Tick Tock

by Ryan

I'm counting down the minutes to midnight.

Once the clock strikes twelve we can finally put to rest this awful month. There are many ways to divide up the progression of time, and as sports seasons go it is often best divided by months. However, this November was not one anyone around here wants to remember.



Bills' record this month: 1-3

Sabres' record this month: 5-7-1

Those numbers alone don't look all that terrible, but they lack the context that truly describes how terrible they've been. After a fast start by both teams that had so much promise both teams have crashed back to earth in startling fashion. For the Bills the wheels have completely come off, and what looked like a sure playoff berth has vanished for yet another year. This is probably the best way to describe the depression currently setting in, but the reversal of fortunes we've seen in just a few weeks is almost amazing.

The Sabres have also reverted back to the mediocrity we know and despise. The more you watch the team the closer they come back to earth, and the growing fear is that they just don't have it this year. While Thomas Vanek has come into his own the rest of the team just seems to linger with no sense of purpose or urgency.

Both teams seem to take on the same sad characteristics. They both have spectacular third jerseys and lots of potential. They underachieve and lose to bad teams, and they always seem to only play to their opponent's level. They are not the marks of a bad team, but a middle of the road team. It is something we have grown used to, and I know many of us are sick of it.

The turn of a calender may not do much for either team, but a fresh start would be nice for both. It's too late for the Bills now, but there is still time for the hockey team to get it together. December 1st and a game already. No more goofy schedule, and maybe the return of good hockey.

Hey, there's always next month.

Bend Over

by Ryan



What an awful football game played by an awful team. All hope is lost. Thank God it's over.

Gameday Prep: Bills vs. 49ers

by Ryan


The 90s were a hell of a drug

Announcers: Fox's Q Team (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Depth Charts: 49ers, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Langston Walker is a big dude.

- Russert Memorial Plaza gets dedicated today.

- Graham also does a nice job breaking down the numbers put up against 4-3 vs. 3-4 defenses.

- Here's a quick injury report, which I'm sure will get longer before kickoff.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: Tool, "The Pot"





Fun Facts:

- If you think you had a bad weekend, at least you didn't shoot yourself.

- Pictures of big people.

- There is a part of me that thinks we would all be better off if the Bills choked today and didn't string us along. I hope to God they win today, but still...

- So... who's their quarterback again. Wait, really?

Okay, that's it. Game time. Let's uh, let's see what happens...




Go Bills.

Owning Up

by Ryan

If you are upset about the Sabres' fortunes, take solace in the fact that the Montreal Canadiens are having a similar go off it this year. Both teams started off very fast and have struggled as of late. That means two very angry teams playing determined hockey tonight.

One of the big reasons the Sabres have looked so good recently has been the play of Mark Mancari. I will be the first to say I was completely wrong about bringing him up to the big show, and he's played his heart out since putting on the blue and gold. My main concern with his game was that he wouldn't be able to keep up.

Chris and I both saw the Amerks play last year and were blown away by the things he was doing down there. He was outplaying everyone on the ice, and looked ready to make the leap to the NHL and be a solid performer. Yet when he got his chance he looked... slow.

Mike Weber was another one like that. His first time up he looked tentative and nervous, but he was playing great hockey when I saw him in Hamilton a month later. Some players just can't adjust to the pro speed quick enough, and it takes a few cracks at a roster to make it. There are a few players like that, they show all the talent in the world but the whispers of "he's not going to make it" make the rounds and you worry.



Those were the kind of worries I had about Mancari, and they are all but gone now. He plays every shift with a desperation rarely seen in the other players on this roster, and his defensive responsibility has been there to boot. No dumb penalties, no tentative shifts, and great forechecking. He has been one of the best Sabres on the ice in every game he's played, and I'm excited to see what he can do if he gets the chance to stay up.

So there, I was wrong, but like I said before I hoped I would be. This team needed a boost and Mark has stepped in and played the part perfectly. Being physical may not be his game, but he's shown he's willing to do whatever it takes to stay in this league. That's the kind of player you want on your team, and we need more guys to play like that if we want to see hockey this spring.

Looks like the same lineup is going tonight. I'd be satisfied with the same result.

Second Effort

by Ryan

There was a time I liked rooting for the Penguins. The way the team came together last year looked a lot like the Sabres of 06/07. A likable group of guys, a bunch of young talent, and a goaltender just finally coming into his own seemed to mirror what Briere, Drury and company did a few years ago. It would have been nice to see that team do what Buffalo couldn't, just to see that it's possible.

Of course there were a few other reasons, Crosby and Malkin being two major ones. You cannot deny their all-world talent, and having the privilege to watch them night in and night out must really be something. Add in a few intangibles like a local boy on the roster, an old timer you'd love to have on your team, and a blogosphere to follow it all through and you have a pretty compelling playoff run.

---

Now it's different. Everything seems different, really, including the fact that I just can't root for Pittsburgh anymore. The "they are just like us" mentality just isn't there anymore because the more I think about it the more they are not like us. First of all, they have two. Teams are lucky to have one all-world player on their roster. The Sabres maybe, maybe have one. The Penguins have Malkin and Crosby, and when they go down a goal they can suddenly toss the two on the same line and see what happens. It's like rooting for the sports car drag racing a Saturn Vue. It may be close for a bit, but which one has that extra level?

There are plenty of other reasons as well, including the fact that they have won it all before. There is an undeniable smugness that comes with a championship, and you see it after any loss. Sure, it's almost justified, but when it rears its ugly head you can only notice how different some people are.

Maybe this isn't going anywhere, but I just can't get over how different this year feels. I keep going to the places I'd go last year and see things I can't believe. The arrogance of some people I respected has been stunning,and to see how some people act when they fall short is sad. A team is not superior because they finished second, and instead of acting like it you should sit back and savor the fact that you get to watch two of the best players on the planet play in your colors every few days.



Most teams don't get any. You have two. So fuck the Penguins. I'll take a tough win with a third line center scoring the winner over your superstars any day. That's hockey, and the game is bigger than any one player. Forget the officials, forget who's in net, forget who's on ice for the other team. Overcome all the bullshit and win hockey games the only way you know how. That's what Paul Gaustad did last night, and that's why he's the namesake.



Sometimes it takes a second effort to win, but you always have to be willing to give it.

Some other thoughts while we get ready for the Habs:

- So... Kaleta has that reputation I was talking about earlier this season, right? That's the second game in a row with two borderline penalties called against him. Not good.




- After reading Sully's column about the Sabres I was really down on Max, but there he goes with the best game of the season. Again. If he is getting moved I'm fine with it, but it will be nice if he keeps playing like fantastic trade bait in the mean time. Maybe Ales will stick around after all...

- The Sabres HOF stuff was pretty awesome. Hearing what Andreychuk had to say about the city was so nice I don't even care if he's making it up. I don't care what outsiders say about our city and our fans. Hearing what former players say about us makes everything else moot.

- Penalty killing was great last night. The Pens love doing the backdoor pass and going across the box, but a lot of it was held to the outside. Their unit has been struggling, but when you have that much talent on the ice something has to give eventually.

- What the hell was Jaro thinking on that second Crosby goal? That can't be the best option, right? It was a great shot by Sid on what probably should have been nothing otherwise, but c'mon man. There's a reason our entries on the PP are awful, and right now it looks like it's you.

- There were still a few defensive lapses that just never seem to go away. The Kennedy goal was a great example. Still, it was nice to see Sidney Crosby drifting on Stafford's second of the night. I love when All Stars give the Briere Backcheck, don't you?

- Rivet had a really good game, to the point where Chris sent me a text saying "The Rivet I love is back." Maybe his phantom injury is healed, or maybe he just got pissed off and is playing like he should. Whatever, just keep it up.

- Miro Satan was on the ice last night. I know he didn't do much, but I checked the boxscore and it said he played. Just so you know.

- Curry played really well for being an AHL goalie. He robbed Vanek a few times and made some big saves throughout. It's really not his fault the defense refused to help him out in front. Like, at all. Goose should have been flat on his back all night, and those Stafford goals shouldn't exist either. They are hurting without Gonchar and Whitney.

Plenty more to say, but let's save it for tonight's post about Montreal. Another big game to cap off a big week for the Sabres. Last game of a pitiful November. I can't wait to change the calender on this month.

Pictures of Crowds

by Ryan

Sometimes when you are looking for game photos you get some interesting crowd shots. With the Pens in town and the Sidney Crosby show in full swing, the main theme of photos tonight seems to be "Sidney Crosby fans in Buffalo." But you know what, screw those people. I'm not even going to bother showing you those photos because you shouldn't want to punch teenage girls in the face. Here, take a look at this kid:



That kid in the middle doing that point, just over Roy's left shoulder. That kid is awesome. I want to be friends with that kid, and if that's not possible, I want him superimposed on every Sabres celebration for the next few weeks. If I can't do it, just picture that kid in your mind.

We will have a full post in the morning, but you have to take a look at Paul Gaustad's postgame press conference. If you have any doubt why the site's named after him, listen to him trying to be all business after one of the best games of his career. If you want to be friends with the little kid above, you want to be roommates with Goose.

Oracular Goosetacular

We'll have plenty to say later, but you know when Paul Gaustad scores two goals you are getting more than one post. Huge game on a big night. More to come.

Atlas in Medias

by Ryan

As of right now I have no idea who's playing tonight. Sabres Edge will be all over it, but as of right now there is no real answers as to who plays tonight against Pittsburgh. Fellow Paul Gaustad fan Paul Hamilton has this to say about the roster, but there's not much more there other than that Miller is in goal for sure.

I've been looking at some numbers on Behindthenet just because I was curious to see if they matched what we've been watching over the past few games. I think it's safe to say Max has been bad defensively, and his numbers show it. Also not faring well there is Teppo Numminen and, somewhat surprisingly, Craig Rivet. I still think he's been playing hurt, but maybe that's just me.

One place Max has been doing his job is drawing penalties, as he is second on the team with eight despite significantly less ice time. I'm not exactly sure how that metric is calculated, however, as Pat Kaleta is nowhere to be found on that list.

You can make stats say pretty much whatever you want, but it's interesting to give them a look over every so often to see for yourself what the numbers say. Later on in the season is when they begin to mean more, but 21 games in is a good time to look back and ask some questions.

What we all know is that Thomas Vanek is the most important person on this team, and if there is any hope in beating a solid Penguins team tonight he needs to be in the lineup. We will know more shortly, but Atlas needs to be healthy for this team to do much of anything this year. If he could possibly make his injury worse tonight I hope he sits, but I think this game is pretty important, and we all know he's a tough cat after Wednesday's third period.

Either way, here's my question: do you go after Lucic in January if Vanek misses time? Should they have gone after him on Wednesday? My immediate instinct was much the same of Roy Ray (as in: "some s#$t's about to go down...") but it never solidified. Getting the win was good, but how soft does this team look if no one stepped in after your best player gets run?

On Wednesday I called it a tough win against a tough team. Losing Vanek, however, is much more important than just two points. In a few hours all of the above may be rendered moot, but it's certainly something to think about.

No Thanks Necessary

by Ryan



It was a mixed set of emotions when the NFL announced they would be playing another game on Thanksgiving a few years back. My first thought was that it would be a bit odd considering how long it's been with just the two games each year. My next thought was that it would be good; finally there was a chance we would get to see a decent game. By the time I realized most of the country won't get to see that third game, well, it was just the same old same old.

And here we are, another year with three awful football games under our stretched belts. Maybe it tells you something about the parody found in the NFL, or maybe it's just telling you how badly the Lions suck. Still, you have to think there is a way to make this work just a bit better, right? I can't remember getting excited about a football game on Thanksgiving since Vikings/Cowboys in 1998. That's ten years ago, folks, and there have been overtime games since then. That's not good.

I'm not exactly suggesting the Lions get their game taken away. That's not really fair, and tradition is tradition. However, when you get three straight stinkers on one of the most important football days of the year, something should change. The problem is I honestly can't come up with an answer, but maybe the turkey is clouding my mind.

Does anyone have an idea that could fix the mess we saw yesterday? Better yet, are you okay with what you saw? Is that part of the allure of these games, the convenient background noise you don't have to pay attention to? I know I didn't follow the other two games at all because I didn't have any fantasy players in them, and I'm kind of embarrassed that I expected them to be that bad. Once the thrill of perfection faded from the Lions game, the other two really didn't matter to me anymore.

It's not that I'm tired of the Lions, really, I'm just tired of seeing them blown out. Is there any way we get to see competitive football on Thanksgiving within the next... five years? That would be awesome.

What Ryan's Thankful For

by Ryan

I'm thankful for Dustin Pedrioa, Youk, and Josh Beckett for gutting out Game Six. I'm thankful for Paul Gaustad, Thomas Vanek's hockey mind, and Pat Kaleta's enthusiasm. I'm thankful for Marshawn Lynch and Donte Whitner. But most of all, I'm thankful for sports fans like myself.

Without people to talk to about the stars we love none of this would be any fun. So thanks to my Dad for handing me that first football, friends for letting me know when there's open ice, and the person next to me at hockey games that's willing to discuss the forecheck. Watching sports is much more fun in crowds, so to anyone who has been part of a crowd with me, I say thank you.

Most of all, I'm thankful for whoever is reading this. You, the reader, is what this whole blog is about. So thank you for stopping by, whether every day or just when fun things happen. We appreciate every visit, comment, and email. Thank you for challenging us with opinions and keeping us honest when we mess things up real nice. We're not going anywhere, and hopefully you won't be either.

Oh, and whoever sent that link to Deadspin yesterday, thank you. That was fun. We owe you a slice of pie somewhere down the line.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What Jon's Thankful For

by Jon

When something goes wrong in the sporting world, everyday life as we know it keeps on truckin'. When something goes wrong in the real world, all hell can break loose (I'm looking at you GM, Citi Group, Fannie Mae, and on and on and on.)

I think that when it comes to sports, that's what I am most thankful for. They are such a great escape with a relatively low downside. If your team loses (something we are all too accustomed to), it's a bit of a downer. It's disappointing and it may affect your mood a little bit, but that's it. No extreme layoffs, no stock market swing, no deaths, no illnesses -- it just stings a little bit.

So thank you sports, for giving me a reason to let my brain wander from all of the crazy, real life situations that make this world a hectic place.

Prayers for Patrick

by Ryan



Thank God the glass didn't shatter. I've got a turkey thawing and there's just no time for a hospital visit...

Anyone else have a better caption for the pious pair?

Turkey Day Special

The best way to celebrate the holidays is to watch South Park. In case the Lions/Titans game sucks (read: it will), just watch this about 300 times each.



What's that? The Cowboys/Seahawks game will suck, too? Good point. Here's another...

Overcome by the Light of Day: Slugs are Dead

by Ryan

First of all, let's sit back and enjoy this.



Beautiful. I still don't like the little half circle gray insets, but anything is better than the slug.

Notice anything about that uniform? No slugs anywhere. Not on the pants, helmets, anything. When the throwback uniforms served as the third jersey two years ago the Sabres used the same helmets, which meant a huge slug was still a part of the uniform. Not this time. This is the beginning of the end for the slug, and I couldn't be happier.

Someday this whole thing will go down as a "novel experiment", just like Prohibition, Doug Flutie, and captain by committee; and this team will be better off for it.

Oh yeah, about that game...

- Lindy Ruff did a good job coaching up his boys for this game. They came out ready, hit hard, and played a very strong game. Miller played very well, with one goal a fluke and the other the result of a defensive lapse. Those really were the only mistakes of the night, and that's exactly the kind of hockey you want to see at home after three days off. Well deserved two points.

- I give Andrew Peters a hard time around here, but he did his job again tonight. All you can ask of him is to play his role, and he did it along with making a few good plays on defense. As a fan you don't love his fight, but a lot of the players talked about it as a positive. Maybe just the fact that he stood up and fought was enough, showing Boston that they were going to respond to every hit they threw.

- Speaking of hits, I'm pretty sure this is the Lucic hit on Atlas.



Late? Maybe, but I would have loved to see someone step up and beat the hell out of Lucic anyway. Still, as much as I hate that guy, you have to appreciate his game and the way he goes out there and hits everything. Also worth considering is the fact that we have this guy:



Another great game by Kaleta. I don't even mind the two penalties, which were both close calls. You want to see him finish checks and crash the net, and that's exactly what he did. Seeing him out there killing the last few minutes of the game was nice, too. If this team is going to succeed in the postseason they need to be able to play a game like this. Tough, hard hitting hockey teams win playoff games, and sometimes you need to ease up on the finesse and bang some bodies.

- Give credit to Tallinder and Afinogenov, both came back and had great games. Max was visibly upset with his benching but probably played the best game of the season tonight. If he plays like this every night I want him on my team. Hank also played fantastic, and it's nice to see him bounce back. Some players just aren't mentally tough enough to take criticism (See Kalinin, Dimitri) but it's good to know these guys got the message.



- This kid is right: big wheels were freaking awesome. However, if you are buying someone you love a car for Christmas, throw me a bone and get me something nice too. You can afford it, Mr. Gates.

- Question: what happens to Mancari when Timmy or Ales gets healthy? You can't possibly send him down after the three games he's had, right? Do you have a choice?

We still have a few things coming tomorrow for your Thanksgiving viewing. Don't expect anything major, but we promise to make it worth your while. If you're not coming back, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and be safe out there tonight.

Home for the Holiday

by Ryan

I was searching on the interwebs a while back and discovered that there are two HSBC Arenas. The first one is, of course, in Buffalo, New York; but there is another one in Rio de Janeiro.

Right now it seems like the Sabres would have a better win percentage if they played in Brazil. Since starting out like gangbusters, the Sabres play has deteriorated significantly, and it starts with their play at home. As of tonight they take a 5-5-1 record, inherently mediocre record for a team slipping closer and closer to "average."

A lot has been said about what the Sabres need to do to start winning, but for me it starts with their play at home. Boston is a tough team, but any game at the Arena is winnable. The problem is that their play has been subpar and the crowds have followed suit. Thy haven't been outright booing anyone, but the atmosphere that existed as recently as last season just hasn't been there.



It's true, there hasn't been much to cheer about, but I think it's safe to say the significant home ice advantage just isn't there anymore. If this team is going to be a factor in the postseason it has to have a home record above .500, and if there was ever a time to get it going it would be tonight.

Boston has been the monkey on Buffalo's back for quite some time now. They just can't close this team out, and if they are going to stop he free fall they need to start beating good teams. Boston is for real, I'm convinced of that now, but I'm not as sure about this Sabres team anymore.

It's going to be rowdy tonight, as every day-before-Thanksgiving game is. I don't care who is in the lineup tonight, just play sixty minutes. Lindy is running out of cliches and you're running out of time. It's not a must win tonight, but it's pretty damn important if you ask me.

Sixty minutes in front of your home crowd. That's all I ask.

Coming at You

by Ryan



Jonny Flynn looks to be the real deal, and so does this Syracuse team. Beating the last two national champions in consecutive nights is kind of a big deal, and if they clean up the mistakes we could be in for some fun this year.

Nice to see a few local kids done gooder, eh?

The Sixteen Percenters

by Ryan

Of the 25 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, four of them are Buffalo Bills.



Steve Tasker



Bruce Smith



Andre Reed



Ralph C. Wilson

We all know Bruce is a lock, but does anyone else have a chance? I think Ralph has an outside chance, but Tasker probably won't ever get in. Hopefully Reed can get a push this year, but Cris Carter will probably get the nod over him.

Thoughts?

This is a Great Idea

by Ryan

In Buffalo we call it tailgating. In college it's called "pregaming." Tailgating is oftentimes the best part of going to football games, as any Bills fan knows that sometimes the on field performance doesn't match the intensity of the parking lot gatherings. There is nothing like walking up to the stadium passing gril busses, fire pits, and big screen televisions to get fired up for a football game.

Pregaming, on the other hand, is just a fancy way of saying "I need to be drunk for this." Attending your little sister's dance recital? Dude, let's pregame that s#@t. Leery about that doctor's appointment? If you pregame you know it'll be a good time. You can pregame pretty much anything. Court dates, final exams, baby showers. Forget pregaming the wedding, you pregame the wedding rehearsal.

And that's why this is the greatest idea in the history of human civilization.



"You know what would be cool? Getting bombed in a mall parking lot at midnight and then going f#$king shopping!"

Whoever came up with this deserves a raise. Immediately. Happy Thanksgiving, genius. What better crowd of people to put at a high end shopping mall than a bunch of Bills fans? Don't you need some Juicy after eating turkey for 11 hours? You know it. I've been thinking about a new Coach purse to match my unbuckled belt, too. Probably something gravy-colored.

And I know what you're thinking: there's no mention of beer. C'mon people, this is a tailgate party. There will be beer. Lots of it. Besides, that's about the only thing that could get most people to a mall at midnight.

Quickly

by Ryan

I am very curious to know what you think about this.

It's not often that I take the side of the mainstream media, but I think the blogger in this case is completely out of line. After all the shots I've seen taken at local writers, I don't think I'd ever see anything so disturbing as this, and I take what he said completely serious. We're not the best at comedy here, but that's not funny. At all.

In fact, I think even with all we've said about the likes of Gleason or Sullivan there is still a level of respect we have for them. Threatening to curb stomp a journalist and ultimately kill him is way, way over the line.

Then again, perhaps I'm wrong. I'm interested to see what other bloggers in the community think about this. I respect the way we've discussed the MSM in the past, but would you ever do something like that?

Mixing it Up a Bit

by Ryan



Just something to think about while you get ready for another Wednesday Bruins game. I'll have something in English later on today.

Keep your sticks low, guys.

Montreal No More

by Ryan

I was watching the Sabres a few days ago and noticed Teppo wasn't using his usual stick. On the surface that seems like a very perceptive observation, but with Teppo Numminen it's an easy thing to do. He happens to own his own stick company, Montreal Sports Ltd, a company his father Kallu started.



This is Teppo a few games ago, clearly using a Warrior stick like Thomas Vanek and a few others on the team. You have to wonder why he would change like that, as surely he is getting a lot of say in what Montreal manufactures. Maybe he's just trying something different, right?

Well, this explains it. Warrior bought Teppo's company back in late September. I guess that explains the stick, but I'm surprised I didn't hear about this elsewhere. The Buffalo News or somebody had to have this and I just missed it, right?



Here's Marty Biron on Friday night, another well-documented Montreal guy. Looks like everyone has been transferred to Warrior, so they probably aren't making sticks at all. I know this isn't that big a deal, but it's about the most exciting thing going on with Sabres hockey. Tomorrow's inane observation: Ryan Miller's eyes, lazy or crooked eyebrows?

Slim But Still Kicking

by Ryan

As of today we are still "In the Hunt" as the leaderboards like to say. It may not feel like it mentally, but statistically this is so. Does anyone here still think the Bills have a good shot at the playoffs? Perhaps, but I think we all understand what needs to be done for it to happen. Before we get to some points on the game, let's lay out what the Bills need to do to get a wild card spot. Keep in mind this isn't looking at the other teams and their schedules, but just what the Bills can control.

- Win the remaining three games within the division: There's no way the Bills make the playoffs with a below .500 record against the AFC East. The Bills need to realistically leap two teams in the East to have a chance at the Wild Card, and that means no sweeps. If they don't beat the eventual division champs I suppose that doesn't matter, but who knows which team that will be?

- Get healthy: The injuries on defense have to stop, and the guys currently out have to be back for the stretch run. They already screwed themselves at linebacker and DiGorgio is on IR, but there are some players that could come back and help this team. Guys like Schobel and Whitner are huge parts of the Bills defense, and getting them back for the last five games would be a big help.

- Screw it, win out. Looking at the schedule there are two real "losable" games: @NYJ and @Denver. The Bills should be able to win the remaining "home" games and can conceivably lose to the division winner (Jets) but still make the playoffs. Losing to Denver would be tough but one could assume they hold the other wild card position, and the Bills never seem to win those type of road games.

If the above is any indication, the Bills probably won't make the playoffs. I don't see this team going 4-1 or better down the stretch, but it's still possible. Ah, the power of math. Here are some thoughts on the game, because it's the only good thing I've watched in the past two weeks.

- Solomon Wilcots loves Herm Edwards. I decided this after the third time he claimed Herm did a "great job" coaching the Cheifs this year. Herm Edwards is an awful coach, and he should be fired. How he's not gone yet is beyond me. He destroyed Larry Johnson's career, dicked around with his quarterbacks incessantly, and makes coaching decisions I couldn't defend if I was on speed. Those two challenges were freaking horrible yesterday, and Solomon slobbered all over his underachieving man-member like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Dick Jauron is a mediocre head coach. I've accepted this and moved on. However, matching up against Herm is like Manny playing tee ball with six year olds. He's not just ripping the cover off the ball, he's ripping the face off the toddler.

- It was good to see that even in victory the Bills defense managed to allow that monster run play a few times. Nice to know Larry Johnson still has knees after that 2006 season.



- You have to hand it to the coaching staff in how they handled Trent. They knew KC's defense was awful, but the kid gloves approach really helped bring him along nicely as the game progressed. I'm not sure I like the naked bootleg run stuff with our recently concussed quarterback, but it was nice to see him gain back some confidence. He's going to need it for the playoff push in '09.

- Isn't Marshawn Lynch fun? I loved that he wanted to get back in the game after that late hit. This was the kind of game you want him to have every week, and I don't care if his stats showed it or not. He's not on my fantasy team, so I couldn't care less if he gets over 100 yards. Hit holes, finish your runs, and let Jackson get some carries as well. This is what we've wanted from the Bills running game all year, and it only took two games against awful defenses to get it. Hey, at least we play Denver soon...

- Perhaps Mitchell was a bit too "amped up" to play in Kansas City again. He missed a ton of tackles and just sort of pushed Thigpen in the end zone instead of powerbombing him for the safety. Not a good showing overall.

- Leodis McKelvin is a bust.

- Do you think the Bills play better with a shorter week because they have to think less? Like, if they were playing the Lions on Thursday is there any doubt in your mind that the game plan would be absolutely stellar? Strange.

Any thoughts on the game? We never get comments on Bills posts, but maybe that's just because the last month has been so depressing it wasn't worth talking about.

Throw it Again, Herm

by Ryan



Herm Edwards just challenged the final score. I'm not sure why, but Solomon Wilcots thinks it's a great decision.

Gameday Prep: Bills @ Chiefs

by Ryan


If Dick gets out coached by this guy I'm going to murder him

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots. (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Depth Charts: Chiefs, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Tim Graham and friends on the "quarterback controversy"

- The Sporting News thinks the Bills are headed in the wrong direction. No freaking kidding.

- Josh Reed looks like he will return today. Thank God.

- Kansas City doesn't seem too optimistic about this game.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: "No Cars Go"



"Let's go" is pretty much all there is to say.

Fun Facts:

- Zero Bills on a Scouts Inc. Top 25 Rookies list. I'm sure Leodis was #26...

- AP has a nice way of putting the problems facing each team.

- I feel the need to remind people that with the exception of whatshisname in Minnesota, Herm Edwards is absolutely the worst coach in football. I'm actually kind of amazed he still has a job right now. He singlehandedly killed Larry Johnson, and his three quarterback approach is actually pretty incredible. Too bad everyone else got hurt and made the decision for him, I'd like to have seen them ferried in and out.

- I'm actually intrigued by this Tyler Thigpen kid. Second straight rookie quarterback we're dealing with, so he's probably going to go 27/34, 345, 4TDs. I'm pumped.

Okay, that's it. Game time. Let's uh, let's see what happens...




Go Bills.

Bumps and Bruises

by Ryan

After Streit scored I turned to Texas Tech getting killed. I was in no mood for anything hockey-related, and even a blowout college football game could at least get me prepared for the Bills. I was in no mood to post much of anything, but I figured I could force something short and get it out of the way. Then I got a text message:

"Want to play hockey at ten?"

Of course I didn't. I haven't touched a stick in three months, I'm out of shape, and I was in a bad mood in general. Besides all that, I had things to do. Reading or some posting or... I don't know. Something. Maybe I should go to church, that might help the current situation, right?

And here I sit, 3:24 in the morning and sore as all hell. Of course I went and played hockey, was there ever really any doubt? Sometime between that final goal and me showing up at a bar with a hockey bag I decided that I needed it. After such an awful week, such a depressing sports scene, I needed to remember why I love sports in the first place. We love hockey because it is fun, and I needed to be reminded of that no matter what was going on.

So here I am, bruises all over and more then ready for some sleep. I have a bump on my arm that will make for a good story, and I may walk with a limp for a day or two, but I'm happy. It was nice to just forget about everything and play. The only thing I had to think about tonight was where the trailer was and who's back on defense. No system or contracts to worry about, just your own defense and if you are shooting stick or glove side.

It's easy to get frustrated with hockey and just turn the television off. Sometimes the pro game can get stale, and with a struggling team that can happen fast. What you have to do is get away from it, and maybe play yourself. If you're not up for that, go see a juniors game or watch the Junior Sabres. There's plenty of college hockey to watch too, just to get a chance of pace.

When it comes down to it, hockey isn't played in a big arena with huge crowds. Hockey is meeting at a bar and playing floor hockey, or renting ice, or even playing in a parking lot. It's running a friend hard into the boards or giving the goalie who owes you money an extra playful swipe. It's a goaltender bailing you out after an awful play that leaves you sprawled on the ground. Hockey is that feeling you can't possibly skate anymore, but you need to get back and pick up the extra man.

Most importantly, hockey is fun, and even if you don't feel that right now you know it's true. You have until Wednesday to watch Sabres hockey again, but until then try to remember why you watch hockey in the first place. Get your skates out and see if you can still do it, go watch some kids play and see the smiles on their faces. Heck, pull out that Sega Genesis and play some NHL 95 if you have to. Anything is better than feeling depressed about a hockey team.

Hockey is fun, and I think the sooner we remember that the better; because the Sabres sure aren't helping.

Sharing the Burden

by Ryan

If there is a signature moment in this young season, it came in Boston on Wednesday night.

With Buffalo up 3-2 and on the power play, the top unit was out and looking for a two goal lead. Vanek was parked in front, and as the puck cycled up to Roy near the right faceoff circle you began to hear a noise. The incessant noise of a tapping stick sounds like a lot of things depending on the situation. Sometimes it's the opposing team trying to throw you off, and sometimes it's the best player on your team demanding the puck.

This time it was the latter, and as Thomas Vanek slapped his Warrior stick on the ground like a madman you knew something was going to happen. He did, too. He had body position, he knew what he wanted to do with the pass, and he was ready to do what goal scorers should: score.

As he waited for the pass, you couldn't help but notice a little bit of hesitation in Derek Roy. He wasn't quite sure he trusted what Vanek was doing, and just maybe he was afraid of something going wrong. Still, Atlas kept tapping and eventually Roy relented, firing a pass to the stick of Vanek. A moment later it was in, the red light flashed, and Vanek pointed back to Roy thanking him for the pass, albeit delayed.

---

Thomas Vanek isn't going to win the Hart Trophy this year. He doesn't have enough assists, and quite frankly his "star power" is lacking compared to others in the league. Trophies aside, Thomas Vanek has been the best player on the roster all year, and far and away the most consistent. His line has had defensive struggles, but you couldn't find a player on this team working harder night in and night out.

Taking the body in the corner, getting position in front and accepting the punishment to get there. His creativity has been off the charts, and watching him in person you just have to laugh when you realize the things he is actually trying to do. Sometimes he just misses, sometimes he hits a post, and sometimes his teammates just can't keep up and his pass is missed.

And that might sum pretty much everything up. Thomas Vanek has absolutely torn up the league, but the rest of his team has been behind every step of the way. He is everywhere, making plays for his teammates and pacing the league in goals, but the rest of this team just can't get it together.

Watching him play in person you can see just how hard he's trying, even when the rest of the team coasts. Last night the Sabres put forth a quality effort, but it still wasn't near how Vanek has played all season. There's a reason we've been calling him Atlas, but there comes a time when the team has to stop letting Thomas carry this team and give him a hand.



This sculpture is called Atlas/Sisyphus because historians aren't sure which mythical character it is. Right now I think we should call it Thomas Vanek. Will his amazing performance be a wasted effort come season's end? Is his burden a fruitless effort, destined to trample him in the end?



He needs some help, boys, and eventually someone has to realize it and step up before it's too late.

Amazing

by Ryan

This has nothing to do with anything, but McDonalds has completely lost it. Their new marketing campaign: Nuggnuts.

First of all, that site is safe for work. I know it sure doesn't sound like it, but I can't help that McDonalds is freaking crazy.



Does that make you want to eat anything, let alone crappy chicken? Amazing.

Sinister Thoughts

by Ryan

Sometime after Lindell missed that kick and a Browns fan taunted me, I had a sinister thought:

I hope LeBron James rips your hearts out.



It's a pretty terrible thing to say when you know the situation, but at that point I didn't care. The worst kept secret in sports is that James will sign with the New York Knicks when his current deal expires.

It's the fear of every Cleveland sports fan, and just a mention of Bron Bron in a Yankees cap is enough to make someone hurl "I" shaped pretzels at you in The Jake. As a Buffalonian I know how Cleveland fans feel when it comes to sports heartbreak, so why would I wish something so terrible on a fanbase so tormented?

Well, it's just that kind of week, I guess. Most of the time I'm sympathetic to the sports torments of another city, but this week has been really depressing. In fact I actually enjoyed watching Philly finally see another championship, so why am I suddenly rooting against Cleveland's best chance to win a championship?

Actually that's just it: LeBron James is their best chance to win a championship, so I hope he rips their heart out by leaving. That would put them back on our level, floating out into the nothingness of sports with very little hope of winning it all. We've already lost our best chance in both football and hockey, and after a week like this my heart has turned to a black hole of hatred.

Is it wrong of me to think like that? Yeah, it is. Still, there's not much I can do if a franchise player wants to move to New York to sell a few more shoes. It doesn't matter what I think, but at the same time I kind of hate myself for thinking it.

Man, it's been a rough week.

A View from the Roost: Wake Up

by Ryan



This is the song they play after the Sabres score goals at home games. It's called "Wake Up" and performed by The Arcade Fire. This is just a reminder for anyone who forgot, because they sure didn't play this song tonight.

---

Lindy Ruff had two memorable quotes tonight; the first of which I completely agreed with, and the second I've grown to hate more and more as the night goes on. It's a rare night that Ruff doesn't give you a quote to work with, and tonight he had plenty to say.

"We did a great job of making their goaltender look good"

I completely agree with that. Marty Biron made some good saves, but he wasn't the spectacular 40-save goaltender the boxscore tells you he was. There were lots of missed chances tonight, and while "their goaltender" (I love how he didn't talk about him like a close friend) made some good saves it wasn't the shutout performance that should have been. Vanek missed a breakaway, Stafford missed pretty much everything tonight, and for every shot on goal was a missed shot, rebound, or someone out of position.

Don't think the Sabres didn't play a good game tonight. They did, but it lacked finish in every sense of the word. Vanek had a fantastic game again, but he didn't get the puck into the net. Mancari played well but didn't light the lamp. When you miss your chances it doesn't matter how well you play, it's just not going to happen. Which brings us to Lindy's second quote:

"We're closer to winning than we are losing"

Seriously? F#$k that noise. I'm so tired of this kind of thinking, and you know I'm one to look on the bright side of things. There is nothing about being close that counts unless you have more on your side of the scoreboard at the end of the game. You can take any "moral victories" you want out of a 3-0 loss, I'm going to take the scoreboard and standings, thank you very much.

Yes, Sekera had a much stronger game tonight. Yes, Mancari gave the team a bit of a boost. Yes, Kalata and the checking line had good energy. Yes, they got 40 shots on net tonight. But there was a man streaking out of the box no one picked up, a stoppable second goal, and two 5 on 3s no one could light the lamp on. That's a 3-0 final, and it outweighs anything positive you may find out there.

Yet another loss. I just don't even know what to feel anymore. If we make it to Monday without a win we may be finding bodies in the gorge on Thanksgiving. Here's a few other things from the game while I wait for someone to finish that joke in the comments.



- Looks like a home game for them, eh? Let's just say it was a buyers' market in front of the Arena tonight. I got off the Metro over an hour before faceoff and heard someone offering 80 for a pair. Not sure where they are, but that's under face for any seat in the house. Yeesh.

- So... Craig Rivet's hurt, right? I mean, he has to be ailing from that knee injury. He had no speed tonight and looked very tentative. I respect him if he's playing hurt, but I have to question if he's being all that effective.

- Give Lindy Ruff credit, he gave Mancari his shots and he delivered. He drew a few penalties and had some good scoring chances, even threw a couple of hits. I liked that Lindy put him on the power play immediately, too. If you're going to bring someone in for a spark, play the hell out of him. Hopefully he keeps pushing him and it pays off.

- I know Lindy said he liked Stafford's game, but missing those two open nets just can't happen. You're struggling, the team is struggling, and you're not going to get a better chance than you had tonight. Tie that game up either time and it's a completely different story I'm writing now.

- There were a lot of little kids in the crowd wearing orange Briere jerseys. These parents need to teach their kids that the team is more important than the player. Then again, maybe Lindy should tell some of his guys the same thing...

- The second goal was really unfortunate because Clarke made a pretty good play before the giveaway. It looked awkward, but he kept the puck from going into the bench in an effort to keep play moving up ice. Instead, the puck's coughed up and it's in the net. Those are the little things that really hurt a team no matter how good the intent. That's just the kind of night the entire team had, really.

- Do you think Hank knew he had the day off today and went to the midnight showing of Twilight? Somehow I think that's something he'd totally be into.



- Glen Metropolit plays for the Flyers. I had fogotten that, but I do like him for some reason. The kind of player the Sabres could use more of. Unassuming but does his job well and comes up with a few big goals here and there. I loved him in Boston and Chris makes fun of me for it all the time.

- Also, how the hell did they get a hold of Matt Carle? Bastards. I know they gave up a lot for him, but I would have loved to get him back from San Jose in the Campbell trade. Again, we got Rivet out of that deal in the end, but I wonder how things would have played out if the Sharks were willing to part with him at the deadline last year.

- The turnaround on this game is quick once again. The lack of travel means the Sabres have one less thing to blame tomorrow's loss on, but I'm sure if they get into the 89th percentile in the "victory" quotient we can pull some points out of this weekend yet.

Oh, and to the crazy drunk old man behind me: go to hell. Not in the mood, man, not in the mood.

Keep the Car Running

by Ryan

This has been one of the worst sports weeks in recent history. I grabbed lunch with a friend today and we were both still crushed by the Monday Night Game. Seriously. It wasn't a teary-eyed meeting as much as a depressing one. The more we talked it over it seemed to become okay, but there was a serious amount of tension involved in tonight's game for us both.

Are you getting that feeling, too? That nervous worry about losing, yet at the same time that hopeful bit of optimism a new game can bring. You don't want to see another loss, but you just know how badly this city needs a win. A Friday night game against Philly should be cause for celebration, but I just don't know what to say about Sabres hockey anymore.

Sports fans are supposed to be dim-witted and unintelligent by stereotype, but anyone reading this clearly knows otherwise. Sports can be taken as intellectually as anything in the world with the right amount of effort, and I take pride in just how involved I've become in the sports world. However, tonight is going to be about pure emotion.

I look outside to see a pitch black street. It's getting dark earlier and earlier, and it seems as the weeks have passed our collective mood has followed. People just don't smile when our teams lose, and the colder it gets the most people stop smiling altogether. In an environment like this, in a city like this; we need a distraction to keep us going.

Kevin's right in a way, we need a spark. I need something to cheer me up after all the terrible news I've heard this week, and maybe Mark Mancari can give the boost we need. This whole sports thing is supposed to help us forget the bad times, not add to them. Even after all I've seen this week, I'll be in the crowd once again. I'm still waiting for the spark we've needed all month.

Let's go.

To Kill Some Time

by Ryan

I'll have something more substantial up in a bit, but on the Friday before Thanksgiving you need something to get you through your work day. Here are a few things you may want to take a look at while your boss isn't looking.

- Porky had this a few days ago, but can you name all 30 NHL teams in under 5 minutes?



- This has been elsewhere as well, but Life now has its image archive on Google, and that's certainly worth looking in to. Lots of cool sports pictures, including some amazing hockey shots.



- If you need a pick me up you may want to read Bill Simmons today. It's not the best he's done, but he does have a few nice things to say about Buffalo that may make you smile. Maybe.

- If you need anything else to kill a few hours, FTLT has the weekly links up as well.

Back in a bit to get you ready, or not so ready, for tonight's Sabres/Flyers game.

Out of Reach

By Jon

"Someday you'll understand."

It's every parent's favorite catch phrase. I hated hearing it when I was younger, but of course, the phrase has been proven true over and over again as I've grown.

My dad grew up as Steelers fan in Western Pennsylvania in the seventies. With four Super Bowl titles in six years, it was certainly a good time to be a football fan in Pittsburgh.

That's why it always puzzled me that they had no problems changing their allegiances when arriving in WNY in the late eighties. How can you follow a team for decades to completely abandoning them for a change of scenery? It was completely unfathomable to me.

My dad, now a Bills fan, watched less and less football over the years. He knows the big names on the team, but he doesn't live and die with the team like so many of us do. I was always a fanatic, I couldn't understand how someone who thoroughly enjoys football could only be half invested in his favorite team.

"I'm too busy," he would say. "Someday you'll understand."

This school year has been particularly busy for me. I have my hardest workload yet, and I took on a few more extracurricular responsibilities. My weekends are jam-packed, and nights that were once devoted to ESPN and MSG are now reserved for term papers and tedious music theory homework.

Sundays are particularly bad for me, but for the first seven or so weeks of the NFL season, I found a way to catch the Bills' games.

This past Sunday, I woke up and thought to myself, "What time is the Bills game on? Who do they even play?"

I checked a schedule. Suddenly, it all made sense.

My favorite team was set to play a primetime home game on Monday night, and I didn't even know. The game that I circled on the schedule when it came out was coming up, and I had no idea.

I let myself fall completely out of the loop. Worse yet, my dad was right. As I've gained "big boy" responsibilities, I haven't had the time for one of my favorite pasttimes.

Do I blame myself? Of course not. It's not coincidence that I watched the first five or so games of the season in their entirety. The team was on fire and Bills fans young and old were swept into the hype. When they lost a few games, it was easy for a displaced Buffalonian to become a bit distracted from their mediocre showing the last four weeks.

Suddenly, it made even more sense.

A playoff run can be so intoxicating. I think back to the Sabres' playoff runs in '06 and '07. Every single person in the entire region knew what was going on with that team. People packed the arena, people packed the local bars, and everyone was so engulfed in Sabre-mania.

Less than two years later, and it all seems like a distant memory.

I get it, now. I understand how my dad, a once die-hard Steeler fan, could convert so easily. I barely remember the Super Bowl run in the 90's, but I can imagine that it swept the area like the Sabres did a short time ago, only times a hundred. How can you not get swept up in that?

Can you imagine being a Steelers fan during that time? It would be like being the designated driver at the year's best party.

That's why winning is so important in small market pro sports. Nothing unites a working-class city like a sports franchise on a tear. But here we are, with two teams fading fast and another year without a team in the postseason fast approaching.

I'm jealous of Boston. I'm jealous of Philly. I want to be the next town that breaks their decades-long championship curse. I want a lengthy postseason run that brings the region together and has me counting the minutes to the next game.

I just want to be swept in again.

Too bad it's never seemed more out of reach.

Ask Dick

by Ryan

Coach, is your quarterback regressing?

There’s probably a lot of ways you could go with it, but I think clearly, statistically, you’d say that he’s not playing as well the last four games than he was earlier in the year, so I don’t know if there is any more to be said than that, though, I know that he’s four weeks more experienced, I know that he’s four weeks smarter because I see him study.

That's one thought right there. Amazing. His statistics show he's played like crap. He looks like crap. He probably sounds like crap. However, time is not a standing still, so he is a better quarterback.

He’s studying all of the time.

I bet he is. Trent has his film study down pat. He's going to fast-forward the hell out of Kansas City this weekend.

So regression in that area, I would say no, I would say he’s gone forward. So you see what I’m saying? You can take it either way.

That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard about quarterback progression. Ever. All aspects of his play have deteriorated, but because of the perpetual march of time Trent Edwards is a better quarterback. By this measurement, Ryan Leaf is going to be fucking phenomenal next year.

The bottom line is we’re just not playing well enough to win and he’s one of the guys. He’s one of those guys out there so he’s part of it.

Glad to know he's aware Trent plays in these games.

So whatever all of that means, there it is. I don’t see him in a slide backwards, if that’s what you mean. But clearly, performance-wise, it hasn’t been there.

...



...

So Trent's performance has been invisibly sliding... forward? What does that even mean? He's not regressing, but based on performance he has played worse than before. If that's not regression, then I have no idea about anything. Up is down, and wide open is double coverage.

If Trent is so good at watching film, though, I hope he notices all those open receivers he didn't see on Monday. The good news is that according to Dick, every minute that passes Trent Edwards gets better as at life, and I lose faith in Dick Jauron as my head coach.

The Answer

by Ryan

I can't give many answers about this Sabres team's struggles. I know as a blogger I'm supposed to have an educated guess as to what can fix this team, but I'm stuck at the moment. Let the coaching staff figure out how to get Hank Tallinder to stop passing to Blake Wheeler. What I do know is where it's not going to come from, and although it may be counterproductive to shoot down ideas, I feel the need to get this out of the way.

The answer to the Sabres' struggles is not in Portland.



Sure, the Pirates are a really good minor league hockey team. Their 12-1-1 start is good for first in their division, and Sabres prospects are lighting up the AHL right now. Mike Mancari has 25 points in 14 games and looks like he's ready to make an impact in the NHL when he gets his chance.

Also making some big waves in the minor league waters of Maine are Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe, who along with Marek Zagrapan are three of the Sabres' top prospects in the system. Gerbe and Kennedy are also well over a point per game (20 and 21, respectively) and Zagrapan continues to improve his game at the AHL level. Both Enroth and Dennis are sporting 6-1 records thus far, and all aspects of the roster look deep early.

This Portland team can score plenty of goals and looks to be headed in the right direction, and that's good to see in what should be a turbulent transition phase for the Sabres' minor league system. Having a good young group of players do this well together this early is good to see, and of course you want to see that talent perform on the next level. Having a good minor league team is a great sign for the future, and Darcy's draft picks are looking promising thus far.

However, bringing up Mike Mancari won't solve much of anything right now. In fact, no one on the Pirates roster is going to help turn things around with the Sabres because they simply have nothing to offer this team. The Sabres' roster doesn't need another goal scoring winger. We have plenty of people that can score goals on this team, which almost seems more comfortable when players are hurt and there are less options.

The two biggest things hurting the Sabres are defense and discipline, neither of which will come from a rookie not used to NHL speed and style of play. Tossing a young guy into the fire will take an adjustment period no matter how well versed he is in the "system" the organization has in place. A Mancari, Kennedy, or Gerbe getting a roster spot is going to equal mistakes and bad penalties. Experience comes from opportunity, yes, but allowing that experience to accumulate takes time we just don't have.

Think of how poorly Sekera played the majority of last season. Making a good NHL player takes time, and right now the Sabres can't afford an unnecessary side project when they are trying to fix themselves defensively. All three prospects mentioned above are going to be good NHL players, but right now there are plenty of good NHL players on the current roster that just refuse to play defense.

The current Sabres can still be a very good team, and very few of them can be moved out of the way to make room for a call up anyway. Demoting Kaleta at this point simply isn't an option, and I can't think of another reasonable option to free up a roster spot. The group that wore blue and gold last night simply has to get better in their own zone and stop taking stupid penalties. Until that happens we have to live with the growing pains that will result from this process.

I'm not saying it won't hurt, but they may be a better team for it in the end.

No Punch Line Necessary

by Ryan

Question: What do Phil Kessel and Hitler have in common?

Apparently, they both have one testicle.



Still, I'd rather have him on my team than Andrej Sekera, who once again reverted to "balls" form tonight. Actually, the whole team was balls. All of them.



Okay, except Atlas Vanek, who was fantastic once again. If not for Thomas this would be a .500 team with a bleak future. Instead, they are a 9-6-3 team with a bleak future. Vanek has played well all year, but where has the rest of the team been?



The Sabres wasted another great start by playing awful, awful defense. Miller wasn't fantastic, but the guys in front of him didn't exactly help him out. Tallinder had another all-world giveaway, and Teppo didn't play smart hockey either. I have no idea how Rivet wound up a +2, but I suppose that only shows you how badly Teppo, Sekera, and Hank played.

What happened to this defense? Finally at full strength and still playing like last year's lazy group of waywards. Suddenly the goals for/against totals are even at 54 and we are looking at another tough weekend with very few answers. How do you fix a team that keeps saying the same things need to be fixed? Get pucks deep. Play smart. Simplify things. Okay, those are all good ideas. When does that start happening? Next game? The game after that?

A few quick things while I try to forget about this week:

- Did anyone see this?



Yeah, f#$k you pretty boy. The all star voting is a complete joke at this point, but there's no way I'm wasting my vote on you.



- Marc Savard. He ALWAYS kills us, and he was all over the scoresheet tonight. Why do we boo Chara when this guy is the one scoring all the big goals against us?

Actually that's all I have for you. I swear to God this week has taken a year off my life. We will have plenty to talk about, but is it just me that suddenly dreads this weekend? I can't take much more of this, I'm really starting to hate everything about everything.



The Ferrunginous Pygmy-Owl goes to God, who clearly wants some sort of recognition for his handiwork this week. You win, man, you win.