Most National Anthem Singers Should Be Shot

by Anne

Minnesota had a very good anthem singer on Wednesday night. Columbus was one of the "I'm not going to quite sing the right note so I'll just kind of slide around until I get to the right note." kind of girls that we usually have to suffer through when Doug Allen isn't there. The one that sang the other night wasn't quite as annoying as she was last year, but, ladies, this isn't American Idol. Have a little respect for the countries and just sing the songs as they were written, thanks!!

Anyway, that is neither here nor there.

But what IS is that we WON!!!

WOOOOOO!!!

The top of the first period was a little nerve-wracking. Two games in a row of allowing the other team to score right off the bat doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in this blogger. I was starting to wish the debate was starting at 8:00 rather than 9:00 when that one went in.

I'm not sure what it is that got them off of their edge at the beginning, it can't be Columbus's RAUCOUS crowd, as Rick frequently mentioned the emptiness of the arena. Attendance was just north of 11,000. However, a goal from Yoyo and the first intermission seemed to set the groove and Buffalo controlled the rest of the game.

Kotalik, Vanek, Yoyo, Teppo and GERBE lit the lamp and gave us our first REAL decisive, clear cut victory of the pre-season.

GAH I wish I could watch these games so I could actually say more about them. Listening is great but watching with Rick's sweet sweet voice calling the plays is just about the best thing ever.

No hockey game is complete without at least one or two of Rick and Harry's "killing time while they fix broken glass or sort something out" side commentary completely unrelated to the game. Tonight a GEM came at the end of the 2nd as they were sorting out the penalties in that "Rick Nash diving over Lala and Stafford beating the snot out of Tollefsen" hullabaloo. Discussing the flight arrangements back to Buffalo, Rick described that because of the inflated roster during the training camp there were only 2 seats left on the plane, and now that Matt Ellis had been acquired, there was only 1. Rick said (basically): "I keep looking at Darcy Regier, hoping he won't acquire any more players, or we're walking home Harry." Harry: "You know we'd be the first ones to go."

WHAT A GREAT BUDDY MOVIE THAT WOULD MAKE.

Play-by-Play

The Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale Story

I'd see it.

Important Sabres Facts and Figures:

Most shots on goal: Gerbe (4)

PPG: 2 (Teppo and Kotalik)

+/-: +2 (Jaro)

PIM: Weber (12)
Ummmm, Doof, I know that you're trying to make a physical presence but please, PLEASE cut down on the minor, double minor and misconduct penalties, THANKS!

Face Off Win %: 33%

Uhhhhhh that's BAD. I know more wings than centers took faceoffs, but, let's work on that, boys. YoYo has really never been that great on the faceoffs, usually sitting around 40% (he was 38% the other night and 25% tonight). Although, as much as they want to talk about the importace of faceoff wins, as I pointed out before, in 07-08 Detroit was #1 in FOW%, but Pittsburgh was #30. So there ya go, the two teams in the Finals holding first and last place in that paricular category. And we won tonight, so, in the end it doesn't really matter, but seeing that number come up would be good.

Seemed like the boys brought a great physical game, and Gerbe was gettin' up in Nash's face which is pretty awesome.

I hadn't realized until Rick pointed it out that Stafford has played in every single pre-season game. First development camp, now this? Staffy is working very hard and hopefully it'll pay off in the regular season. Its good to see him maturing as a player, considering one of his criticisms from last season was that he was a bit immature in his play and listening to the coaching staff. The result? Less ice time. It looks like he's calmed down and is working towards becoming even more serious about hockey.

Another excellent quote from either Rick or Harry, I can't remember which:

"You don't want to be hanging around the Buffalo goaltender when Craig Rivet is on the ice."

PREACH! I more than kind of love Rosie the Riveter and his toy poodle named Ted. He was rocking the C tonight which probably won't be permanent, and I'd like to offer my vote for if he should be an alternate or whatever, but I have no idea how the captaincy positions are going to be dealt out this season, so I'm just going to say I'm glad Craig Rivet is in the mix.

BTW, GerbDogg and I are no longer Facebook friends. It TOTES lost its appeal once we were friends but his profile was limited.

Anyway, last pre-season game is Sunday against Detroit which will actually be TELEVISED!! Yayyyyy!!!! I know its pre-season and losses and wins mean nothing, but the pre-season teams are slowly looking more and more like the regular season team so its starting to make me feel better. Sunday will be a real test.