parise :)

3rd order of business: tonight's game

Ahhh Patrick Lalime. You take a lot of crap, but you also give a lot of it, so are we even now? You made some good saves, but not enough to win us the game brother. A shot from the point on the first one too? Ouch. Just ouch. I did enjoy your star spangled banner trance dance though, very nice.

Toni Lydman was like, how's about a goal? I say why not. Tonight you did not frustrate me as much as you usually do Toni, good job.

PK!! 2 assists to make you Lexus leader! Yay! You are back! I have missed you. Please just don't stop any more goals with your foot, and we will be ok for the rest of the season. Also watch your head...

Derek Roy knew that goal was in from the beginning and he was right! Wowzas.

Who is this Sidney Crosby guy? They won't stop talking about him and I'm sick of hearing about him...

Out of all the nights I'm like, "you know what Gaustad, you should have fought that guy" he never does. He skates away with his profanities and that's about it. Tonight he just busted the gloves off like -bam- and I was thinking "oh ssssss---ugar" and it was on. You got your ass handed to you though boy. You also seemed to injure something in the process which makes me very nervous because I have tickets to the next four home games in a row, and you not being there hurts my heart. I hope everything is ok.

So tomorrow we face Washington (big OH NOOO) and Miller will be back in net. I can't even begin to imagine how this game might turn out. I will be there though, so we shall see. Game on!!

Sabres vs. Vancouver Canucks

I try not to laugh a little when Lindy Ruff gets all -crazyfacegoingnuts- and screaming and all that, but sometimes I can't help it. After that wears off, I'm just as pissed as him, and Gaustad for that matter. Little ref man who is retiring, my gosh, what are you doing? No goal? Ok. Plus a crazy penalty? Way to kick us while we're down man. Gaustad shaved and everything, did he shave for this? Gah! But yeah, that whole thing was crazy and all three commentators thought so too, and it's their JOB to comment, so yeah. Way to set the tempo for the rest of the game.

Nice goal by Adam Mair to start off, and then Thomas Vanek later. Pominville and Roy...whatever...and was Drew Stafford even there? Why do I have such a hard time keeping tabs on him? Didn't see much out of Kaleta tonight either, no big hits or anything really, and this game, to be quite honest, was relatively boring. They are all probably just ready for this little road show to be over with already, and so am I. Late starts are cool sometimes, but I'm kinda getting sick of them.

So the road trip ends on a cruddy note, but it's time for the team to come on back home. I can't wait to go to the game on Wednesday, but New Jersey will be a set of tough customers it would seem. They are right up there with us somewhere in that great big world of standings, and it won't be an easy time. I will just be happy to be there though, because Lord knows I have trouble figuring out what is happening half the time in live action games...haha. Game on!!!