BSI: BACKCHECKING

Good to see Mika's doing well

2008-01-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure a lot of you have seen it already, this huge bench-clearing brawl from Russia.

Here is the video:

Keep an eye out at the 0:45 mark.

You guessed it. That's former Sabre, Mika Noronen, with blood all over his face.

Noronen has been playing for Ak Bars since he left the Canucks in 2006. Noronen, the beloved Sabre who was part of the three-headed goalie monster of 2005-2006 (hint: the one that got cut off first), last played for the Sabres in a 5-0 loss to San Jose in December 2005.

Noronen, the Sabres' all-time franchise leader in goals by a goaltender (1), is also remembered for this great outburst in his time with the Amerks:

The offense is offensive

2008-01-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

Something's gotta give.

...Right?

After falling to the New Jersey Devils in a shootout last night, the Sabres are now winless in their last 7, with their last victory coming December 22 via the shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers.

While they have picked up three points thanks to shootout losses to New Jersey, Pittsburgh and New Jersey, the team hasn't really come close to winning more than one or two of these games. If they deserved to win, they didn't. The results just aren't there.

Another thing that isn't there is the offense. The Sabres were a few minutes away from being shutout last night. In this streak, they've been shutout once (by Ty Conklin!), and scored just one goal three times.

Ryan Miller has not played bad. Other than some of the weak goals in the loss to Atlanta on Sunday, he's done his job. It's hard to win with no goal support.

It seems like the league has the Sabres figured out, and they're not doing anything to change their style, like it's a fluke they're not dominating. Guess what? You're gonna have to come up with something else, guys. It's been brutal watching the team fight to get out of their own zone, with all the stupid back-passes.

It's so predictable.

Defenseman #1 gets the puck, immediately passes to Defenseman #2, either delaying until clear path to Defenseman #2 presents itself or banks it behind the net for Defenseman #2 to retrieve. Defenseman #2 takes puck and sends it up to forward along boards. Forward along boards either passes to another forward standing right next to him, or sends it back to Defenseman #1, or Defenseman #2.

The Devils had two forecheckers in the Sabres zone at times because they knew how to keep them pinned in their own zone. The Devils. The same "trap" Devils that play boring ass hockey and sit back and clog up the neutral zone. I mean, come on, what is this? Bizzaro-world?

These are desparate times. They must play with more desparation.

And scoring some goals might help, too.

+ + + + +

Lindy Ruff has announced that Jocelyn Thibault will get the start tomorrow night when the Sabres take on the Senators in Ottawa.

It will be Thibault's first start since he gave up four first-period goals in Los Angeles last month. The Sabres are 2-2 when Thibault starts...

...and in those games, T-BO is 2-0 against the Northeast Division.

Coming to you LIVE from New Jersey!

2008-01-08T16:56:00.000-05:00

That's right.

The Sabres are in the midst of a six game losing streak, traveling to New Jersey, where they rarely do well, and I made the trip from Buffalo for the game.

I'll provide a full report tomorrow.

For those who haven't heard, Patrick Kaleta will be making his season debut after being recalled from Rochester.

The Sabres will be without Max Afinogenov, Derek Roy and Daniel Paille up front.

Look for the Sabres to play a bit more physical tonight. With Kaleta running around, it could get interesting.

This really is a crucial game. With the next two against Ottawa and then New Jersey again, Buffalo doesn't have time to mess around.

Feels like a good time to snap out of a slump, huh?

Why the Sabres are better than your team

2008-01-06T13:20:00.000-05:00

These are our "all stars".

(I heard about it from a friend. A few days behind, but I found the video at Goose's Roost)

Enroth shines for Sweden in WJC's

2008-01-05T22:28:00.000-05:00

If you’re a true Sabres fan, then of course you know that the holidays mean one thing: the World Junior Championships.

This afternoon, or last night if you’re in the Czech Republic reading this, Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 in overtime to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal. (Russia beat the US for the bronze)

Usually the Sabres have good contingent of prospects playing for their respective countries, but the cupboard’s pretty bare right now, so the only Buffalo representative was goaltender Jhonas Enroth of Sweden.

Enroth, who’s being heralded as the best Swedish goaltender since Henrik Lundqvist, was outstanding in the Swedes’ run to the final. With Enroth in net, Sweden went undefeated until falling to Canada.

Ryan Miller shouldn’t be nervous about losing his job quite yet, but all indications are that the Sabres have a stud on their hands. Enroth, while relatively small in stature, seems to have what it takes to be a star goalie.

Judging from what I saw in the two games I watched, Enroth seemed to have good anticipation and sense of where the puck was. Rarely was he caught out of position, but he did have trouble controlling rebounds, which got him into trouble and forced him to make huge saves which could have been avoided (see overtime against Russia). All of Canada’s goals in the final were results of loose pucks around the net. The Swedish defense wasn’t exactly great at clearing the front of the net, so it didn’t appear he got much help at cleaning up the garbage.

With the Sabres intending to have their own AHL affiliate next year, and only Adam Dennis in the pipeline as far as netminders, it would make sense for management to try to bring him overseas. Buffalo doesn’t exactly have a lot behind Ryan Miller for organizational depth in the crease, so it’d be nice if Enroth develops into someone who can challenge for Miller’s job. Adam Dennis hasn’t shown that he could ever be more than an NHL backup. Other than 2007 picks North Dakota’s Brad Eidsness (who does show some promise from what I saw at rookie camp) and Bowling Green’s Nick Eno, who have a few years to pan out, that’s it.

Enroth now goes back to his regular gig, tending net for Södertälje of the Swedish Elite League. You won’t hear much about him now that the tourney is over, but keep the name in your head and check in on him every once in a while. You may see him in blue and gold at some point in the future.

Sabres/Sens Game Night LIVE BLOG

2008-01-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

I'm home, so why the hell not. I'll update as the night goes on.

Feel free to leave comments. If you have questions, I'll answer them.

PRE GAME UPDATE

Scratches:
BUF Nolan Pratt
BUF Maxim Afinogenov
OTT Joe Corvo

Starting Goalies
BUF Ryan Miller
OTT Ray Emery

Sabres Lines
Vanek-Connolly-Kotalik
Pominville-Roy-Hecht
Stafford-Gaustad-Paille
Ryan-Mair-Peters

Game on! Let's hope Heatley doesn't murder anyone tonight.

1ST PERIOD

16:42 left: Right after Peters does a wonderful job accepting a few shots from Brian McGrattan. Ottawa scores on a deflection.

RJ and Harry can't seem to agree on who got it. It's like the scene in Major League where the guys in the bleachers are arguing about how a home run could be "too high" until their friend says, "Who gives a shit? It's gone!"

1-0 OTTAWA
-----
11:02 left: The Sabres are doing a good job keeping pressure but don't seem to be getting quality shots. They cycle so well that no one thinks to try to get open in the slot. They need to get more pucks at Emery.
-----
7:35: Daniel Paille just got JACKED UP by Anton Volchenkov. Paille (at the end of his shift, I might add) went straight to the bench. Clean hit. This could get interesting.

And Jason Pominville goes in on a breakaway and either missed the net or got stopped by Emery. That's why he doesn't go in the shootout.
-----
7:25: Ryan hits Volchenkov from behind, and gets jumped by Shean Donovan. Things are getting chippy.
-----
2:43: Kotalik makes a great play to take out a defenseman and create a scoring chance. Doesn't net much, but plays like that seem to be lacking most of the time.
-----
2:03: Vanek knocks the puck past Emery with a high stick. After review, no goal. After Harry Neale poses the question as to how many times goals were incorrectly called prior to video replay, Rob Ray makes a good comment: "How many teams lost Stanley Cups because of no video replay?" Well played, Rayzor.
-----
0:00: Sabres don't seem to be getting outplayed, but the scoreboard says 1-0 Sens. When you're on a four game losing streak, the bounces never seem to go your way. Just like more of the same. I mean, come on, the Caps just swept a home-and-home against them! THE CAPS!

END 1: Ottawa 1, Buffalo 0
-----

2ND PERIOD

19:22: Sabres put on some pressure early. Naturally, any momentum disappears as Tallinder shoots the puck over the glass. Sens get the PP.
-----
18:25: Senators score as Miller never sees the shot from the point. Stupid penalty, and the hole gets deeper.

2-0 OTTAWA
-----
17:30: Connolly rings one off the post and draws a penalty. HUGE powerplay here. Can't blow these opportunities.
-----
15:28: Nothing doing on that powerplay. And Paille will not return. Well, we're playing Ottawa, so there's the requisite concussion. Awesome.
-----
10:25: Michael Ryan busts in the zone and creates a scoring opportunity. Ryan & Mair combine to create some pressure. It doesn't yield a goal, but play is stopped because Ray Emery is hurt.

With the way Gerber's been playing since Connolly clocked him in the head two weeks ago, that may be a good thing.
-----
9:20: Another crazy bounce, another Ottawa goal. Spezza rings home a rebound.

3-0 OTTAWA

Miller to the bench. In comes Thibault. And here comes the comeback.
-----
8:59: Kotalik puts a cross-crease pass from Vanek past Emery. Told you so. The wagons are being circled.

3-1 OTTAWA
-----
3:14: Sabres can't seem to get any great opportunities. Thibault isn't really being challenged either.
-----
0:00: Period ends with the Sabres still trailing by two. Time for someone to step up.

END 2: Ottawa 3, Buffalo 1
-----

3RD PERIOD

17:20: Redden just decked Pominville. Thankfully, he gets right back up and stays in the play.
-----
13:36: Vanek makes a nice move to cut in front of the net for a great chance but loses the handle on the puck. That's is a play he MUST make, whether it turns into a goal or not. He's got to be able to get a shot out of that.
-----
11:25: Sabres have 31 shots on goal and one goal to show for it. Where's the finishing, blue?
-----
11:10: Rick Jeanneret hasn't smoked in 15 years. Good to know.
-----
9:57: Sabres get another chance on the powerplay. They're gonna have to do something eventually.
-----
8:31: Jochen Hecht deflects a Thomas Vanek deflection of a Jason Pominville shot from the point past Sugar Ray. Sabres pull within one.

3-2 OTTAWA
-----
7:33: Kotalik rings one off the pipe trying to beat Emery short-side. It's only one shot away from a tie game.
-----
6:11: That said, Michael Ryan banks one off Emery's skate and into the net. Tie game, bitches.

TIED 3-3
-----
4:41: So much for that. Heatley drives one past Thibault to take the lead. Man, that Heatley knows how to kill momentum.

4-3 OTTAWA
-----
2:41: Derek Roy sends Jason Spezza into the boards just in time to let Daniel Alfredsson rip one past Thibault.

5-3 OTTAWA
-----
0:00: The buzzer sounds. Sabres outshoot the Senators 39-27 in the biggest waste of a 3-goal rally I've ever seen. Make that five games without a win.

FINAL: OTTAWA 5, BUFFALO 3

No need for overpriced "Soup"

2008-01-03T22:59:00.000-05:00

For those who didn't see Bucky Gleason's column in Sunday's Buffalo News, feel lucky.

Gleason, who I personally fail to agree with on a regular basis, seems to have a vendetta against the team's current management. This past Sunday, he put out a column which struck a chord with me, in the exact wrong way. A post about Brian Campbell's contract situation was long overdue, but now I feel compelled. I'm going to submit a portion of it, or a reworked version, to the editor of the News in response to his column in hopes it gets into Sunday's paper, because it needs to be said.

Here goes...

Mr. Gleason makes the inference that Brian Campbell is deserving of a big contract extension from Sabres management. Judging on play this season, it is hard to say that Brian Campbell is the best defenseman on the Sabres roster. If he is, then it's not by much. So why does he deserve to make over $5.5 million per year?

I don't want to hear that Andrei Markov got the same thing from Montreal. The Sabres can afford to give Campbell a contract like that (4 years, $23 million) when he isn't blowing away his teammates on the ice. While Campbell leads all Sabres defenseman in points, his points per game (.68) is marginally better than Jaroslav Spacek's (.67). His plus-minus is best among defenseman (+4), but he shares the lead with Spacek and Henrik Tallinder, and only one ahead of Toni Lydman (+3).

Spacek makes $3.485 million. Lydman makes $2.9 million. Tallinder makes $2.5 million. Why does Campbell deserve almost twice as much for similiar production? He's not the best defensively (scoring all those points help him hide all those minuses), so he's not exactly the team's stud defenseman.

Campbell was tied for seventh among NHL defensemen in scoring with 25 points going into Thursday night’s games. Add a few bucks there. Campbell could play in his second straight All-Star Game this season. Add a few more bucks. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. Add a few more.

That's all on paper. Campbell was voted in to the All-Star game thanks to his role as the highlight reel guy on the league's best team. While he had a great start to last year, there's no question that his play tailed off over the course of the season. Campbell became a big name. That doesn't justify throwing money at him. This franchise can't afford to do that.

Yes, losing Campbell would hurt, but it would hurt the team just as much to overpay him. It's bad enough that the team got stuck overpaying Thomas Vanek for the first two years of his contract (but there's no realistic way that he could actually live up to that to begin with). The Sabres can't do that again. And when Jaroslav Spacek's contract is up next year, if he's pulling similiar numbers to Campbell, won't he look for the same? Spacek's arguably been better than Campbell this year. Does he deserve $5.5-6 million a year? Of course not.

I would hate to lose Campbell. He's a valuable member of the team, and is viewed as a leader in the room... but to give him anything over $4 million a year is hurting the organization.

If that means trading him, trade him. Get draft picks to replenish the prospect pool that has been raided by the NHL over the past few years. Pick up some depth.

Don't lose him for nothing.

But most of all, don't give him a contract he isn't worth.

Winter Classic: The only loser was the Sabres

2008-01-02T22:36:00.000-05:00

Holy hell. There I go disappearing again. I feel compelled to make a post with all of the buzz surrounding yesterday’s Winter Classic (totally sponsored by AMP!!!!).

Looking back at it, the NHL really couldn’t of asked for any more. They probably asked for exactly what they got. Their golden boy, Sidney Crosby (who I hear is pretty good at this hockey thing) potted the winner in the shootout. Not many of the 71,000-plus spectators in attendance left before the end of the game, and with the endlessly picturesque snowfall, provided an awesome scene for television.

While it would be easy to complain about the NHL pushing Crosby down the throats of viewers as much as possible, for some Americans, it was probably their first glimpse at the league’s newest superstar. To his credit, he delivered. Sid made an early impact, setting up the first goal in the first minute. He provided a mid-game highlight with his circus deke past Jaro Spacek. And with the game on the line, Crosby was the hero with a walkoff shootout winner. Hockey newbies who got caught up watching the game will certainly know who Crosby is after that.

Even with Sid the Kid getting all the publicity, Ryan Miller was also in spotlight yesterday. It wasn’t just Crosby skating in on any goalie, it was Ryan Miller. The guy who’s in that AMP commercial! And the only goalie in those NHL ads! It’s nice to see a Buffalo athlete getting put in that spot.

It was a great day for the city and the people of Buffalo. It was a great day for the NHL. It was a great day for the game of hockey. This game was a talking point on every major sports show in the last 24 hours. The league needs that publicity.

It’s just too bad the Sabres didn’t pull out a victory. They certainly had their chances. But surprise, surprise: a Buffalo team falls on the national stage. You almost expected it.

Just like when Crosby skated in on Miller. You almost expected a goal.

Crosby was the hero. The fans showed up and stayed to the end. The weather was perfect. The NHL got what it wanted. You didn’t expect that.

+ + + + +

The Winter Classic has come and gone… and whaddya know? They’re now on a four game losing streak.

After winning a season high six in a row, the Sabres are 0-3-1 since Christmas. The Sabres have scored two goals in the last three games. Sure they faced Martin Brodeur last Friday, but they were scoreless through 4+ periods against TY CONKLIN. Yes, the same Ty Conklin that was not worth bringing back after last season. The same Ty Conklin that was 3rd in the Pittsburgh depth chart all season. The offense must show up Friday or it will easily be a five game losing streak.

The big show is over. This month is going to be huge. It starts Friday.

Sabres/Islanders Gameday

2007-12-12T15:36:00.000-05:00

After that frustrating loss to the Bruins on Monday, the Sabres will look to get back on the right track tonight against the New York Islanders.

Ryan Miller appears to be ready to go after injuring his ankle Monday night. Jochen Hecht is also expected to play after sitting out practice yesterday.

Face off is at around 7:07 at HSBC Arena. MSG has the coverage.

In the spirit of being relevant, this Islanders fan is ready for a win tonight:

Thanks to The Postmen for that.

Please find this in the NHL rulebook

2007-12-12T01:11:00.000-05:00

For those who missed it on Monday, the Versus broadcast was able to overhear the referee's explanation for Michael Ryan's misconduct penalty.

Honestly, I didn't know that was against the rules.

Greetings from the West Coast

2007-12-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

Here's a recap of the Sabres' western road trip to this point:

Thanks to the Battle of California for that.

Quack, Quack. Sabres/Ducks LIVE BLOG

2007-12-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know. WTF. No posts in forever. I know.

So, in trying to repay my debt, to you, the reader, we're LIVE BLOGGIN' it.

Sabres vs. Ducks at 10:00 PM ET.

The Sabres are 8-0-2 in their last 10 meetings with the Ducks, and currently ride a 7 game win streak. Their last meeting was ended by an overtime goal by Max Afinogenov.

These two teams were expected to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but obviously, that never happened. And now the two teams finally meet, absent two star players. Anaheim is without Scott Niedermayer (well, for now at least), and Teemu Selanne. Buffalo without a couple of their players from last season... I think one of them was named Chris... last name started with a D.

This also marks the first NHL matchup between brothers Ryan and Drew Miller. Ryan Miller plays for the Sabres (betcha couldn't figure that out), Drew a Duck. This is not the first time a Sabre has played against a brother (Dave & Ken Dryden, Pierre & Sylvain Turgeon, Wayne & Keith Primeau, Martin & Mathieu Biron...). Or possibly the first time a brother of a Sabre has scored on a Sabre (Mathieu scored on Martin). While not important, an interesting subplot.

We'll see you for faceoff at 10:00. Comments are always welcome.

By the way, feel free to join us in the BSI CHAT ROOM. If you say something witty enough, it might make it into the post.

FIRST PERIOD

10:04: Just getting ready to go. Giguere vs. Miller in net. And of course, Scott Niedermayer is coming back. The Ducks will be looking to make a roster move to make room for him in the near future.

10:09: Game starts. Sabres in blue tonight? Wonder why. And unfortunately, Andrew Peters IS playing. Well, he's dressed. "Playing" is a loose term for him.

10:14: Pominville to Hecht on a 2-on-0 break. Beautiful. Where the hell was the Ducks defense? Giguere had no shot.

BUF GOAL: 04:07 Jochen Hecht, Wrist Shot - Assists: Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly

10:20: In a familiar sight, the Ducks sustain offensive pressure thanks to Sabres' inability to clear the puck out of the zone. They really need to work on their breakouts.

10:27: The Sabres are sleepwalking through this first period. Thank god they got that first goal because they aren't exactly tearing it up right now.

10:30: Andrew Peters makes an appearance, holding his own against George Parros. The good thing about this is he can't play for five minutes.

10:34: Thomas Vanek puts the puck right into J.S. Giguere on a great opportunity. TV's gotta bury those.

10:35: ... and the Ducks tie it up. Was that a high stick?

ANA GOAL: 15:33 Andy McDonald, Tip-In - Assists: Kent Huskins and Joe Dipenta

10:42: End of the first period. I can't believe there were no minor penalties whatsoever in that first period. This league is becoming a joke. The game has regressed to the dark ages (see: before the lockout). It's brutal to watch. I'll be back at the start of the 2nd.

After 1st: Sabres 1, Ducks 1

SECOND PERIOD

11:01: We're underway. The Sabres gotta pick it up or they won't be in this game for long.

11:04: Miller bails out the Sabres as the Ducks get a couple opportunities because the Sabres were shorthanded. Well, Peters was on the ice. Same thing.

11:11: Nothing like a pointless story by Harry Neale. There's gotta be a drinking game someone can come up with in there somewhere.

11:13: Sabres get their first shot of the second period. Gaustad is talking shit with Bertuzzi... Paul, watch yourself. This Bertuzzi character has been known to go a bit over the edge at times.

11:15: Whoever had over 8 1/2 minutes into the second period in the "time of the first penalty" pool is a winner. Spacek for tripping. Honestly, I'm surprised they called it.

11:18: Sabres kill it with relative ease. The special teams has been phenomenal this year, like it was two years ago. The powerplay is a big factor in why this team has been successful so far. Too bad that only helps when the refs are calling any penalties.

11:20: It drives me nuts how the linesman call offsides in this league now. If the player entering the zone doesn't have control of the puck, it's automatically called offside. Hey refs: Just because the guy doesn't have full control of the puck doesn't mean he's across the line before the puck! Seriously, I can't stand it. Call the play by the rules.

11:22: Spacek in the box again...

11:24: ... and Ducks score. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

ANA GOAL: 12:22 PPG - Mathieu Schneider, Slap Shot - Assists: Chris Pronger and Ryan Getzlaf

11:25: The Ducks continue to punish the Sabres and get away with things that should be called. The Sabres need to make sure they don't crawl into their shell and take it. They need to pick it up.

11:29: Stafford fires it wide of the net from the wing. Shots on goal in the 2nd period, so far: Ducks 13, Sabres 1.

11:31: After much deliberation by referee Rob Martel, he decides to call a penalty after Andrej Sekera is taken down three feet in front of him. It almost looked like he wanted to let it go. Sabres on the PP...

11:34: Nothing doing on the PP. Ducks return to full strength... and they score. Mair can't get it out of the zone, and Bertuzzi deflects one in from right in front.

ANA GOAL: 18:20 Todd Bertuzzi, Tip-In - Assists: Andy McDonald

11:36: It really appears the Sabres are struggling to stay in this game. Thankfully, the Ducks take another penalty with 11 seconds left in the period.

11:38: End of the 2nd... Sabres outshot 15-3 in the second period. Pathetic. Be back with the 3rd.

After 2nd: Ducks 3, Sabres 1

THIRD PERIOD

11:57: We're underway. The Sabres gotta do something with this powerplay.

11:59: So much for that.

12:01: Mair really struggles with the whole "get the puck out of your zone" thing.

12:02: Gaustad and Bertuzzi square off. Doesn't look like Gaustad was able to get any good shots off. Bertuzzi heads to the dressing room for some reason.

12:04: And here goes Peters and Parros again. Starting to look like some old-time hockey here. And now Peters is making fun of his mustache. That's uncalled for, Petey. At least he's off the ice for five minutes.

12:11: Kunitz takes a penalty after that scrum in front of the net. Sabres on the PP.

12:14: Sabres can't do anything, but Pronger takes an interference penalty. Here's another opportunity for the Sabres...

12:15: Kotalik misses a glorious opportunity. They're getting some better pressure on the Ducks here in the 3rd.

12:17: Kotalik is penalized for Pahlsson falling after the faceoff. And the Ducks score soon after they return to full strength. The shot broke Pominville's stick in half.

12:20: And they're looking at it. Perry deflected it with his skate. Was it a kick? Looks like it. We'll see if they think so in Toronto.

12:22: It counts. Ducks up 4-1.

ANA GOAL: 11:03 Corey Perry, Tip-In - Assists: Francois Beauchemin and Mathieu Schneider

12:25: Miller makes a nice save on a breakaway by Anaheim. The Sabres can't expect to win playing like this. They aren't doing anything impressive at all.

12:33: Andrej Sekera is having a decent game. For once.

12:34: Miller makes a nice save on a point blank opportunity. For allowing four goals, he's been solid tonight.

12:37: And things get interesting as the clock runs out. Pratt drops the gloves, and Connolly gets involved with Perry. And now Peters is yelling at the entire Ducks team... what a joke.

FINAL SCORE: Ducks 4, Sabres 1

Thomas Vanek on not scoring, the recent winning streak and more

2007-11-29T22:04:00.000-05:00

While surfing around the Web I decided to swing by Thomas Vanek's website and came across this interview. A few quick quotes from it:
On the Sabres' recent winning ways: "We have played good hockey over the last few weeks, even though we did lose some of those games before we started our winning-streak...But we have still some ways to go and need to focus on playing constantly well."
In response to the inevitable Drury-and-Briere-leaving question: "(I)t was never as bad as the media said it was. Our young players have learned a lot over the last two years."
How he feels when he misses his chances: "Yeah, I always want to score. You don’t get that many chances on this level. When I don’t score I’m really pissed. Really, I take that personally!"

Read the full interview here...

New Stuff at BSI you should know about...

2007-11-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

This weekend (or in the next few days) we are debuting the new "On the Warpath" podcast by The Buffalo Range's own SabresAllTheWay. It will be a mix of news, opinion and commentary (which you get every day here at BSI). Again, it all starts in the next few days, so feel free to give it a listen when it comes out, and comment on what you liked, didn't like, etc.
Also, click here because we've teamed up with a few great WNY natives to sell "Buffalo, The New Hockeytown" T-shirts. They're only $15 when purchased online--click the link for more info.
BTW--game night tonight. B's @ Sabres, 7pm, HSBC. Chat is always open, as well as the message boards.

MacArthur recalled; eSabre's elation ensues

2007-11-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

For those who haven't been living under a rock, or at least checked the internet in the last hour or so, you already know.

The Sabres have recalled Clarke MacArthur from the Rochester Americans.

The Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have recalled Clarke MacArthur from the Rochester Americans.

MacArthur, Buffalo’s third round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (74th overall), leads the American Hockey League with 18 points (8+10) in 15 games this season.

MacArthur will be in the lineup tonight when the Sabres take on the Bruins at HSBC Arena.

And you know what that means...

... it's Guaranteed Win Night!

Puck drops at around 7:07 EST.

Backchecking Debate: Andrew Peters - Useful or Useless?

2007-11-03T11:52:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks, there have been numerous discussions between a certain two BSI staff members about Andrew Peters. No agreement can be made about whether or not he actually belongs in the lineup, so we decided to have a discussion.

+ + + + +

eSabre: Andrew Peters. Please state your case as to why he should even have a roster spot

Scary Good: Peters should have a roster spot for a few reasons. First off, he's great in the locker room... his teammates and coaches will always tell you he keeps everyone loose. Now to the obvious reason, if you are little Derek Roy, would you rather go all out knowing Peters will step on the ice and destroy someone if you get hit from behind? Or, would you rather have Mair or Goose love tap them? He is like a $500,000 a year insurance policy.

eSabre: An insurance policy that plays 3 shifts a game.

Scary Good: No one made fun of Rob Ray, everyone looooved Rob Ray. But hey, if you wanna make fun of a guy that wins the majority of his bouts, be my guest

eSabre: Who cares who wins a fight? A fight is a fight. Peters is incapable of playing a regular shift. It's pointless to dress him because all he's doing is forcing the coaches to double shift guys and mess up lines.

Scary Good: Is he really not capable of a regular shift? When has he been given a shot in the new NHL? When has he given the puck away leading to a goal? Ever see him in front of the net? Oh yeah..against the Flyers... HE SCORED. And everyone cares who wins a fight. If the Sabres come out flat and trail 2-0, and Peters disfigures someone, it obviously will fire the team up.

eSabre: If you put together a montage of all of Peters' shifts this season, there wouldn't be one where he contributed to any kind of offensive threat. Usually he's either out of the play trying to pick a fight, which obviously contributes nothing, or he's struggling to make a play with the puck. As for the goal against Philly, it was a nice play, but if you're at this level you better be able to make that play or you really shouldn't be on the ice.

Scary Good: Yeah, well... why sign the guy? Darcy and Lindy obviously wanted to keep him around. I think Lindy has seen that he can hold his own as he's played in the last 4 games. He's dropped nearly 20 pounds to be in faster playing shape this year. Not to mention, Petey's probably the hardest worker on the team. First on the ice, last off.

eSabre: Well, when you have no talent, you need to be. I'm sure the signing had some PR-related motivation. They probably kept him solely because of the locker room thing. I'm sure the players would've been upset to lose their two captains and the team clown. Bottom line is, there's no reason he should be playing over anyone on the roster, or even some that are in Rochester, unless it's a) an emergency due to injuries, or b) because the 4th line is pure pests and he's needed to back up a teammate (say, i don't know... Kaleta).

Scary Good: HA. No skill...we are talking the NHL here. He's better than any AHL lifer, or else he wouldn't be there. Kaleta is terrible. He runs around like a chicken with his head cut off... charging and elbowing. If it wasn't for Peters, Kaleta would have got beaten down by the Blue Jackets in preseason for a cheap hit. Any heavyweight would kill the hometown boy.

Scary Good: Case in point, Mair just fell 3 times during a fight. Hopefully he didn't rip his panties

eSabre: Yeah, but unlike Peters, despite the misses, it's obvious Kaleta's out there to hit, and he does it well. Peters is too slow. And he misses even worse. Kaleta will draw penalties just because guys WILL go after him. Peters just fails to do anything to fire up opponents. He's a joke. Kaleta's a guy teams will actually hate, like an Avery. You shouldn't be dressing guys because of fighting ability. They should be able to contribute in both ends of the ice. Peters doesn't. Peters just does not fit as a viable linemate of anyone on the roster other than Adam Mair. You can’t put yourself in the position to have a guy on the bench with nowhere to be.

Scary Good: He should get 4th line minutes. And he is a good hitter...Kaleta will have to defend himself, and won't be able to save himself at the NHL level. Peters is no doubt the toughest player in the Sabre organization. Enjoy the next 2 years of #76, soon to be heavyweight champ, Andrew Peters.

eSabre: Well, the toughest player in the organization doesn't fit in to the team's system. Every other player on the roster can play special teams except for Peters

Scary Good: Put him infront of the net on the PP, Gaustad line 1, Peters line 2...instant success. No one would be able to move him.

eSabre: It doesn't matter if Peters is there. Gaustad gets that spot because he's the best faceoff guy, it's not just about being big and tough. Gaustad has the skill to back up the size.

Scary Good: Yeah, so TRY it. The PP usually sucks anyway, why not?

eSabre: The Sabres have a PPG in 9 of the last 10. Their powerplay is 8th in the NHL. There's no reason to try it

Scary Good: I said USUALLY, like all of 06-07.

eSabre: Well, here's a newsflash: this isn't last year.
(some off-topic insults here… discussion continues…)

Scary Good: By the way, Peters is quite the community guy...just did a Halloween event with young children, attends community events and is on the NHLPA board of players. Many people don't know this.

eSabre: And how much does that help on the scoreboard? 0.

Scary Good: Not like Mair or any other enforcers help on the score sheet. Call me when Brashear is a 20-20 guy.

eSabre: Brashear sucks, and I don’t see how he’s relevant. Mair has 2 goals this season. He can take faceoffs. He can kill penalties if needed. He can play a regular shift, and hey, he can fight, too!

Scary Good: He can fight? If you fall down 3 times in a fight, you should never drop the gloves at all. Mair should have those little mitten ties on his gloves, so he can't throw them all the way to the ice...embarrasing fisticuffs.

eSabre: Listen, I know you're a fighting officianado, but get a clue. A fight is a fight. It's a major penalty. To put a guy in the lineup who does his best taking penalties is an absolute joke.

Scary Good: He doesn't take penalties...he always plays with heart. He always backs up his players, and let's face it, he can always be seen talking shit, it's great...

eSabre: Doesn't take penalties? He's got 11 PIM this season, only one fighting major. That's three penalties that cost the team in his limited time. He hasn't played more than just over 2 1/2 minutes at all this season. He doesn't get ice time in the 3rd, and one time he did, and he goes ahead and takes a 4 minute penalty after the whistle with less than 8 minutes left.

Scary Good: Yeah, an ACCIDENTAL 4 minute high stick with the team DOWN 6-2. Come on. You're gonna get on Peters for an accidental high stick when Vanek is too lazy to back check? And Kotalik hooks 4 times a game?

eSabre: It was 5-2. And this discussion isn't about any other player. The players you named are actually talented.

Scary Good: Eh, I dunno bout that, they were done either way.

eSabre: You know what team we're talking about right? A 3 goal deficit is not "done".

Scary Good: Well tell that to Lindy. He's played more than Ryan lately.

eSabre: I wouldn't be shocked if that was due to Ryan being banged up.

Scary Good: Or Ryan's lack of everything.

eSabre: Well, when playoff time rolls around, who's more likely to be in the press box? That's what matters. There's no point of him playing now when he won't be playing in April.

Scary Good: Well if teams run your stars, you'll never make it to April.

eSabre: This isn't old time hockey. Your stars don't get run. And there are plenty of people on the roster capable of dealing with that that Peters isn't needed. Peters doesn't belong in the lineup. Period.

The saga is over: Sabres sign Pratt

2007-11-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's official.

WGR 550 is confirming the news that the Buffalo Sabres have come to terms on a deal with defenseman Nolan Pratt.

Pratt, 32, began working out with the team while the Sabres were playing road games in Florida. He becomes the only player in the Sabres locker room with a Stanley Cup ring, which he won with the Lightning in 2004.

Pratt will not be in the lineup tonight when the Sabres take on the Bruins in Beantown. Michael Ryan will also be a healthy scratch. Puck drops at just after 7.

Ryan Miller featured in new NHL ads

2007-10-29T00:50:00.000-05:00

Living in Buffalo, where stars don't usually grab national attention, it's kinda weird seeing hometown athletes being featured in nationwide advertisements. But it seems we have a star on our hands.

Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller is one of a handful of players featured in the new NHL promo campaign, themed "Live Every Shift". Other players featured are Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, Carolina's Eric Staal, Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes... some guy named Gretzky.

Miller seems to be the guy that the NHL is pushing as the league's best goaltender. Not surprising considering he's everything the NHL could ask for: young, talented, and American.

This kind of marketing push will get him some big publicity when it comes time for all-star voting, which begins soon. Miller was the starter for the Eastern Conference last year, and naturally is a top candidate to make the team this year. Which is exactly what this team needs: a star goalie going into the last year of his contract.

Here are the ads:

Weekend Recap: My hockey team went to Florida and all they got me was four points

2007-10-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

The Sabres came in to a back-to-back set with the Panthers and Lightning looking for their first win on the road this season.

They got their first... and second.

FRIDAY: SABRES 4, PANTHERS 2
Paille's lack of hand-eye coordination leads Sabres to win

The Sabres erased an early 1-0 deficit and tied the game at 2 with just over 11 minutes remaining. With about 9 minutes left, a Drew Stafford shot deflected up in the air above the Florida goal. Daniel Paille swung at it with a high stick, and missed it completely, allowing it to drop behind Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun and roll over the goal line. Paille scored a shortie with three minutes left to seal the win.

Defenseman Mike Weber made his NHL debut, and was impressively solid in his 10:16 of ice time. Ales Kotalik and Jochen Hecht also scored for the Sabres.

SATURDAY: SABRES 4, LIGHTNING 3 (OT)
Shane O'Brien pulls McCabe, Sabres in in OT

Buffalo again erased a deficit to come back and eventually earn a victory. After allowing two quick goals early in the second period, the Sabres tied it up before the 2nd intermission on goals by Maxim Afinogenov and Paul Gaustad. After Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier scored to take the lead, Buffalo was able to even the score with just under seven minutes remaining on Nathan Paetsch's first goal of the season.

Tampa appeared to take the lead late in regulation, but a Lecavalier goal was waived off after it was ruled that Martin St. Louis interfered with Ryan Miller.

In the final minute of the extra session, Thomas Vanek sent a pass in front of the net on a rush to a streaking Nathan Paetsch, which deflected off Tampa defenseman Shane O'Brien deflected into his own net, giving the Sabres a win.

The Sabres' next game is Thursday in Boston.

+ + + + +

Buffalo is apparently close to bolstering their defense.

The team has worked out free agent Nolan Pratt, who resides in Tampa, while they've been in Florida. It appears they are close to signing him, according to today's Buffalo News.

The free agent defenseman skated with the Sabres again Saturday morning as part of a twoday tryout, and the visit went well. Though Pratt said nothing is official and General Manager Darcy Regier told The News a decision would be made in the next day or two, the former Lightning defenseman and Tampa resident was being congratulated by his former teammates after Saturday’s game. One person told Pratt, “See you next time,” in reference to the next Buffalo-Tampa matchup.
“I hope I made a good impression,” Pratt said.

The Sabres were only carrying six defensemen on the roster until injuries struck. Jaroslav Spacek is slated to return Thursday, and it appears Dmitri Kalinin will miss at least the next month due to a knee sprain suffered against Carolina last week. Signing Pratt would allow the Sabres to send Andrej Sekera back to Rochester, which may be better for his long term development.

Say a prayer for Patrice Bergeron...

2007-10-27T18:12:00.001-05:00

I was hoping that for my first entry as a Backchecking contributor that I would be posting on something Sabres-related, and contribute in some way to the mostly lighthearted fare that Eric (eSabre) has brought to the blog. But with Boston center Patrice Bergeron's injury today, I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that we take for granted the fact that these athletes are risking injury every time they step out on the playing surface. For those who haven't heard about it yet, Bergeron was checked into the boards by Philadelphia's Randy Jones. He lost consciousness, and never regained it--he is at Mass General right now undergoing treatment.

(edit: Here's video:)

Here is the latest from the Boston Herald, which says the injury is "potentially grave", as well as a brief from Rotowire, which reports that it is a "potential neck injury". One could only hope and pray that whatever it is, Bergeron will make a quick recovery.

Update: Relatively good news from the Herald, which says that Bergeron suffered a concussion and a broken nose, and has full feeling in all extremities.

+++++

Update #2: From TSN.ca's recap:

Bergeron was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was being treated by Bruins team physician Dr. Bertram Zarins. There was no immediate word on Bergeron's condition but according to NESN, Bergeron suffered a concussion and broken nose. He is conscious and has full use of his extremities.

Seems like he's going to be okay. Jones will get suspended (one would assume). But that's three times a Flyers player has seriously injured a player since the preseason started. Someone wanna tell them to ease up a bit?
-- eSabre

Why the Leafs Suck: Exhibit 4,751

2007-10-26T11:55:00.000-05:00

Buffalo sports fans may be familiar with the name John Tavares.

Tavares, pictured at left, is one of the greatest lacrosse players in history. He just happens to play for the Buffalo Bandits. Who, by the way, WILL be playing this winter (THANK GOD).

"JT" is one hell of a lacrosse player. He's got a nephew, of the same name, that also happens to be a hell of a lacrosse player. Funny thing is, he's pretty damn good at hockey.

John Tavares, of the OHL's Oshawa Generals, is the odds-on favorite to be picked #1 overall when he's eligible to be taken in the NHL Draft... in 2009. Tavares just turned 17.

While he's still quite young, Tavares isn't really having problems with competing in the OHL. Little JT is leading the OHL in scoring with 28 points through the first 12 games. Not bad for a 17 year old in a league dominated by young men aged 18-20.

So obviously, there's some anticipation towards his draft year, because this kid is going to be a Crosby/Ovechkin-type franchise player.

The Leafs, who hopefully won't have that pick, have decided that waiting isn't in their best interest. So they're trying to sign him to their AHL team.

A source said Ferguson believes Tavares could play for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League, which operates as the farm system for the NHL. The AHL bylaw for player eligibility matches the NHL's. Only players who turn 18 by Sept. 15 are allowed to play in the AHL that season, which means Tavares would not be eligible to play until the 2009-10 season, the same year he becomes eligible for the NHL draft.
An exemption could be granted by the AHL but league president Dave Andrews said today that is unlikely.

"That would require an amendment of the bylaw in question, which requires a vote of our board [of governors]," Andrews said. "In my experience, the likelihood of the other 28 teams in the AHL voting in favour of allowing the other team a competitive advantage is not great."

So the Leafs want to circumvent the system to get him to play for their farm team. That's nice. What about the team that drafts him?

The guys in Toronto have that figured out:

The source said Ferguson told Tavares's agents that by signing with the Marlies he can play at home — he is a native of nearby Oakville, Ont. — and at a higher level than junior hockey. And if he wants to play for the Leafs, Tavares could refuse to sign for the NHL team that drafts him in 2009, either forcing the team to trade his rights to the Leafs or waiting until he becomes a free agent in 2011.

If you want him that bad, just suck bad enough to get the pick. It's not that hard. Ask Washington. Or Pittsburgh. But to try the "everyone from Ontario wants to play for the Leafs" angle is pathetic.

Well, you know, as the saying goes... karma's a bitch.

I HAZ BIN ABSENT.

2007-10-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates guys. Some certain staff members (me) have been too busy with school to post regularly, if at all.

I'm gonna try to get back on the horse, but in lieu of a heartfelt apology, here are some ROFLLES...

Sabres @ Islanders, Part 2: Electric Boogaloo: LIVE BLOG/OPEN THREAD

2007-10-06T18:17:00.000-05:00

Well, looks like I'm sitting around watching the game tonight. So, as I usually say, "Why not?", I'm live blogging the game.

So, feel free to comment, give your thoughts, whatever.

Away we go:

FIRST PERIOD

7:15: Puck drops. We're underway. Same lineup as last night.

7:19: First penalty of the game. Vasicek for holding. Let's see the powerplay do something.

7:20: Connolly has a great chance and hits Gaustad with a shot. The Isles block enough shots as it is.

7:22: The thing that's been killing me about this team through 3 and a quarter periods of hockey, is that they are great in transition until they get into the offensive zone. They can turn around and push it up ice like nobody's business. But it seems like they panic with the puck once they cross the blue line. Too much passing. Not enough shooting.

7:27: Hecht can't reach a pass standing in front of an open net. This team seems to need some work on finishing.

7:28: We have a scrum... don't know why.

7:29: Looks like Comrie threw an elbow at Lydman, and Lydman took him out. Mike Comrie is such a bitch.

7:31: The powerplay looks pathetic. Who said they were gonna be hurt by the loss of Briere and Drury? The powerplay still sucks!

7:34: The Islanders, knowing this, begin running around taking stupid penalties. Sillinger might get two different penalties on that play.

7:35: We were biting this morning. We were biting this morning.

7:36: Sabres have a one man advantage.

7:38: JAROSLAV SPACEK with a rocket one timer. Maybe deflected by Gaustad. What the hell has gotten into him?

GOAL - BUF Jaroslav Spacek 2 (Campbell) (PP) 13:09

7:40: Paille takes a hooking penalty. The PK needs to step up here. They were atrocious last night.

7:44: Sometimes I wonder how Michael Ryan made the team. By the way, Miller looks sharp tonight.

7:48: Sutton hits Stafford after the whistle. This game isn't far from escalating here. And now Peters is on the ice. Oh boy...

7:49: Peters takes a dumb penalty. Color me shocked. Sabres now need to get to intermission with the lead intact.

7:52: Period over. Sabres up 1-0. Now I gotta catch Coach's Corner.

SECOND PERIOD

8:09: We're underway in the 2nd...

8:12: Sabres kill the penalty, and quickly get the man advantage thanks to the puck-over-glass rule. Let's try to extend the lead here, okay boys?

8:14: Nothing doing.

8:15: Isles tie it up on a laser. 1-1. Campoli gets it.

8:17: Gaustad tries passing on a 2-on-1 and the play dies. SHOOT THE DAMN PUCK, GOOSE!

8:21: Connolly threads a beautiful pass in front of the net to Pominville who can't cash it. Wait, Pominville blew a scoring opportunity? Where have I seen this before? Oh yeah, last night.

8:26: Sutton whacks the stick out of Pominville's hands. Two minutes. Let's see how they'll waste this PP.

8:29: Nothing to show for that PP... and Comrie goes after Spacek. Or they went after each other.

8:31: Comrie's in the box. Sabres back on the PP.

8:33: DiPietro makes a miraculous save by accident. Figures.

8:37: Miller spreads out and stops Miro Satan in all alone. Whether he made the save or Satan just messed up, that's a huge play. And where the hell is the defense?

8:41: Kalinin takes a penalty retaliating to Jon Sim slashing at Miller's pads. Really can't complain, you can't take any shit from other teams.

8:44: Toni Lydman out for the game with an "upper body injury". Wonderful.

8:47: Thomas Vanek blasts one that DiPietro has to snag just before time expires in the period. All tied up 1-1. We'll be back at the start of the period.

THIRD PERIOD

9:04: Both sides full strength to start the third. I can't imagine this will last long.

9:06: Connolly is everywhere. Just ripped one wide of the net. This guy is kinda good. DiPietro gets sick of the Sabres flying around the Islanders zone and covers up.

9:08: Islanders take the lead as Mike Comrie backhands one past Miller as he picks up the puck trailing on a broken play. Weak goal on Miller's part. I'm really starting to dislike that guy.

9:18: The Sabres look like a mess. And Comrie scores again. 3-1. Somebody wanna play some defense?

9:23: I'm trying to put my finger on the problem here, but I don't really see it. Every bounce is going the other way. They can't finish.

9:26: Stafford can't cash a glorious opportunity...

9:27: Roy gets taken down in the slot with a loose puck laying there... This is getting ridiculous. No one is where they need to be.

9:28: Pominville clearly has never attempted a backhanded wraparound.

9:30: JOCHEN HECHT! Hecht outworks Witt from the corner, crashes the net and it bounces past DiPietro. Good work from the captain to cut the lead.

GOAL - BUF Jochen Hecht 1 (Connolly, Pominville) 14:11

9:31: I wish I could review that exchange between RJ and Roby about the Ice Girls.

9:36: Pominville blows another opportunity. DiPietro is playing great. The Sabres are buzzing all over the place and the Islanders just took a penalty.

9:38: The powerplay is really getting some chances and Connolly smokes one off the post. They need to cash one of these. Time is running out...

9:40: The Sabres almost got caught with too many men. They need to sharpen up. Now there's just 1:14 left. Crunch time. Who wants to be the hero tonight?

9:42: Waiting for the faceoff. Miller is on the bench...

9:44: Islanders ice the puck with 7.2 seconds left. Big faceoff. Connolly to take it...

9:45: A scramble for the puck. Pominville can't get a shot on net. Puck to the corner... Game over.

FINAL: ISLANDERS 3, SABRES 2

That's all for tonight folks. I'll add some more thoughts tomorrow.

The Sabres' next game is Thursday when Les Thrash come to HSBC Arena.

Opening Night

2007-10-05T12:06:00.001-05:00

The chase begins.

Tonight at approximately 7:37 EST in Buffalo, New York, the puck drops on the 36th season of Sabres Hockey. The memories of Alfredsson scoring in Game 5, July 1st, and every other reminder of last season can be put away tonight. It's a new campaign.

The Sabres will raise two banners prior to the game, commemorating the team's first Northeast Division title since 1997 and the first President's Trophy in franchise history. Pop a tape in the VCR, set up the TiVo, whatever.

No word on lines for tonight yet, but I'll take a stab at it:

Vanek - Roy - Afinogenov
Pominville - Connolly - Stafford
Gaustad - Hecht - Paille
Ryan - Mair - Peters

Odds are Miller will get the start in net. Tonight's only scratch will be Ales Kotalik, still hampered by a strained MCL.

That's about it.

And if you're not gonna be at the game or out watching the game, go ahead and drop by the BSI chat room at game time. Should be a good time.

So, in closing... LET'S GO BUFFALO!

MacArthur and Sekera reassigned

2007-10-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

In what could really be considered a surprise move, the Sabres announced today that they have sent forward Clarke MacArthur and defenseman Andrej Sekera to Rochester.

"Just to play," responded head coach Lindy Ruff when asked why the pair were reassigned. "With Rochester's proximity and schedule, it's better that both players are playing."

This leaves the team with 21 roster players, and only 6 defenseman. With forward Ales Kotalik out with an injury, this pretty much solidifies the team's roster for Friday's season opener against the New York Islanders at HSBC Arena:

5 Toni Lydman
6 Jaroslav Spacek
9 Derek Roy
10 Henrik Tallinder
19 Tim Connolly
20 Daniel Paille
21 Drew Stafford
22 Adam Mair
26 Thomas Vanek
28 Paul Gaustad
29 Jason Pominville
30 Ryan Miller
35 Jocelyn Thibault
37 Michael Ryan
38 Nathan Paetsch
45 Dmitri Kalinin
51 Brian Campbell
55 Jochen Hecht
61 Maxim Afinogenov
76 Andrew Peters