The Confusing Moment

(Click to enlarge)

So either Spiderman was in the building, or Slap Shot finally got his revenge. Your guess is as good as mine.

One question remains, however: Where's Youppi?

Rivals

By Jon


According to reports, the Patriots have reportedly offered Zach Thomas a contract.

It makes perfect sense to me. Replace one of their two old as dirt, past their prime linebackers with another old as dirt, past his prime linebacker.

I guess this means Junior Seau may retire........ oh, wait.

What Vanek Said

by Ryan



“At the end of the year, we’ll be in the top eight, and that’s all that matters for right now”- Thomas Vanek, 2/17/08

He said it, and I'm still okay with it. In fact, he said it again today.

One of the big terms we've thrown around this year has been leadership. We've lost both captains to free agency and since that day many have wondered who will take over leadership on this team. Each new moon we look to the alphabet to tell us who is leading this team, on ice or otherwise. We all have opinions on the issue, but one thing we do know is this:

Thomas Vanek has balls.

Whether you agree with him giving "the Namath" or not, you have to admit the surge in confidence we've seen from him can only be good. It also is a form of leadership we haven't seen on this team all year. There have been so many times games have been chalked up to bad bounces or tired legs, Vanek is the first person I've seen step up and say flat out that they are a playoff team. It's a pretty startling change from a player who started out so flat in October.



Vanek has grown a lot this year, and each game that goes by makes me feel better and better about the events of this summer. We were bamboozled into signing Vanek to a huge deal, and yes, he isn't worth $10 mill this year, but after next year a $6.4/mil per year deal doesn't seem so bad. If he continues to grow we may be more than okay with those initial signing bonuses he got during the warm months.

I think it's pretty obvious that his contract has worn on him, the status as "the man" being too much to take so young. He also started his family last summer, a huge undertaking in anyone's life. The stress was there, and no one put more pressure on Thomas Vanek then he put on himself. Those f-bombs we joked around about so much was his frustration in what he wasn't doing, not just unsighted anger.

So what changed? Hell, I have no idea. What I do know is that the change is evident, both in his words and his play on ice. Seeing him rip that shot past Ray Emery last Tuesday was an epiphany of sorts. Vanek's numbers are creeping up, and while they won't get anywhere near last year's breakout figures his line has been a force on ice lately. If that continues I have absolute no complaints about what Vanek has to say, if only because he will be playing us right into the postseason.

According to Mirtle, the Sabres only need to go 14-9 to make the playoffs. The Sabres have games in hand, a relatively easy schedule, and a fairly healthy team that is starting to peak at the right time.

I say forget this weekend, move past all that contract garbage we fans talk so much about, and do it. Make Thomas Vanek right. He may not have a letter on the uniform, but he just set the bar for this team.



Do it.

A Memory for the Ages

FACT OF THE DAY: February 18, 1997 -- The Buffalo Bills made a trade to upgrade the depth at QB by trading their third-round pick in the draft to the Oakland Raiders for Billy Joe Hobert.

Thank you, Buffalo Bills automated email, for making me want to punch someone in the face.

Does anyone else remember Billy Joe Hobart? Here, let's let Wikipedia tell the tale:

Oh wait, he was so insignificant he doesn't have a Wikipedia. Here, let's just use this for our factoid:

Buffalo's chances dropped after quarterback Todd Collins left with a strained left rotator cuff on its second possession when he was sacked by Tedy Bruschi. There was no indication of how long he would be sidelined, and Levy said the shoulder wasn't fractured or separated. Billy Joe Hobert took over, and the Patriots took advantage. On Hobert's first play, he threw an interception to Willie Clay. He returned it to the Buffalo 20-yard line, but the Patriots couldn't get past the 3 and Vinatieri kicked a 20-yard field goal for the 10-0 lead. Hobert threw another interception on the second play of the second quarter that led to Vinatieri's 23-yarder. Buffalo punted on its next series and Vinatieri hit a 41-yarder for a 16-0 lead at halftime. The Bills kept the Patriots from scoring a touchdown again on the first possession of the second half, but Vinatieri came through again, from 52 yards.


With Collins hurt and the early deficit keeping the Bills from relying on the running of Antowain Smith and Thurman Thomas, the Patriots defense concentrated on the pass. Hobert moved the Bills well late in the third quarter. He completed four of five passes, going from the New England 49 to the 16, where the drive stalled. Steve Christie's 34-yard field goal attempt then sailed wide to the left.

Amazingly, Hobert after the game admitted that he didn't study the play book citing that he didn't expect to see action in the game as a backup. The Bills waived Hobert a couple of days later.

Yeah, that's just the kind of thing I want to remember.

OH NO!

Foppa's not coming back!?! What are we going to do?

Oh, wait, actually this wasn't really a big deal at all. I'd go as far as to say that no one outside of Philly and Colorado actually cares.

Seriously, this latest "comeback" was the most boring storyline of the season. Will he come back? Will his foot roll over in his skate? What's the weather like in Sweden? Phuleeeeeease.

I guess I should cancel my newest shop.nhl.com order...

Paul Gaustad Loves the Environment

Nothing says "solace" quite like a green screen and newsprint:



I really hate those "Esurance" commercials, but I'd say that was worth it.

More on the game that was later today.

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.

Lies, Births, and DUIs

by Ryan

So I was looking over the top stories today...



KG's coming back... that's good news.

Goodell's a liar? Well... we knew that...

Bah... nothing else important on there.

WAIT! A guy delivered twins?!? That's amazing!

Oh... nevermind.

Okay... no big deal.

Wha-ROSCOE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A heck of an off season, indeed...

A Look Back

by Ryan

To be completely honest, I started this post almost two months ago. I was looking through things this morning and found that I never finished it. Being that this is the first Sunday without football (you know, if you consider the Pro Bowl "football") I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the season that was.
Here we go:

Buffalo Bills Record: 7-9

Points per game: 15.8 (ranked 30th)

Yards allowed per game: 362.9 (ranked 31st)

Bills players on Injured Reserve: 17

Crushing, absolutely soul sucking home losses: 2 (Dallas and Denver)

Players thrown under the bus: 1



Blank stares: countless



Derek Schouman transactions: 5

People who can actually picture Derek Schouman: 0

Games played at Skydome: 0

Ridiculous photoshops of Kevin Everett: 1



Photoshops not in bad taste due to medical miracles: see above

Reasons for hope: 2





Tag of the year: "We got Dick for Less..."

Favorite joke no one got: Patrick Estes




It's going to be one heck of an off season...

Playoffs Come Early

God bless Hockey Night in Canada. Seriously. If you missed the Vancouver-Edmonton game last night, then you slept through a doozy.


Looks like NHL.com slept through it too, or at least jumped the gun. Sure the Sens are floundering (look out for Montreal), but that Ottawa-Jersey game didn't come close to the intensity that HNIC's late game had. It was a hard-fought, gritty game. A game you'd expect to see in the playoffs. But that atmosphere was present because what was at stake.



With their 4-2 win, the Canucks put themselves back into the playoffs, while Edmonton is quickly teetering on the verge of rebuilding mode--again. Edmonton was fighting to save their season while Vancouver was trying to keep their second season hopes alive.





And there were some fights, too. The two teams played a no holds barred style we don't see enough of. And can't get enough of. As the games begin to mean more to every team, and the logjam in the standings in both conferences, we should see a few more games like this one down the stretch, and hear no complaints about it.

48 years young

Hey Lindy!









Yes, Marty?








Hey Lindy!









Yes, Marty?









Hey Lindy!









For God's sake, Marty! What do you want?








Happy Birthday.








Lolz.

Reality Check

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sean Avery scored the first of his two goals 10 seconds in, and Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and two assists for the New York Rangers, who chased goalie Ryan Miller in the first period and routed the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Saturday.

That is the official AP recap of today's game.

Usually I would mention how embarrassing it is that no one cares about hockey and there is no effort on the part of a major news group to actually, um try to cover it. However, I think that pretty much sums up the game. Nice work, guys.

Also, Brian Campbell was a -4 today. I know everyone is going to yell and scream that he sucks and should be traded, but I just don't agree. Miller let in four goals on 11 shots and no one is screaming for him to be moved. Campbell should be traded because he won't be re-signed and it is in the best interest of the team to get something in return.

He's not worth "Phaneuf Money", and that's what he wants. Move him with one of our expiring 08-09 deals (Max, Timmy, Ales) and get some young D talent in return. You cannot base your opinions on one game, especially when your team is caught flat footed. The important thing is how the team responds tomorrow, and where they end up in the standings.

My goal is 6th place and a match up with the winner of the Southeast division. I'll take it however we can get it. If that means bailing on Campbell in the next nine days, so be it.

Your move, Darcy.

Extensive Sabres @ Rangers Post

by Ryan



Pictures like this make me want to throw up.

Let's hope to keep it to a mild dry heave today, okay boys?

Quick!

by Ryan



There are at least 300 things wrong with this picture, and well over 800 things right.

Name one of each if you dare.

"Go Bills"

by Ryan

I can handle insults, I really can.

Living in Buffalo, you get used to the usual arguments about why you suck. The four Super Bowls, the Sabres in '75, '99, and their most recent stretch of post lockout hockey. Then you get into the weather, the economy, and, if they get there, the government.

Like I said, I've gotten used to it.

So when you go to a Sabres game with a few thousand Leafs fans in the building, you know what you are going up against. Still, you have your own ammunition. Someone has a "Losers Since '67" jersey ready to go, and you can mock them about their 14th place standing in the East. Hey, remember when we beat them in the East finals in '99? That was sweet.

Hey, it's all in good fun, right? As long as no one ends up fighting and it remains just words all is well. Rivals are supposed to dislike each other, otherwise you would be best friends and laugh after each goal.

I know what you're thinking: why bring it up? The Sabres won, Miller didn't give all those Leafs fans a chance to cheer, and all is right with the world. Yeah, but on the way out I heard it:

"Go Bills!"

Usually that's something I'd enjoy hearing. Support the hometown teams, right? Wrong. The guy who said it was wearing a Leafs jersey.

Can you feel it? That rage building inside you? I did, because I knew exactly what he was talking about: he had us. The Bills are playing games in Toronto, and the team is anything but ours anymore. Just another example of their superiority over us, just like they want to think. A new toy in this never ending game of "can you top this?" Suddenly Bill Barilko or 1967 don't matter because Toronto stole the Bills.

Is this how it's going to be for the next five years? Anytime we beat Toronto, preseason, home and home, even playoffs, the comeback will be this: we have the Bills. Man, if that doesn't just freaking piss you off I don't know what will.

I've been thinking about this a lot, and I've really tried to take in all sides of the move. I've been told it's to save the team and that we need to suck it up and quit whining, I've also been reassured that someone will swoop in and save us from Skydome's greener FieldTurf. Then I take a look at the reality of all those dollar signs awaiting the league's owners up north and I just can't see the Bills on American soil in a decade.

Still, all that is for a future no one can decipher. At present, that phrase uttered by a Leafs fan is nothing more than a sharp wit denying the immediate loss to the Sabres.

"Happy Birthday, Mats. Score some goals next time there, cupcake."

"Oh yeah? Go Bills."

Ooooh, what a derisive way to get your point across. "We may not have won a Cup in my lifetime, but we have the Bills now, too." It's nothing more than another way to bruise the ego of a Buffalo Sports Fan. I only wish I had the chance to deliver a blow like that to a rival fan. What a coup for a city like ours to suddenly have the edge over another.

You know what? I may not have it in me, I've been kicked too many times before.

Sometimes you just can't remember how to get up.

You Might Be a Leafs Fan If...

Can you see that? Here, let me show you what was in front of me last night:



Good God, I feel ashamed just typing that in.

To be fair, he may not have gotten the Authentic EDGE, so he only wasted about $200 bucks.

Vote for Joe?

By Jon

Our friend Baby Joe is considering a run for State Senate.

I started writing about this, and I really don't have anything to say. I guess I'll let this bizarre story speak for itself.

Whoever said a political race isn't a popularity contest?

Roby Shows You How to "Work It"

Alright, tonight we're gonna look at how to set up the box on the penalty kill against a team that loves to work the puck down low.

If you look right here you got-


Wha-What's this?!?

RAY! DID YOU CHANGE THE VIDEO AGAIN?

Ah, oh well... look at those moves. I can still work it like that, you know. Oh man I love that rock n' roll, and I play it loud.



YOU SEE THAT?!? Now that's how you execute a morning run. That toque means business, fellas.

I think I still have those shoes somewhere...

A View From the Lonely End of the Rink

What a view.

People always seem to hate the nosebleeds, but the top row in the corner of the building was just fine tonight. Far enough away from the section of Leafs fans screaming a chant I never understood, and right by the restrooms and concessions. I even got to stand up for most of the game, and no "Be My Valentine Pominville LOLZ!" signs in sight. What's not to love about a seat like that?

The Sabres played a tough road game at home, and I'm okay with that. All game I was waiting for that other shoe to drop and for Miller to let a softie in, but it just didn't happen. What a game for players like Mike Ryan and Pratt, who has suddenly crept up onto the second PK pair. What a value he's been over the past few games.

Then we get to Goose.



What a pass from Straw Paille, who was forechecking out of his mind tonight. He really deserved that star, even though it was kind of crazy not to give Goose a spot with the game winner.

Still, you cannot say enough about Miller, who has stepped up in every aspect of the game. Leadership, play, responsibility with the media, everything has been working for him over this run. Even the few times he has let a big goal go by (see "Kessel, Shootout") he takes full blame for his play and demands better of his teammates as well. I made the joke that TBO's numbers were "garbage but I hope they don't change" at 2-4-2, but now I really don't want to give him the chance to make those better.

What the heck are we going to do with two days off?

Oh, and that hat I was so high on must be fitted for leprechauns and toddlers, because that thing didn't fit my giant head. The good news is that I found a sick shirt that was actually a few bucks cheaper.



Oh, and some Leafs fan had a jersey on that will change your life. More on that tomorrow.