Jun

3

There has been one player that has been a part of the team for a long time, but I have always questioned his performance. Good ol’ Kalinin has had some awesome plays from time to time. Yet, I found myself wondering who would be covering for him when he was on the ice. The problem was in his consistency: It just was not there. I figured that he would have learned a bit over time… Not so. This led to his nickname, at least in my household, of Dmitri “Can’t Teach Me” Kalinin.

Today, WGR 550 announced the following:

WGR 550’s Paul Hamilton asked Regier about their plans for unrestricted free agent defenseman Dmitri Kalinin. Regier says that the team will not offer Kalinin a contract.

My first reaction? Excitement! Not like I wish Kalinin anything but the best. Still, it just seems like this is the right time to let him go. He gave a lot to the Sabres and was the reason for a few wins. There is a lot of defensive talent being signed at this point, which adds to the good timing. A lot of the young players still have a ways to go, but giving them some opportunities is definitely needed.

Granted, there has been no official announcement. However, it makes sense, and I hope that the Sabres will be able to pull together an amazing line-up for next year. The defensive base is the most important area, and hopefully this will give Buffalo a push forward. Farewell, Kalinin!

Apr

23

This season was filled with many ups and downs for the Buffalo Sabres, and it seemed like they would be able to come through to make it to the playoffs. Now that the remaining teams are getting ready for the semi-finals, we can say that Buffalo has a long road ahead of them. The 2007-2008 season was, in all honesty, almost what many expected. I wanted the team to make it to the playoffs, but ever since the slump in January, reality set in. We did lose a lot prior to and during this year. Perhaps no one wanted to face that fact, hoping that things would work themselves out. The bottom line is that the Sabres are a young team with a lot of talent. Those players have a ways to go, yet I would hesitate to say that there are any disappointments. We have next season to look forward to, which is looking like it will be something to experience. Roles will be more set in stone, and I desperately hope that the rotating captaincy will be taken away.

I was upset about the decision to pass leadership along to different players each month: Everyone is on the same level, theoretically, but once someone built up any authority, it was quickly taken away. There are a handful of guys who deserve the spotlight, and one can only look forward to what happens. As fans, we have a lot to be happy for! The Sabres organization may not be perfect… No one can deny that. There will be changes during the next few months, yet everything in life is always changing. I am proud of my team, even without a playoff position. October, here we come.

Apr

3

With only two games remaining, the Buffalo Sabres have a lot of pressure to hang on for dear life. There is no guarantee that they will make it to the playoffs, even if their hardest efforts are rewarded. What has become much clearer is the heart and soul of a team that many deemed shattered at the beginning of the season. Did anyone expect another record-breaking season? No. At least, I knew that the last two seasons were important enough to stand on their own. Whatever may happen over the next few days for the Sabres is vitally important, yet it only represents two games. This season has been somewhat disappointing at times, but we all knew that there was something to look forward to. Buffalo is not a team that gives up in an instant: They fought, and are still fighting.

Tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens could equate to the end of the season, or the continuation of the chance to earn a playoff spot. Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington could help us out by falling apart at this point… Which could happen, judging by the recent scores. There is always a chance for something good to happen: Especially with the Sabres! I might tear them apart every now and then, but only because we all know what they are capable of. And if all else fails, an all-out brawl would just as easily make my day.

7:30 PM. Tonight on MSG. It WILL be good.

Mar

20

Imagine a game where the Sabres enter the third period down 4-1 from a serious lack of energy and chances. The odds are against them, but we all have a little sense of hope. Then, two goals are scored in 16 seconds, followed by another three minutes later. A dream? Not at all. This was the exact scenario last night, and Buffalo didn’t just stop to tie the game: They scored three more times to take home a very important and hard-earned two points! Tampa Bay looked like they were going to pull off an easy win after skating all over HSBC Arena like they owned it. The strategy was to give them that false sense of security, and then strike at the 15:00 mark in the third period. It was, quite possibly, the most perfect comeback in a very long time. It also proved that the Sabres CAN stage a comeback in the third period. Even after struggling through the first two periods, they knew what they were capable of and did it.

Similarly, the last few games have simply been great hockey. Some might say it was a shame that the Buffalo Sabres waited until the end of the season to whip out all the talent, but we all can agree that it is better late than never! Maybe somebody went out and listened to a little Vanessa Williams… Add that song to the game playlist! The Sabres are still in a precarious situation, situated between Philadelphia and Washington in the ninth spot. Everything is going quite well, though, and does not appear to be slowing down. Word even has it that Numminen is skating with the team in practice! How I miss Teppo and his smile. The rest of the blueline is pretty banged up, yet I see no reason to panic. The only issue is being careful about pronouncing #3’s last name in an adrenaline-filled moment!

The Sabres take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, March 21st, at 7:30 PM. Be prepared for another great rivalry, some possible fights, and more unbelievable hockey moments!

Mar

14

March is arguably one of the most important times of the year for every hockey team. The race for the President’s Trophy tightens, playoff spots begin to be set in stone, and the struggling teams continue to be left further and further behind. Enter the Buffalo Sabres, who are in a drastically different situation than they were 365 days ago. Defensive injuries have sidelined the core blue liners that provide support and a good deal of goals. While I am happy to see some new guys temporarily stepping in, it seems like every opponent knows just how to take advantage of them. In an odd way, the goaltender is no longer the one in need of the most support: The defense is.

Coming down the stretch, the Sabres look worn out and lost. It is so frustrating to see them struggling from injuries and mistakes! We all know what they are capable of, and how many goals they can put up in a few minutes. The final playoff spot is inching further and further away, while other teams (Washington, Florida, and Toronto) are creeping up. When every game needs to be a win, I can just imagine the pressure that the players are under. I doubt there is a simple solution, or Lindy Ruff would have figured it out. As good ol’ Bastian from The Neverending Story points out, “Be confident!” Nobody is perfect, and a lot of these mistakes seems to stem from a panicked state of mind. Buffalo just needs to acknowledge their talents, work together, and figure out a way to have a little fun. The somberness and seriousness of every game is enough to spell disaster from the beginning. We do not need to see a bunch of goofy smiles out there, though: Just some energy and simplistic hockey.

The Sabres will try their luck tonight at 7:30 PM against the Carolina Hurricanes. Somewhere around half of the regular defensemen are expected to be out, paving the way for some rookies, such as Sekera and Funk, to take their places. I have often been saying, “Sekera, don’t make an erra!” (Pronounced with a Jersey accent, of course) and think that might very well be said for the whole team. The Sabres are not at the end of their season, and could be quite far from it. Keep hockey alive and well in Buffalo!

Mar

5

Last night was yet another two-goal scoring plateau for the Sabres, as they rushed out to an early lead. Predictably, the Flyers came storming back to tie the game up at 2-2 and force Buffalo to focus on the importance of winning the game in the third period. Something happened during that second intermission, though, sending the Sabres into a goal-scoring frenzy for the first six minutes of the final 20 minutes. Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, and Max Afinogenov each netted a goal in the third to seal the win, and send Philadelphia into a tailspin… Finally! Seeing the guys ensure a win prior to overtime and the dreaded shootout was quite exciting! It was a full team effort, with pretty much every line doing something or other to put themselves out front. This win put the Sabres just one point behind the Flyers for the final playoff spot: Still a precarious situation, but much better to be in striking distance!

On a bit of a random tangent, is it just me, or do the Versus announcers absolutely hate the Sabres? Every goal we scored was blamed on Biron being out of position… But how common is it for a guy to get a puck through a six-inch area?! There was more talent than the announcers cared to share. Or maybe I was just going through withdrawal without my Jeanneret-Neale team.

The Sabres next play tonight at 7:30 PM against the Washington Capitals. Both of these teams are hovering around the bottom of the playoff rush, with the Sabres ahead of the Capitals by a somewhat comfortable three points. Fatigue might be a factor for Buffalo, after coming off of last night’s rough and tumble match. One thing is true, though: This is another must-win situation that can be achieved.

Mar

4

Tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers is about as crucial as a hockey game can be. I have been absolutely thrilled with the Sabres’ last two games… If you can call low scoring losses thrilling. The frustrating part of the matter is that this team is not in character to be struggling! February 27th saw the Sabres win with eight goals. Since then, they have scored two goals per game and lost to the Canadiens and Red Wings. Why?! Personally, the returns of Afinogenov and Stafford brightened my days and made me excited to see some offensive talent return. The problem is that the lines were mixed up, and all of that good chemistry disappeared. That is not to say that change is necessarily bad, but what else is there to conclude at this point? Buffalo is on the verge of just making the playoffs… Or just missing them. Rather than looking at the short-term, it really is time to look ahead to that uncertain future. I would rather go three or four months without Sabres hockey, rather than four or five. This is a do or die situation, no matter how early it may be.

Make sure to tune in to Versus tonight to see the Sabres and the Flyers go at it at 7:00 PM. Expect some sparks to fly, as these two teams have never been all too friendly, and both are grasping at the bottom rung of the playoff ladder. Go Sabres!

Feb

28

No need for anyone to worry about Tuesday’s trade that saw Brian Campbell become an ex-Sabre. There was no doubt that he was one of the more popular defensemen: Who else could pull off that spin-o-rama without making a fool of themself?! Steve Bernier was acquired from the San Jose Sharks, along with a first round draft choice in this year’s entry draft. It takes time for a new player to be welcomed on the team, but this right winger apparently knows how to make his presence appreciated! He scored the first two goals in last night’s game, while also picking up an assist late in the second period. Right off the bat, we now know that the Sabres have another young player to turn to for offensive production. Additionally, Bernier was difficult to ignore on the ice: He backed up Ryan Miller a few times, while also throwing in a bunch of hits. Could there be more? Take a look at the third period, when Derek Roy was tackled. Bernier was there to back up a guy he’s known for a day or two. Welcome to the team!

Both the acquisition of a powerful forward and a solid win are exactly what the Buffalo Sabres have been looking for. There were some sticky spots from time to time, such as when a 3-0 lead was cut to 3-2 in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, the Sabres had a lot of fight in them. Once again, this proves that they have the talent to score enough goals to paralyze their opponents. For heaven’s sake, Peters scored his fourth career goal! Physically speaking, Nashville was bowled over on many different occasions. I still have the opinion that the team is still maturing, but with so many young players willing to do anything towin, every Sabres fan can rest assured that there will be many good seasons to come.

The Sabres will next play tomorrow, February 29th, at 7:30 PM against the Montreal Canadiens. This is a vital divisional game, seeing how Buffalo is at 71 points and Montreal is at 77 points. Another star performance from the team could put them in a much more comfortable position within the standings.

Feb

25

Sabres (5) vs. Maple Leafs (1): Attack!

This was a game that was very much needed. With such a close playoff race, even one point can mean a huge difference. There was very little to complain about… Aside from a missed shutout opportunity! Buffalo Sabres hockey is all about scoring and continuing to attack. There is no reason to sit back, even with a three or four goal cushion. Last Thursday proved this point.

Sabres (3) vs. Rangers (4): Simply Not Enough

The final seconds of Saturday’s game were heartbreaking. After seeing the Sabres fight their way back in the game three times, the dying seconds sopped up any and all energy left on the ice. The puck barely moved, even though I was holding my breath for a tying goal at 19:59. Not tonight, apparently. The Rangers outplayed the Sabres at some points, but this was a game that we should have taken. The one saving grace was the awesome Buffalo crowd who booed Chris Drury every step along the way! Sad to see him be on the winning side of a game against the team he ran away from. The Sabres might feel a little demoralized after this loss, but there were a lot of positives. They never gave up, and are still 100% in penalty killing against the New York Rangers. Not too shabby… Aside from falling in the standings.

The Sabres will next play tonight, February 25th, at 7:00 PM against the Philadelphia Flyers. An almost reunion of those two co-captains, now known as co-conspirators. At least in my book. The Flyers have been struggling lately, and hopefully the Sabres will be able to take advantage of this.

Feb

21

Last night’s game looked like it would be another loss, up until the last 15 minutes. Truly, the Buffalo Sabres looked like they were sleeping on the job without a care in the world. I was depressed, the team was depressed, and we all needed some kind of miracle. Ladies and gentleman, that is precisely what happened. Just as I expected, Ryan Miller made a crazy stop to spark a little offensive rush. Derek Roy ended up scoring, and perhaps it was his goal that threw the Sabres into overdrive. Technically, Thomas Vanek went into overdrive reminiscent of a rampaging loon. In a good way, of course! That man suddenly woke up and went to town! He scored two goals to force an overtime period, which was something no one expected. Want more? He scored the game winner at 2:25 to give the Sabres a very surprising win! This was the opposite of what usually happens: The team plays an amazing first period, and gradually falls apart. This time around, they lulled Tampa Bay into a false sense of security, only to strike in the last few minutes. In the true sense of the saying, it is never too late to win!

The boys next play tonight, February 21st, at 7:30 PM against the Toronto Maple Leafs. As much as anyone, I would love to see a complete game, but a few miracle moves saved up for the last period will work just fine. Go Sabres!