Worst Game Day Ever

by Anne

I'd love to be able to write a whole blog post about tonight's game against the Bruins and them being a divisional opponent and what not. Here's all I can think of to say:

• Lydman in, Sekera out
  

• The Bruins played last night all the way to a shootout in the empty cave known as Philips arena in Atlanta, GA; they didn't skate this morning
  

• Tim Thomas is hurt with a "minor undisclosed injury" according to Bruins' head coach Claude Julien.
  

• I have to leave early to help everyone in the Arena put up signs to point Danny to the right locker room 

But Drew and Clarke and Paul and Adam and Hank and Ryan and Thomas and Tim and Derek and Jason and Jochen and Steve and Nathan and Mike and Other Tim and Matt and Pat and Craig and Toni and Reggie and other Pat and Chris and That Big Guy are in THAT room.

Yes Danny, I know, but you go with them now:

Oh. Ok. See ya later.

 :'(

Hero of the Game

by Anne

All Sabres fans are well aware that Ryan Miller is the hero of the Sabres roster. I don't need to go into anymore "night after night" platitudes and blah blah blah because we all know what he does.

However, on those nights when the Sabres find themselves down a goal or two heading into the third, who do they rely on to get them those clutch goals?

Uhhhh? Vanek? Not at this pace. Connolly? Maybe. Royzie? He's too busy losing clutch faceoffs. MacArthur or Stafford? Occasionally. Pominville? Not this season.

When you can go through your top 6 and confidently say that none of them are heroic, reliable goal scorers at this point in the game, you have a problem.

Last night at the Arena while I was changing to go home, the score was still 3-2. I found myself standing in the lockerroom thinking this sentence: "Ok _____ time for some magic." And it occurred to me that I have no idea who could fill in that blank.

Last season Vanek offered heroics, and we've been able to rely on him a lot in the last few years to do that. This season has been slow going and no one else has stepped up to offer that boost, that feeling of "Don't worry, get him the puck and things will happen."

All of the boys in the top 6 can score goals, and they all have been (some later than others, ROYZIE). But none of them are are go-to goal scorer. That keeps the other team's defense guessing, they can never bee 100% sure who's going to be that player with the quick trigger. Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Kopitar, Nash, Iginla, Zetterberg, Kovalchuk, all over the NHL there are teams with that one player or more than one sometimes. You keep that guy covered at all times. The balanced attack makes for a confused opponent, but it also leaves us without the game-saving goal scorer.

Miller can stop the pucks from going in (most of the time) but he can't score the goals for them. Someone needs to kick it up a notch or 10. Not just someone, but a lot of someones.

12-5-1 is still a good record through 17 games, let's not kid ourselves. This team isn't completely perfect. It's got a lot of really solid elements, but now that they've gone through their feeling things out phase, it'll be nice to see them kick it into that next gear they should be able to kick it into.

They need to push harder and drive harder and score more. Who's going to do it?

What the HELL was THAT?/Blog news

by Anne

I have very little to say about that game. When I left the Arena it was 3-2. When I got home and realized it was 6-2, I was pretty sure I was misreading something. I was not.

I didn't pay attention to that game because there was lots of shenanigans going on in the 300 level so I can't offer any pithy insights other than: they should've played better in the last two minutes.

So after much deliberation, I've decided to create a new blog. I've been thinking about it for a while but I've finally decided to do it. This blog will be just mine, that's the biggest difference.

S(h)ara and I hate each other's guts so she's not joining me on the new blog.

Ok, the first part of that sentence is not true. S(h)ara and I are still BFFLFAE (Best Friends For Like Forever and Ever) but we are parting ways in the blogging world.

SO. Without further ado: please to be updating your Google Reader or Blogs You Follow or Bookmark entitled "BEST BLOGGER EVER" and add:

Queen City Sabres Blog

Since I've finally fully committed to the LA Kings being my 2nd favorite team, the Kings will be getting a little more love, particularly by being included in the banner of the new blog title.

All the posts from Sabretooth's House have been posted to Queen City Sabres so you won't have to look far to revel in past hilarity and carryings-on. Basically it looks exactly like Sabretooth's House with only minor modifications.

I'm going to crosspost until Thanksgiving and then I'll make the full switch on Black Friday, just in time for the holidays.

Anne! Anne! Anne!

Kin I come too?

Yes, you're all coming with me, Danny.

Where we goin'?

The other blog, Greener, weren't you paying attention?

I WILL OVERTHROW THAT BLOG AS WELL.

Whatever, Evil Timmy.

You HAVE to bring us.

LOOK HOW MUCH FUN WE ARE.

Hordi, SO'B, just because I love the Kings more, doesn't mean I don't love you Canucks dearly, you're just not as lovable at the moment, I'm sorry.

I'm ready to go.

Yes, Iggy, yes you are.

Join me, won't you?