Oct

12

The Sabres’ most recent game was an illustration of exactly what they are capable of. To top it all off, Ryan Miller ended up with a well-deserved shut out! The game started out well in the first period, when Buffalo went 3-for-4 on the power play. Indeed, everything seemed to be going well in every area of the ice. Ales Kotalik made his season debut after a knee injury that sidelined him for the first two games. His presence was quickly realized, when he netted the first goal of the game just 3:00 minutes in, on the power play. Throughout the game, it was obvious who the better, more determined team was. Both Buffalo and Atlanta entered the game without a win, and it only took a few minutes to see which team had come together to earn that first win. Tim Connolly, Brian Campbell, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy, and Daniel Paille also scored for the Sabres. Aside from the offense, which was simply amazing, the defense also improved from the last two games. The mistakes were few and far between, and everyone was able to back-up one another. Even more impressive was the penalty kill unit, which looked sluggish and disoriented prior to last night. However, the Sabres managed to kill off all 8 Atlanta power plays with precision and hard work. It truly was a game played by the team we all had envisioned for this year. The season might have started off a little slowly, but last night’s performance is much more indicative of the Sabres’ talents!

The next game will be Saturday, October 13, at 7:00 PM against the Washington Capitals. Make sure to stop by Die By The Blade for the open game discussion, and look out for Buffalo to reach the .500 mark!

Game Summary
Sabres Notebook
Sabres Recap

Oct

9

This season has started off in a completely different direction than what was hoped for. Last season, the Sabres started off with a record 10 wins. After Saturday night, they are now 0-2. Could this mean a horrible season? Possibly, but it is quite early to start speculating about how capable the Sabres really are. The Islanders are a completely different team, and it was difficult to watch the Sabres fall to them two nights in a row. However, the Islanders just might be the better team and were bound to beat Buffalo in any situation. Still, the defense was lacking, once again. Overall, there were improvements in the offensive opportunities, yet the majority of the third period looked like a sad excuse for a hockey game. Jochen Hecht said it best: “We played better… But it’s still not good enough. We have to play 60-minute games.” (NHL Recap)

The Sabres‘ next game is on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 PM against the Atlanta Thrashers. Time for another team, and another chance for a win!

Game Summary
Sabres Recap

Oct

6

Last night had all the makings of another excellent season opener. There was a party outside of HSBC Arena, two banners were raised to the rafters, and the Sabres were presented with the Presidents Trophy. Of course, the man carrying the Presidents Trophy slipped and almost fell, which was perfect foreshadowing for what was to come. The fans were amazing, as always, showing why Buffalo is now the new Hockeytown! However, a solid effort from the players throughout the entire game was the true test of the team.

The first period was a perfect way to start off the night. The Sabres came out fighting, and created an energy that traveled with them from one end of the ice to the other. There were some spotty passes and missed opportunities here and there, but it seemed like the team was completely in control. Despite the stellar performance, the score was tied at 3-3 after 20 minutes.

The second period saw that energy starting to fall apart. Things did not seem to flow as nicely together, and a lot of mistakes were being made. Thomas Vanek infused some hope into the struggling team, as he scored on a breakaway pass from Nathan Paetsch on a perfect shot. It was surprising not to hear Jeanneret yelling, “Top shelf, where mama hides the cookies!” The beginning of the end came with about four minutes left. Toni Lydman made a terribe play on a 1-on-1 with Mike Comrie, which resulted in a goal. Patience resulted in some goals, but the defense really needed to calm down and wait for an opportunity, rather than going after the puck. It reminded me of a new player to hockey video games, where defensemen pretty much skate towards the opponents only to tackle them, leaving a bunch of scoring chances unattended. So the period ended at 5-4, and left fans wondering if the playing style from the first period could be revived.

The third period was marred with disasters. No one could get much of anything going, although a lot of the players were trying to. It just seemed like the Islanders were playing better than the Sabres, and had figured out how to stop them. The speed that electrified the building in the first period was virtually dead, and Buffalo’s fate was sealed when Hunter scored a power play goal early in the period for a 6-4 lead over the Sabres.

It was a disappointment, to say the very least. The expectations of Buffalo were not exceptionally high, but it was thought that the season opener would be a fairly easy win. No one can point to one player as the reason for the loss, because it was a team effort. There were a lot of positive aspects that came about early in the game, but many more aspects of the game must be worked on in order for the Sabres to have a successful season. The penalty kill unit was a complete disaster, to put it nicely. The Islanders went 2-for-3 on their power play, and nothing the Sabres did seemed to deter the puck from the net. Miller also was struggling at times, and did not seem his usual self. Defense really needs to step it up a few notches to protect the goaltender and close up on the opponents. Too many times, Islanders waltzed into Buffalo’s zone without a care.

The Sabres’ next game is tonight at 7:00 PM against the New York Islanders. Hopefully they can return the favor of a spoiled home opener!

Game of the Night Recap
Game Summary
NHL Recap
Sabres Notebook
Sabres Recap

Oct

5

In around 2 hours, the hockey season will again begin for the Buffalo Sabres! This is the moment that every fan has been looking forward to since May 19th. It would be ridiculous to continue focusing on the obvious, but the fact remains that a lot of key players from the past two seasons are no longer Sabres. Fortunately, Jochen Hecht was named captain for at least the month of October. His somewhat soft-spoken appearance during interviews channels into the qualities of a great leader on the ice, and he can easily fill the role that he has been given. Everyone seems to be looking forward to this season, although expecting another record-breaking one is a little ambitious. Cautious optimism is probably the best route to go, although most of us will be simply crazy tonight!

There are a lot of well-thought previews posted around the internet, which have provided a touch of realism. Meaning the Sabres pretty much kill their opponents during season openers at home. The Islanders did make some off-season changes that might shake up Buffalo a bit, but judging by the Sabres’ preseason games, tonight should continue to feed off that energy. NHL.com has an Islanders-Sabres preview with many facts and figures about tonight’s matchup. Ales Kotalik is expected to miss tonight with an injured knee, but Lindy Ruff assured the press that this is not a long-term injury, and he will most likely return this weekend or early next week. Many of the younger players are looking forward to starting up another season, which brings us to tonight’s keys to winning.

* Power Play Unit: The Sabres saw a lot of opportunities generated by special teams during the preseason, and they showed a lot of talent. The power play has struggled during the last few seasons, and starting off on the right foot is exactly how to begin a new season. Just hope at least one defenseman is out there to cover up for the almost guaranteed mistakes.

* Offensive Opportunities: Playing defense has taken up too much time during some games, and may have cost the Sabres a win in one or two preseason games. Along with those opportunities comes the actual object of the game: Scoring. Rick Jeanneret had better be going nuts tonight, or something is wrong!

* Useless Penalties: Roughing up a Crosby-type guy is one thing. Cross-checking a burly defenseman to the nth degree is quite another. Dumb penalties lead to dumb goals, and a lot of the players have been able to keep themselves under control a lot better during the last two or three preseason games. Will that continue tonight? Hopefully so, or we will surely see a party in the penalty box.

Tonight should be another exciting start to the season! Make sure to catch all the action at 7:30 PM on MSG (HD). Just a note that if you are not in the Buffalo area of Time Warner Cable, MSG (HD) is not available, but the game will be broadcast on the normal MSG channel. Now to convince the company that there are Sabres fans outside of Buffalo!

LetsGoSabres Game Preview
NHL/Sabres Game Preview

Oct

3

A special thanks to Andrew Peters and Nathan Paetsch for meeting some excited fans at Dave & Adam’s Store! Our collection of signed pictures and pucks is not quite complete yet, but is starting to resemble something of a true Sabres fan. This was also a great opportunity for some of the younger fans to spend a little time with their favorite players. While standing in line, one of the prime things to do was to work on those all-important jersey reading skills! Most of the youngsters could not contain their excitement when they got to the front of the line, and it was wonderful to see such a diverse fan base. Thanks for your time, Nathan and Andrew!

Andrew Peters, Jessica, and Nathan Paetsch

The next autograph session at Dave & Adam’s Store Sheridan location will be on October 16th, featuring Pominville and Thibault. Make sure to purchase tickets soon, as they are not expected to last long! These events are an excellent way for the fans to meet the Sabres players. More signings will be announced throughout the season, and we will be sure to keep everyone updated! We hope to see Peters and Paetsch again soon, and wish them the best during the upcoming season!


Save up to 40% on Hockey gear

Oct

2

Just a quick reminder to anyone in the Buffalo area tonight that Nathan Paetsch and Andrew Peters will be appearing at Dave & Adam’s Store for an autograph session! More information can be found in our recent post, and by visiting the web site of Dave & Adam’s Store. We hope to see a lot of fans there!

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