A View From The Roost: Choking Away Critical Points

By Chris

So did Sidney Crosby knock the puck out of the air with his stick above the crossbar last night? Sure looked that way.

But neither the officials in Buffalo nor Toronto saw the puck hit the shaft above the crossbar and that's all that matters.

Sure it's Crosby. On national television. In overtime. On a month-long goal drought.

Do those circumstances make it even harder to overturn the initial call? Absolutely. But none of that matters. It was a goal and the Sabres missed out on the opportunity to collect two points.

The Pensblog tries to break it down here but I really can't tell what the hell's going on in that picture. It looks like the screenshot was taken from a TV with rabbit ears.

If the Flyers, Caps, and Rangers weren't around, there wouldn't be a bigger waste of an organization and their fans than the Buffalo Sabres.

And to think I'm Facebook friends with Pensblog Charlie...

More importantly, however, the Sabres gave Pittsburgh two points on a night where the Penguins probably shouldn't have even gotten one.

The Sabres took Pittsburgh into the third period with the lead and gave it away in the blink of an eye. Daniel Paille takes a roughing penalty, a mental lapse for sure, giving the Pens the only powerplay they needed.

As soon as the ref's arm went up to signal the penalty I got a text message from Ryan with the words "Tie game" in it.

Next thing you know, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Petr Sykora and Alex Goligoski are doing fist bumps down their bench. Tie game.

Should goaltender interference been called on Crosby during that powerplay? Maybe. But those are the breaks of the game. A floater from the point gets through, over Ryan Miller's shoulder and the Sabres give away a point to a team they're chasing in the standings.

It happened in Montreal on Saturday and it's another opportunity wasted last night against Pittsburgh.

-Jochen Hecht left the ice in the second period and left the Sabres extremely thin at center. Adam Mair did an adequate job matching up against Malkin (until Crosby and Malkin were paired together mid-way through the third). I'm not sure when it exactly happened, but Mair has become a reliable top eight player. He's put together a solid season of hard work and while he's not lighting up the scoreboard, he's generating a boatload of opportunities. The first and second Sabre goals were results of Mair's grinding (the screen on the Paille goal and the strong neutral zone play on the Ales Kotalik goal).

Lindy Ruff also decided to put Matt Ellis out there with Vanek for a few shifts and while it didn't produce much (Ellis and Vanek were also both out there on the penalty kill for the tying goal), it showed confidence in Ellis' play. Ellis has been much better in this most recent stint with the big club. He plays a very similar style to Mair and Paul Gaustad and as long as he puts in an honest effort I don't have a problem with him filling in while guys are recovering from injuries.


Losing Hecht certainly hurt the Sabres' chances of winning last night. Sure it gave MacArthur a chance to step up (he would have even been on the bench for his goal if Hecht wasn't in the locker room) but the lack of skill centerman is taking its toll on the team. According to Ruff, Hecht should be fine for Friday's game in Washington but another injury (and they tend to come in waves for this team) and you could be looking at Mair as a No. 1 centerman. I don't care how well Mair's played--that's a scary thought.

-Speaking of Vanek, he made some nice plays tonight but it was disappointing to not see him get one in the clutch. He's had a dream season so far and played very well last night (especially early on you could tell he was frustrating Malkin on the backcheck) but this was one of those games where you would expect him to turn it up another notch and go into full-blown Atlas mode.

-Was anyone else a little surprised at the amount of powerplay time Maxim Afinogenov got last night?

And with the powerplay, as soon as they didn't score on the one opportunity with about six minutes to go, the sense of impending doom swept over the crowd (or at least it felt that way). The team needed a special teams goal there and couldn't get it done.

-I've been impressed with Toni Lydman's play every time I've watched him play live this season and he made some strong plays (stopping Crosby from cutting in front of the net late in the third) and looked comfortable being reunited with Henrik Tallinder. But that is supposed to be the Sabres top defensive pairing and they each finished with a -3 on the night. That's just not good enough--especially Lydman's weak play on Crosby on the winning goal.

-Watching Malkin and Crosby play in person is electrifying, especially when both are on their game. Like Ryan says, it's not fair that they get to have two of them...maybe the Sabres should just tank for five or six years to collect top three draft picks every season.

-Miller was OK tonight. He came up big at times but the tying goal is one he needs to at least get a piece of.

-This was the last meeting of the regular season between the Sabres and Penguins. The scoresheets show they split the series but both Penguins wins came in third period rallies in games the Sabres were perfectly capable of winning.

If the Penguins are considered NHL elite, then the Sabres shouldn't be far behind--they just have to find ways to be more consistent.

And that's been the story of the last two-and-a-half years.

The Titan, the Saivior, and the Communist

by Ryan

For being so loaded offensively, there the Penguins sit just two points above the meddling Sabres. That scrappy little team with its cheap grinding goals and role players outworking all those all stars. What a disgrace to hockey to have a team like that actually sport a decent record against the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. Ryan Miller is obviously terrible, and Lindy Ruff couldn't out-coach Michel Therrien if he were handed two all-world players and a 1st overall pick in net. What a joke.

Okay, now that I got that out of my system we can talk about tonight's game. I'm really excited to go tonight because Penguins games always seem to be fun, and there's always something special about games played around the holidays. It's hard to describe, but it really does feel more important around Christmas, and inside the Arena is a festive mood for sure.

What I'm excited about tonight is what usually gets me excited: the chance to follow star players around the ice. Sometimes what makes elite players special is not necessarily what they do when they have the puck but what they do without it. Positioning, back checking, communication, foot speed; all of these things make great players but are hard to notice when watching on TV.

Crosby, Ovechkin, and Malkin all get praises raised to the high heavens from pundits and announcers alike, but sometimes it's hard to believe if you don't see it for yourself. Tonight, that's what I'm going to enjoy watching. In the stands there's no annoying voice talking at me about how spectacular Crosby and Malkin are. Nor will there be one pointing me towards Vanek or Miller. What I want to do tonight is forget everything people say and just watch the stars put on a show.

It sounds like a simple thing to do, but you just can't always watch and hear what you want to on TV.

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.

System Free Saturday

by Ryan

We've had a lot of fun with "The System" recently, but tonight I realized something that may explain a lot. We all talk about it as a concrete being, but the great thing is that we have no idea what it really is.

To us "The System" is this vague cloud of ideas floating around in the hockey stratosphere. Get pucks deep. Simplify your game. Play smart hockey. It probably involves forechecking or something, but I'm just going off Jason Pominville's press conferences here. We hear about "The System" all the time, but unless you are in it you have no idea if it's being followed or not.



When you think about it that way, Lindy Ruff is a genius. Think about it, because none of us really know what "The System" entails, it can't ever be to blame for anything. Complete surrender to "The System" means a win every time because in theory it is perfect. Following an unknown set of rules equals flawless hockey, and so those rules can never, ever be wrong.

So when things go bad, it's never about "The System" itself but rather someone not playing within it. Perhaps the players forgot about the supreme guidance "The System" provides, or maybe someone lost focus and got away from it briefly. That's not "The System" breaking down, that's a player breaking down. "The System" doesn't break down, oh no, "The System" is forgotten by players not willing to sell out to it and win. "The System" in its purest sense is victory, and any failure to win is an ignorance of it that is in effect a disgrace to "The System" itself.

With all that said, let's not talk about "The System" anymore. It obviously has no flaws, and if the players can't live up to "The System", we just need to find new players. Preferably robots who can focus on the multitude of rules and advice it offers for a full sixty minutes. Instead of talking about "The System" let's talk about another fun buzz word we throw around often: defensive responsibility.

Seriously, where the hell did that go? No team plays perfect hockey, but when it all goes to hell in the last 15 minutes of a game something's wrong. The great news is they doubled their offensive output, but that about does it in the good news category. You could say that playing with the lead for 45 minutes is good as well, but the last 15 sucked so hard it's hard to imagine they played all that well to begin with.

Forget systematic rules of engagement, what happened to the rules you learned in pee wee? When one of the Staals is free in the middle of a Sabres triangle, someone should probably pick him up. Also, Ruslan Fedotenko should NOT have been an option on the fourth goal. Did anyone feel like backchecking there? Jaro played it right, there were two options for Malkin: shoot or pass to Crosby. Spacek had both covered, but because Fedotenko felt like skating that third option was there to put the game out of reach. At worst that third option should be a lifted stick, and at best it should be an ass over tea kettle Fedotenko.



The players can say all they want about how they played a good 50 minutes of hockey. That six minutes of suck kills anything good you can take from this game. Maybe the problem is the good things you take from a game like this. It's yet another wasted weekend for the Buffalo Sabres, and they've got two more like this before the month is over.

They better figure this "System" out soon, or we might be heading down fast. They have until Wednesday to figure it out, but somehow it's that next Friday I'm worried about.

Things Fall Apart

It's probably not the system's fault, but the guys playing within it just got ass-raped. We'll be back in the morning once the swelling goes down.

The Good, the Bad, and the Third

by Ryan

Last season's introduction of the RBK EDGE jersey system meant many things for the league, but the most noticeable impact was the intentional lack of third jerseys. Long been a staple of teams scrambling for a few extra bucks, the NHL decided there would be enough chaos with thirty teams re-designing a total of 60 sweaters, so the +1 was left on the shelf for one season. The only exception was the Winter Classic uniforms, which were by all accounts absolutely beautiful.



With the opening of the 2008-09 season, the inevitable flood of third jerseys has begun. Each team seems to have taken a unique approach to this extra set of threads, with some focusing on tradition while others attempt simply to blind you. We all know the Sabres went for an updated version of their original logo, and for the most part it has been met with high praise.



Vancouver has done the same thing, and it looks awesome. With a slight update on their original logo for a crest, they bring back the classic colors while maintaining a sleek look the EDGE jerseys are designed for. The "Johnny Canuck" logo on the shoulder is great as well, something the team hasn't sported in ages. It may be the nostalgic in me, but it always seems like Vancouver has better third jerseys than primary ones. Let's hope they use these bad boys often.



At this point Atlanta should just stop trying and move to Toronto already. Do you think Thrashers management just plays around with the team's color palette in MS Paint and picks which one looks the worst? The script jerseys are stupid in general, but that red/orange background is just awful. That stupid vertical sock pattern Nike tried during the Olympics makes an appearance here as well.



The only positive I can find is the goalie pads, and the fact that Bryan Little looks like he's falling down in that picture.

Tonight the Sabres are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins, who will be sporting some new yet familiar uniforms as well. Their new jersey is almost exactly like what they wore in the Winter Classic, which received wide praise across the league. The comparison between Penguins and Sabres jerseys will be noticeable, and will only make me wonder where our third jerseys are.

Seriously guys, are they manufactured out of unicorn blood or something?

A Look Back on the Winter Classic

by Ryan

Today is that awkward day in between the hockey and the nothing that will envelop us all once the Stanley Cup Finals is over. During that whole "nothing" period I tend to think a lot, and because Game Three had such a great crowd involved, I keep going back to the idea of "home ice advantage" in the playoffs. There is a strong belief that it doesn't count anymore, but many Penguins players swore by their home crowd after the victory.

If there is one thing I do know, it's that I will forever associate the phrase "home ice advantage" with the Winter Classic; and since no one wants to read my thoughts on the usefulness of old buildings in the postseason, let's just go through some pictures from the Winter Classic that I've never posted here. On the heels of the next Winter Classic being announced in Chicago, it makes even more sense to take a look back on the biggest sports day in Buffalo's history. At some point during the summer we will probably wax poetic about it, but for now here are some sights from the day.



Pretty cool looking ice sculpture in the parking lot. Between the inflatables, the sculptures, and the free Amp outside, the pre-game activities were pretty well-rounded for those that don't tailgate as hardcore as others.



The first look at the ice. I know I wasn't the only one that got chills when I entered my section.



The flyover was pretty cool. I thought this one showed just how close they looked pretty well.



Around the curve. I'm sure someone with photo sense could have done better, but I stood the whole game and was just snapping shots while they cleaned the ice.



Yeah all that is snow from the ice. It's no wonder one of the Zambonis broke down...



The NHL flags were a nice touch. They really did a nice job making the stadium NHL-centric, even making "the Rockpile" the "AMP Energy Zone." Okay, so that one wasn't so cool, but you get the idea...



Andrew Peters kissed Ryan Miller. I guess that explains a lot about this season...



What American sporting event isn't complete unless you blow s$&t up? Even after you lose!



This is my favorite picture because although there is absolutely no explanation for this, it seems completely reasonable for a dumpster to be on fire.



Looking back, the pictures don't do it justice. I guess we'll have to wait for the DVD...

Memorial Day Minute

by Ryan



With Game Two coming on Memorial Day, there is probably no one reading this.

With that in mind, I think there are a few things the Penguins will have to do to make a series of this. First of all, their forecheck has to, well, exist. One of their strengths is how fast and hard they attack the puck in the other team's zone, and they looked downright sluggish on Saturday. Forcing the Wings' defense to make mistakes will be hard enough, but not getting to them in the first place will make it impossible.

The Penguins 4th line also has to step up. Getting a good shift out of the 4th line is an absolute must in the playoffs, and sets up the rest of your scoring lines with a good energy shift, especially if the opponents top D pair is out. According to Mirtle, that didn't happen in Game One. Gary Roberts being inserted into the lineup may give the Penguins a burst, but the entire team has to work with getting solid shifts out of their weaker lines and try to get Lidstrom and Rafalski away from Sidney Crosby.



Sid himself has to get it together, too. Overall the Penguins looked very, very nervous, and it is understandable given the circumstances. However, I think they will rebound nicely, and at the very least look like a competent hockey team.

After all, the last thing we want is Neil Smith right. Right?

(Much, much more on that Burnside article later...)

Stick the World's Largest Fork in Philly

Literally.

With no desperation and no transition game, it looks like the Flyers are history. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

So it's going to be Penguins-Red Wings barring any sort of Brian Campbell-esque miracles. Who ya got?

Pittsburgh Sign Guy> Philly Sign Guy

by Ryan

If you are searching for a team to root for this postseason, you may have found your answer in Pittsburgh. I know I have. As a Sabres fan watching the playoffs carry on without you, some may find it hard to get involved or really latch on to another squad of bearded men in another uniform color. However, watching the Penguins play into the spring has made it easier and easier to get behind them, especially when you look at who they've been playing.

My general theory about the Pens is that they have been a year behind the Sabres with regards to development. Last year's first round exit was a spike in overall excitement for the team, getting causal fans back into the mix and giving young players a taste of the postseason. This year, however, the Penguins were poised to make their run.

It has been a different path than the one the Sabres took, but in a way flying under the radar and not going wire to wire atop the East has benefited the Penguins immensely. They too have had their injury problems, and they too went on long stretches of dominance even while less than 100 percent. However, they did not deal with the pressure of the spotlight, and the general attention was focused on Montreal or Detroit or the collapse of Ottawa. While Buffalo and Anaheim were the focus of last year, the Penguins were only a footnote on the "greatest team ever" argument that was wilting up in Kanata this winter.

However cosmetic the differences have been between 06-07 Buffalo and this year's Penguins, the main difference is what management did at the trade deadline and how it affected their team for the stretch run. Forget this year's events for Buffalo, but trading Biron for Conklin and picking up Zubrus for Novotny was in hindsight not enough. Being up against the cap and labeled as a known seller (Biron had to go) handicapped Darcy's ability to move, but not making a huge splash may have been the difference in how the Sabres sputtered down the stretch.

The exact opposite has happened in Pittsburgh, and what we are watching is the result of that. Ray Shero went big and gambled on Marian Hossa, and that deal has given a whole new ceiling to the Penguins' expectations this spring. Once the team finally got healthy they went into the playoffs playing their best hockey. A 9-1 record so far this postseason is tough to argue with.

Now, I'm not trying to make a revisionist history argument about the mismanagement of Darcy Regier. Instead, I'm trying to show just how similar these two teams seem to be. While the Sabres certainly have lacked the star power players like Malkin and Crosby bring, it's hard not to see a bit of Miller in Marc Andre Fleury or even a bit of Hecht in Dupuis. The Penguins are a likeable team from a rust belt city that just overcame a relocation scare. Does any of that ring a bell?



Plus, they have an awesome mascot. Iceburgh is hands down one of the best anthropomorphic penguins to ever be personified by a game day productions intern. Ever.

Sticking with my theory about the Penguins, tonight's game reminded me of last year's Game One against the Rangers. There was such an uproar of hype and anticipation revolving around that game. What will Sean Avery do? Will the Sabres live up to the hype? Talking had been done on both sides all week. When the game finally was played the Sabres completely blow them out of the building, causing a complete shift in gameplan by Tom Renney for Game Two. That change made a series out of it, and the Sabres would struggle to win in 6 against a strong Rangers squad led by hot goaltening.

Tonight we saw the Penguins take control at home and completely dismantle the Flyers. Goaltending was good again, the penalty kill was all over, and the Flyers had no defensive gameplan to keep Pittsburg's stars in check. Much like last year's East Semifinal against the Rangers, this Game One leaves you with the feeling that this series is over before it starts. However, I think Sunday's Game Two will see a much different Flyers team, and although they may not win they will start to actually compete with the Pens. It may not look like it now, but this will be a series. Promise.

---

Okay, let's talk about Evgeni Malkin. Having Malkin and Crosby on the same team is just unfair. Really, it is. Malkin is such a fantastic talent to watch because he has no fear, and he is just as likely to defend a teammate in the corner after the whistle as he is picking corners flying down the wing with seconds left in the first.



That face says it all. His confidence is just ridiculous, and the angry slap shot from close range should remind us all of a certain Austrian that only shows flashes of that cockiness. To come back down on a breakaway after getting rocked just seconds earlier? Wow. What a sequence, and what an absolute dagger in a team just one shot away from a tie game in the second. Malkin has been everywhere this postseason, and while it is still Sidney's team, Geno sure has come a long way this year.

Watching a team like this, one so full of talent and potential, is trying at times. As a fan of another team you sometimes are wont to wish bad things on a team with such potential. This year, however, I see the similarities between a team this good now and the team we had the pleasure of watching last year. The Sabres weren't good enough to finish the job then, and as much as I love the smell of Schadenfreude in the evening, a big part of me wants to see the Pens go the distance, just to prove that it can happen.

Dear Sabres Managment,

This is how you run a "white out."

It usually helps when you try it on years where the majority of the fan base doesn't buy $200 jerseys. Putting a $2 shirt over that is a tough sell, eh? Although at this point, I think I'd buy anything Sidney Crosby is selling...



Jesus, even the dude with the tie did it right. Plus it makes it easier to pick out the Ranger fans. Speaking of Rangers fans... I was walking around a mall today and saw someone with an old Rangers third jersey. (The one with the Liberty Head on the front...) It was, of all things, a Matthew Barnaby jersey. As I walked past him I said, "Pens in 6."

Gary Roberts 1, "Purse Swingers" 0

What a game for the old guy. Second game back since Tim Connolly broke his leg, and he scores 68 seconds into the playoffs. Gary Roberts is a player I would kill for.



That picture is what it is all about. God I miss that.

Not to overlook Game Two, but the first game in Kanata will determine if this series is over with or if Ottawa even has a chance. They had absolutely nothing for Pittsburgh tonight, and I doubt it will be much different in Mellon on Friday.

Not that I'm complaining. Shuck it, Murrahth.

A Bit Under the Weather

You don't look so good, buddy. May want to lie down for a bit.

What's that? You outshot the Penguins 37-25 and lost 4-1?

Yeesh, no wonder you don't look so good. Get well soon, buddy. Take a break 'till Wednesday.

In other news, Thomas Vanek just guaranteed a playoff spot. Iiiiiinteresting...

More on this tomorrow.

Avian @ Swoopy Buffalo Thingy Preview

by Ryan

What's up with the 6pm starts? Is someone missing their bedtime or something?

The last time we played the Pens it looked something like this:



Sometimes I still can't believe that actually happened.

This is our third meeting with the Penguins, and after every game someone has left with a crippling injury. The first time around Tim Connolly broke Gary Roberts, an impossible feat I still can't understand.

After the Winter Classic, two Sabres went down at the hands of Ty Conklin. (Does anyone else miss him as a backup?) Maxim Afinogenov was Conkblocked so badly he hasn't played since, and Tim Connolly just recently returned from his shootout attempt.

Hopefully the goofy start time counteracts the bloodthirsty rage these teams obviously have for each other.

To say this game is huge would be easy because every game over the past two weeks has been huge. In fact, every game over the next two months will be huge, and only when the playoffs start will I stop using the term. Then the games become absolutely massive.

Let's call it an important rebound game, as well as two points needed to put us back in the playoff picture. Everyone says the Pens will be awful without Sid the Kid, but those people haven't been watching hockey recently. Malkin is the real deal, and it's almost unfair the amount of talent they have. As a frequent commenter put it, "why do they get two?"

Out of synch was the buzz word yesterday, but I doubt it will be tonight. This team will be ready.

Hopefully HSBC will be pumped tonight, the crowds seem to get better as the stretch run continues. Hopefully.

Hockey players are awesome at acting

Between Colby Armstrong, Maxime Talbot, Sergei Gonchar, and the Mute (Evgeni Malkin), I would definitely buy that car. Looks like Crosby's too good for BMW's. At least it's a better buy than anti-sweat treatment.

Video starts about eight seconds in.

As Pittsburgh holds its collective breath

From TSN.ca:

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be out for an indefinite period of time with a high right ankle sprain after suffering the injury in the team's 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night.

Looks like there might be an opening in the Eastern All-Stars' starting line-up for Thomas Vanek [/sarcasm]

An Obstructed View from the Roost

By Chris

For anyone who was there, no matter what team you were cheering for, there is one undeniable fact.

The Winter Classic was awesome.

It was one of the most communal, emotional events I have ever experienced and probably will never experience again, at least not at that level. To put it simply, I agree with everything Ryan said Tuesday night. It was an afternoon no hockey fan will soon, if ever, forget.

Sure there were a few miscues here and there. It may have taken too long for the ice crews to fix the ice during delays, but at least they took the time to make sure it was right. What bugged me the most about the cleaning was that they didn't bring the Zambonis out for the shootout, which is actually normal NHL procedure. But if that is my biggest gripe (aside from switching ends in the five minute overtime being stupid), then there obviously wasn't much to complain about.

I just wish Brian Campbell would have been looking forward to the "f*cking stupid Ice Bowl" as much as the fans were (skip to about 35 seconds in). Eh, who knows? Maybe he really was. He does look a little tipsy while trying to sing the Hip.



For the most part, again echoing Ryan, what struck me the most was that the NHL didn't screw it up. For such a huge event, it was very-well organized, there was stuff to do outside of the usual tailgating and added to the festive atmosphere.

And did anyone else find it weird that it didn't snow a flake during intermissions, but then as soon as the players headed out of the tunnel, the flurries started to fall again?

The tailgating was fun in itself. Having the television crews for the NHL Network and RDS patrolling our area added to the excitement. Then again that's maybe just because Jon and I snuck into the Rick Jeanerette "Lalalafontaine" tribute, and just because RDS put me on camera for the Gilbert Perreault jersey I had on (if anyone can find that, if it even made the air, feel free to shoot us an e-mail. We all like to laugh at me).


Should the NHL pull off this event again? From a publicity and marketing standpoint, yes. But all of the factors need to be there to make it special and not just a rehashing of the last two outdoor games. The place needs to be right and, if the league wants America to start caring about hockey again (and if they want to increase revenues even more, including a big TV deal, I think they would), then the game would most likely have to be played stateside between two American teams.

For the best publicity and for the largest money-making machine, Rangers-Islanders at either Yankee Stadium or in the Meadowlands may be the best bet. Or wait until the new Gopher Stadium is built in Minnesota. Wild v. Dallas or Detroit would be amazing. The best idea I think I've read/heard so far is for Buffalo and Pittsburgh to host the event against each other every year. This way it stays exclusive and it's still an event, like Detroit and Dallas hosting Thanksgiving football games. On another thought, why not do the All-Star game outdoors?

I thought the pregame ceremonies for the Winter Classic were very well-done. Doug Allen is a Roost favorite and Ronan Tynan is a winner (I can't believe there are actually complaints that they sang "God Bless America" and not the national anthem. They have done this every time Tynan has sung for the Sabres. My best guess is that those complaining don't watch Sabres games so I'm not going to waste too much energy here). The fly-by by the Blackhawk helicopters was also stunning and chilling.

And the crowd?


You can't say enough about the job the fans did. You could cut the tension with a knife as the game went into the shootout. Everyone was tuned into the game the whole time. I was up on my feet with everyone else in the lower bowl from faceoff to Crosby's clincher. Buffalo looked great in the national limelight, and while I really really really really had a great time, I hope something like this doesn't come back to Buffalo, at least for a couple years. It was special and to overdo it would most definitely cheapen a unique but already kind-of-gimmicky event.

As the Sabres prep for Ottawa tomorrow night, there are certainly some questions and concerns that face this team. The offense isn't producing and fingers are already being pointed in Thomas Vanek's direction.

And rightfully so.

Vanek is a -3 with just one point, an assist, in his last five games. He had 84 points last year and finished with a league-leading +47. Now as a top line player, he's on pace for just 24 goals, 48 points and a +7 rating. Whether it's the money or just the pressure of being the go-to-guy, his head clearly isn't in the right place. And that bodes very badly for this hockey club down the stretch if he continues going in that direction.


Miller has been solid and seems to be getting better and he's bound to snap at some point about the shotty defense that's being played in front of him. I mean, could Campbell at least TOUCH Crosby on that first goal? The guy skated right at him and Campbell backed off like he was scared. Or maybe he was just cold.

The team isn't playing great, they are on a four game losing streak, despite getting two shootout points in those games, but with Ottawa coming to town, they need to step it up. With Ottawa struggling, including back-to-back barn burning losses to the Capitals and psycho goalie Ray Emery supposedly walking out on a practice this week, it's as good a time as any to beat up on the Sens.

And with 11 of the next 14 games on the road, this team better get out of the funk fast and play some quality hockey, otherwise the season will end on April 5 in Boston.

With the games ahead looking like they could be kind of bleak, it was great to be able to enjoy a day like January 1. Overall, New Year's Day was a fantastic day that really kicked off the second half of the season. With only basketball and hockey as the two professional leagues playing right now, this event was the perfect statement to tell America that hockey still matters in some parts of the world. Maybe this was the spark the NHL needs to leapfrog the NBA.

My only regret from Tuesday? That I (stupidly) taped the NBC broadcast over CBC. I've lived in Western New York all my life, you'd think I'd know better.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get my Perreault jersey cleaned. It smells like charcoal, wet snow, and Dr. Bob (long story). On second thought, maybe I'll hold on to it smelling like that for just a few more days. What a day.

Classic Videos

by Ryan

They aren't the best quality, but if you want the real "View From the Roost" of the Winter Classic, here it is.

I did all three Sabres shooters, and Sid's game winner. Again, the picture is terrible (taken on my cell phone, mind you), but it gives you a good feel of the crowd's reaction. Kotalik's goal still gives me chills.

Ales Kotalik



Tim Connolly



Maxim Afinogenov



Sidney Crosby



There are still plenty of pictures to get up. We'll get back to our regular schedule very shortly, we promise.

Happy, Happy New Year

by Ryan

There are days that change the way you think as a fan. Not just a shift in viewpoint, but a complete ontological departure from your previous existence.



Today is one of those days.

Simply amazing. It didn't feel like New Year's at all, but it didn't have to. January 1st was Winter Classic Day, and the 71,000+ at the Ralph and another 11,000 or so at HSBC Arena proved it.

That's right, 11,000. Can you believe that? We filled an empty arena with more people than some teams average for real games. Will that ever happen again? I mean, this event really was the perfect storm. An outdoor game played in a city at the pinnacle of hockey fever, its team matched up against the league's brightest star. It was brilliant, and something we may never have the privilege to witness again.

It may be greedy of me, but I hope the NHL doesn't feel the need to trivialize what we felt today by taking the show on the road as an annual rotation. I don't want to see a 2009 Winter Classic in Detroit or up at Skydome. The Oilers had their Heritage Classic, and we had our Winter Classic. I would enjoy switching between the Sabres and Pens, but in 15-20 years I don't want this to be remembered as the first Winter Classic, but The Winter Classic.

When I first saw the rink, the first thing I thought was "Oh my God, they didn't screw it up."



We've been hearing about this since June, and all the while my pessimistic mind had thoughts of failure running through it. Too warm or terrible ice or embarrassing fan behavior. Rain. Hellfire. Somehow, someway, we were going to make fools out of ourselves. Yet when I saw that sheet of ice in the middle of a football field, I lost all doubts about what we had.

I kept looking to gauge the wind on the flags atop the goal posts, and then I realized they simply weren't there. This was a hockey game. My God.

The game itself wasn't the greatest. There was sloppy play and bad passes, and the snow was a noticeable factor, but it was probably the most fun I've had at a hockey game because of the mood everyone was in.

If you were there, did you notice anything that was different from most Bills games? No rushes of neon jackets, no congregations of bundled police officers. Not one time did I see a fight anywhere in the crowd, and I heard merely a curse word in over four hours.

A few sections is a small sample size for sure, but it really felt like everyone there understood the purpose of this game. It was a celebration of hockey, through and through. For the people there it wasn't about how it translated on television, or about gaining attention for the league, or any of the marketing buzzwords us die-hards use so often in the hope of helping the game. The Winter Classic was pure hockey.

There was something so beautiful about celebrating that Campbell goal with so many people. In football there is a design and set format to the game. You run plays, you get results, and you cheer each result accordingly. Hockey has such a different feel when viewing, and the difference when watching with large crowds was dramatic.

The crescendo of the game's pace is much different. As a play develops the crowd rises with it, and when a goal is scored the celebration is much more sudden. When a team is on the goal line in football a score is expected, and when a deep route is thrown there is an amount of anticipation that comes as well. But when Timmy Connolly puts a pass in the slot and Campbell rips it in the net: boom.



Chaos.

I always find it strange that hockey fans say the same two things after scoring chances. When a goal isn't scored, it's a resounding "ooooooooo", and when the red light glares the same word is yelled by all: "YEEEEAAAAH!!!"

Hearing 71,000 or so people leap out of their seats screaming that word was life changing, and something no hockey cynic will ever be able to take away.

To put it simply: if you don't care about hockey, this game wasn't for you.

I'm completely okay with the idea that the NHL doesn't gain new fans from it. This event, festival, religious experience was about celebrating a game we love, and I couldn't be prouder of the show that was put on.

Today I tried to view the game as simply a hockey fan. Sure, I was rooting for the Sabres (loudly), but you have to appreciate the other side of the action as well.

Ty Conklin stepped up his game again, and the Sabres had no answer. Sidney Crosby does what the great players do: capitalize even when they make mistakes. He worked hard in front to set up the opening goal, and overcame a sticky puck in the shootout to somehow get it past Miller. I wanted nothing more than Ryan to stone him and see two more shooters, but it just wasn't meant to be.

(And by the way, I totally called them using Letang. They've brought him out for the SO a few times this year, and that backhand was just sick.)

We have lost four games in a row now, only taking 2 OTL points out of those games. It's a rough stretch to be sure, but can any of you actually look at that seriously today? Until Friday night, I won't even think about that losing streak. Yeah, we only took a point from the Winter Classic, but in the grand scheme of things, we freaking hosted the Winter Classic. A few years ago this team was bankrupt and heading elsewhere, and today we held the Super Bowl of hockey.

Today was downright spectacular. I know this is a raving, late night post that anyone who was there could throw together, but I think these things need to be said. If you have any thoughts on the game, the crowd, anything, I'd love to hear them. We all will have something to say about it, and many pictures will follow.

The biggest event in Buffalo Sports History went off without a hitch. I never thought I would get the chance to write those words.

Impossible

by Ryan

This is normal Gary Roberts:



This is normal Tim Connolly:



This is impossible:



Actually, that is very likely, but this:



Is impossible.

Timmy Connolly should be dead.

The Sabres lost 2-0 tonight at the lackluster feet of Ty Conklin, but honestly after that hit it was sort of a moot point.

Seriously guys, there is no freaking way Tim and Gary Roberts should collide and Roberts end up in a heap. I'm as big a fan of Timmy as anyone, but I know Connolly, and he's as fragile as they get. I mean, is there anyone on the Sabres you make "smelling burning feathers" jokes about other than Tim?

Tim Connolly has a cranial structure softer than tissue paper. He has been concussed more times than Troy Aikman. Tim Connolly is the reason I started using the term "concussed." He is the only person I have ever heard of that has regained post concussion syndrome by flying in an airplane.

So... this is the guy that broke Gary Roberts' leg?

Blasphemy.

I don't have "another" hockey team, but I do like watching the Penguins, and I'm not ashamed to admit that Gary Roberts is the man. He is only second to Goose on my "meast power rankings", and the fact that he won't play in the Ice Bowl truly does cut me deep.

There will be better tributes than I can muster, but let it be known that today in the Goose's Roost we mourn the loss of Gary Roberts. He will be missed on New Year's Day, even though he will probably heal within the hour and search for Timmy to murder in cold blood.

On Tuesday, Gary, the wings are on us.



Godspeed.