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!