Year Three: The Package

by Ryan

I hate the movie Fever Pitch. I dislike it so much, I'm not even linking to imdb to give it the page views. It's a ridiculously stupid example of why most sports movies are awful. The Nick Hornby novel they "based" the movie off of is excellent, and if you want a good view of being a fanatic I'd fully recommend that to you any day. In fact, here.

However, there is one scene in the move I could relate to, and no, not the part where Jimmy Fallon in the restaurant freaking out. Okay fine, I've done that too, but they totally stole that from William Goldman in "Wait 'Till Next Year", another fantastic book. Freaking vultures.

Anyway, that part I relate to is the big package he gets at the beginning of the movie. Ticket day.



There they are, the tickets for Team Mini Pack '08. Beautiful, aren't they? We had some stocks take a tumble yesterday, so we went light this year with the minimum five games. However, we will most certainly be picking a few games up throughout the year, hopefully because the team exceeded our expectations. Maybe a playoff series or two to make us completely broke? We can only hope.

In any event, here are the games we picked. Keep in mind we were dodging some work scheduling issues and trying to run cheap, so don't mock us for only spending $188 each.

Monday, Oct. 27th: Ottawa
Wednesday, Nov. 12th: St. Louis
Monday, Dec. 1st: Nashville
Tuesday, Feb. 24th: Anaheim
Monday, Apr. 6th: Detroit

Some Western Conference love for sure, but we wanted to catch Anaheim and Detroit and the rest fell into place. Any any event, Section 304, Row 9 will be the place to find me, so let me know if you will be in the area and we can get something together. There's always room in the Roost.

The Five Best Deals of the Season

by Ryan

Judging from the great lukewarm response from the last post about the schedule, I wasn't going to do one about the five best deals of the year.

However, guess what came in the mail yesterday?



That's right, the mini pack is here, and it's time to pick some hockey games. To quote Chris, "Yahoo." So, here are my picks for the five best values of the year.

1. Thursday, October 30th: Tampa Bay (Value)- I know everyone has already tabbed the Blues game as the best value out there, but consider this: No matter what happens Tampa Bay will be fun to watch. Either it's going to be a brilliant combination of Penguins, Mullets, and four defenseman; or it will be a complete and utter s#*tshow. Either way, you're not willing to pay $30 bucks to see that?



2. 10/27 and 2/17: Ottawa (Bronze)- I know these are midweek games, but don't we still hate Ottawa? I know I do, and I can't pass these up when compared to a gold Islanders game.

3. Monday, December 22nd: Pittsburgh (Silver)- This is the best value as far as opponent (East Champs), Date (days before Christmas), and compared to similar games (Other Pens game is a gold). If you are going to splurge, I say make it here.

4. Tuesday, February 24th: Anaheim (Bronze)- The Ducks don't come around that often, and they are still a very good team. I'd like to take a closer look at the West this year, and this seems like a good chance to see a good team for cheap.

5. Monday, April 6th: Detroit (Silver)- Chris and I agree, Detroit is the team to see this year. Even if we are in the basement by season's end, they will be fighting for something, most likely the President's Trophy. It could be a huge game against a huge team, and I can't pass that up. If not for it being a Monday, it would easily be a gold.

The Five Worst Deals of the Season

by Ryan

The pricing for the 2008-09 season has been announced, and just like the record industry, the Sabres have gone platinum. Of course this means that we will be paying even more money to get inside HSBC Arena. The addition of a fifth tier means even more crappy games that will cost you even more to see.

So, while we wait for our minipack forms to come via snail mail, let me share with you my picks for the five worst ways to see a hockey game out of the Slugs.

1. Friday, November 7th: Atlanta- (Silver) What, are we paying for Ron Hainsey's contract or something? Every game on a Friday is a silver or higher, but this is by far the worst. Keep in mind, people, Don Waddell is still in charge down there.

2. Friday, December 19th: Los Angeles- (Silver) Have the Kings done anything to improve this off season? I know the proximity to Christmas will drive the value of this game up, but the Kings are an awful team, and last time I checked Justin Timberlake was their most consistent goaltender. Not worth much more than a bronze at best.



3. Saturday, December 27th: Islanders- (Gold) Wow, I never thought I'd see an Isles game go gold. Ted Nolan is gone, so is Miro Satan, and with that goes any interest I have in paying a bill to see Mike Comrie and DiPi roll into town. Again, Christmas is a wonderful holiday, but so is watching the game on an HDTV and playing with all the cool crap you got two days before. I'll take the couch for this one.

4. Friday, February 6th: Montreal (Platinum) It's too easy of a pick, but every other Habs game is a gold. Go on opening night instead, leave this one to those with the funny money. (That's what they want us to do with these, right?)



5. Saturday, January 17th: Carolina (Silver) It's actually not too bad a game, Canes games are always fun. However, when there is a Bronze just a month later also on the weekend, why pay the extra money? Save that cash and buy a seat to see St. Louis earlier in the year.

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Your picks for worst value in the comments if you'd like.

A Frozen Day In August

by Ryan

Maybe not everyone is as crazy as me, but today I felt the distinct chill of a new hockey season.

Last night I finalized my mini pack order for the upcoming season. $975 worth of tickets for a season that suddenly became a lot bleaker this summer. Still, I can't wait to go back to Section 304 and watch those banners raised. It's going to be an interesting sports year in Buffalo, and Sabres hockey will still be fun to watch no matter who has left the team.

Today I also found this brilliant website, which I will be visiting from now on. Not only does this site highlight the new RBK Edge uniform changes, it pits team logos against each other in a popularity contest, as well as let fans send in their own uniform and logo prototype. The designs alone are worth a once over, and anyone curious about what teams are doing with RBK's manhandling of uniform policy should give the site a glance or two. Be sure to vote against the BuffaSlug while you are there.

As I was checking on my many fantasy endeavors on Yahoo Sports, I stumbled across the announcement I've been waiting all summer for: Fantasy Hockey is back!

This clinched it for me. Nothing of interest has happened in NHL news for some time, so any sign of the season coming closer will make me smile. Now I have drafts to plan, research to do, and training camp to over analyze. Awesome.

It's just nice to get that frozen feeling, even on an 80 degree day in Buffalo.

Best Saturday All Summer

by Ryan



Just when you think it will never happen, hockey pops up to say hi again. I awoke this morning to find a nice, thick letter from the Buffalo Sabres in the mail, and I am happy to say it was my mini pack forms.

For the record, there are five value, five bronze, 22 sliver, and eight gold games. If you don't feel like doing the math, that's only 40 games. So which game is missing?


Hrm... feels like there should be a Penguins game on New Year's Day in between there. I wonder why we can't order tickets to that? Maybe we will have to go elsewhere to watch that one. Maybe.

Leaving that game off the schedule is suspicious to say the least, but I would be a whole lot happier if something was announced officially. Yeah, that way Bucky and friends could get their tribal gowns out and dance for warm weather. What a guy.