USA Advances!

by Anne

For the first time since 2004, Team USA advances past the quarterfinals!!

Hooray!

I was doing my awesome Anne Happy Dance which I wish I could demonstrate on here so you could all do it. It involves a lot of hip shaking and and "raising the roof" style arm movements accompanied by a few well timed "aw yeah"s for good measure.

So I'm in my kitchen happy dancing away, scaring the cat and I have the following thought: "Woo! Semifinals! So who do we have to pl- oh. Damn." We have to play Russia. Friggin' A. Well it was nice to make it to the Semis.

During the game, Kyle Okposo missed on a wraparound attempt that he probably should've been able to stuff in and in the replay we were inadvertently treated to a super slo-mo version of Kyle saying "Eff me." It was pretty nice.

YO. What the hell. I'm looking for pictures while I'm typing this and the gallery is five pages long. Normally its three. Maybe its because it was Finland's final game? Whatevs.

Unlike the other games, I actually got to watch this one. Universalsports.com has a really nice high-quality streaming video of the games (its free). I thoroughly enjoy watching my team rather than just looking at a continually refreshing boxscore.

Because I was actually watching with my own to eyes, I got to see the Sabres fans in attendance:

They were moving way too much and so this picture quality is not so great.


Gerbe-Derby getting international love!

The game was definitely a seesaw. The first period was all Finland as the USA took a slew of penalties and played a lot of the 2nd half of the period short-handed. Finland fired 20 shots on Robert Esche in the first frame but Esche stood tall in net and kept his team in it. The Finns didn't solve Robbie until the first minute of the second at the end of a penalty that had been taken in the last minute of the first.

It looked like the Finns were ready to build on their lead until they took a penalty. Finally, Team USA got their heads together and managed to turn the game in their favor. The Finns took the next five penalties and even though they only scored on one of them, the rest of the game was all USA. All five goals were scored in the 2nd period and the USA won 3-2, mostly thanks to the play of Robert Esche.

Even the announcers were like "He's been in RUSSIA for the last two years. Can you BELIEVE it?" I mean he's not the greatest goaltender in the world but I think he'd be a good back-up. HINT. HINT. He's only 31. I'm not sayin'... I'm just sayin'.

Being in the Semifinals means if the USA wins (which they won't) they will play for Gold/Silver. If they lose, they will play for Bronze. Either way, they have a shot at a medal for the first time in many years. I honestly didn't expect this team to do better than last year's team but I was wrong, obviously.

Now for some photography:

Nick Foligno pushes Senator teammate Jarkko Ruutu to the ice
I like that Foligno kid, he's a good egg.
Too bad he's a Senator.
But HA, Ruutu


Dustin Brown scored the USA's first goal on a 5 on 3 after some beautifully crisp passing from his teammates
Hainsey shot it from the blue line, cross-ice to Suter just above the dot, to Brownie who was, well where he is in the picture.
It would seem this is a good way to score on Pekka Rinne, so TJ Oshie did the same thing on a 3-on-1 rush a bit later:


Nice.


Never fear, Little Foot's intense eyebrows showed up for the game


Let's discuss a few things.
1. How tiny is Jason Blake?
2. How tall are those boards?
3. Was Antti Miettinen hit by a sniper?
4. Why is he using his Minnesota Wild gloves? Is he just that particular? Would team Finland not foot the bill?
5. Could Team USA look less impressed by this game? Little Foot looks about ready to nod off, Nick Foligno looks like he's yawning and Joe Pavelski... well, he always looks like that.

Team USA takes on Russia Friday at 10:15 am EST.

Kennedy Named Rookie of the Month!

by Anne

In spite of the team's recent ups and downs, our very own Tim Kennedy was named the AHL Rookie of the month for the month of February!

This past month he scored his first pro hat trick and notched 17 points (9+8) in 12 games, including a career high four point (1+3) night against Providence. Before February started he only had five goals on the season and hadn't scored in 28 games. Looks like someone's vying for another shot at the big leagues.

He'll be presented with an award prior to an upcoming Pirate's home game.

Congratulations Tim! Who needs those six teeth anyway?

Kids are Funny

by Anne

Anaheim Ducks' center and Buffalo native, Todd Marchant, sent his son, Tim, to the Ducks' locker room to ask them some questions for something called "The Element"*. Embedding videos tends to make my blog freak out, so here's the link.

I love watching this like 6 year old kid stttrrrreeetccchhhhingg to get the microphone near Ryan Getzlaf's partially toothless face. So cute.

Awwwwwwww

The Sabres have redesigned their homepage. Its not drastically different but the graphic at the top has removed Tim Connolly and Jason Pominville and replaced it with a picture of just Ryan Miller. Just because I LOVE being a sensationalist and jumping to outrageous conclusions based on nothing but heresay and innuendo so I'd like to point out that last year just before Soupy was traded, a new team video came out (for no apparent reason) that had removed all images of him.... just sayin'. Hahahahahahahaha.

*I edited that sentence because when I re-read it, it sounded like Tim Marchant was the Anaheim Ducks' center, whoops - he's like 4'2"

AHHHHHHH So Much Bloggy Love

by Anne

OK. So first Pommer had a "blog" he updated like once every three months when someone from Sabres.com called him and asked him to.

Then Millsey had a blog for the playoffs which was AWESOME and we could actually comment on it, and he actually answered one of my questions because we're BFFL. Its TRUE.

Then Adam Burish kept us posted on the World Championships in May.

Then Tim Kennedy blogged about Development Camp, now about Rookie Camp, ok that was only once, hopefully he updates it again.

AND NOW Thomas McCollum, goaltender from Sanborn, NY drafted 30th overall this year by the Red Wings is posting a blog on fans.nhl.com. Wooohooo! Granted, he posted on Sunday but who ever said I was on top of things?

A few samples from another native son of WNY:

Hi everyone. First of all, thanks for reading.

No problem. I have homework to avoid doing, thanks for writing to help me avoid it.

And then, if I’m able to stop a couple of their forwards, I think I would be pretty happy.

Dear Thomas,

Please stop more pucks than you allow in. This is the basic job description of a goaltender. The higher percentage of shots you stop, the more likely you are to play in the NHL.

This has been "Hockey 101" with Anne. Thank you.

I’m actually really looking forward to meeting Chris Osgood. He’s a great goalie, he’s got tons of experience, and it will be really something to get a chance to talk to him.

Do be careful Tom, you ARE there to take his job one day. Don't get too attached to him.

He didn't have any good dirt on his teammates or amusing stories about half-man half-lobster creatures, but I suppose his next blog entry could hold more juicy details about his teammates. Someone's GOT to talk with their mouth full or never changes his underwear or steals other people's sock tape. (Ok I'm sure its not really called "sock tape." I don't know what its called but you all knew what I meant, didn't you?)

ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE IT JUST STARTED TODAY AND I FOUND IT BY CHANCE:

Thomas Vanek has started keeping an online "Diary" they're calling it. But, its a blog. Just say it Thomas, say blog.

Of course there are no rude attacks during those little games

Does everyone remember the Power Play episode where Kaleta talks about how he hit Vanek a little too hard in a scrimmage once? HA. I bet that doesn't happen anymore, hahaha.

Rookie camp is already under way and I got to know a few of the young guys over the last days when they were practicing with the veterans: Gerbe, Kennedy, Butler – we’ll be hearing a lot about those guys in the future

Ha. Unlike McCollum's blog which is the rookie looking to the vets, this is a vet a little more hesitant about the fact that Gerb-dogg is hot on his heels. Wooooo!!! I loves me some vying for roster positions. Not that Vanek has to worry about his spot at all, but its still funny to think about:

Anyway, the club did a good job at the draft and everybody at training camp will have to fight for his roster spot, no matter what he achieved in the last years.

Ok Tom, we get it, you are your own worst critic. Please stop now. Start being badass and talking smack and all that stuff. Please? It could go a long way towards your petition for #5.

So many Tom's blogging about hockey, I'm confused.

GASP! If Gerbmeister makes the roster, does that make ANOTHER player in the running for #5? So far its: Rivet, Sekera, Mair, Vanek and POSSIBLY Gerbe. CHAOS. Mair is the front runner followed closely by Vanek and Rivet. Sekera's gotta come out of the gates FLYING to make strides towards #5.

Oh yeah, I was in the Arena yesterday and other than the fact that it was EFFING FREEZING as they put in the ice surface, it was pretty sweet. I get to feel all important with my security badge. I don't think my security clearance allows me to hangout in the locker room or take pictures of the players as they exit the showers, but no one said anything about that specifically so I'll just have to assume I can. SWEET.

I have to go back for more training tomorrow. Awesome. I have to wear a hat. a HAT. I look TERRIBLE in hats. I already have to rock what I'm SURE will be a supremely unflattering unisex polo shirt, and now I also have to wear a baseball cap. Gross.

Whatev, is it really only Wednesday? Booooo. Less than 2 days until training camp!!! AHHHH!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

Channeling My Inner Pierre McGuire...

by Anne

Here's a Pierre-style theory:


Thomas McCollum was ranked as the #1 N. American goaltender and was the 2nd goaltender drafted with the 30th overall pick by Detroit on Friday.

Ryan Miller is pretty bad-ass (that's all you need to know for this story).

McCollum is from Western New York, Miller is from Michigan.


I BET DETROIT WILL TRADE MCCOLLUM AND ANOTHER PLAYER OR A PICK TO US FOR MILLER IN A HOMETOWN TRADE BONANZA EITHER IN 2009 OR WHENEVER MILLER'S NEW EXTENSION THAT HE'S GOING TO SIGN THIS OFF-SEASON EXPIRES.


Hahahahahahahaha. This just occurred to me and I feel like Pierre. Do I think this will actually happen? No, of course not, but I can't wait to hear Pierre come up with this theory and spout it off somewhere where there's a microphone and a live TV feed.

I fail at this roster thing. I'm just too tired. Hahahaha. It'll be up eventually. Haha.

Welcome Aboard, Tim Kennedy!

by Anne

In a move sure to please locals, the Buffalo Sabres have signed native-son prospect Tim Kennedy to a 2 year entry level contract. Tim just completed his junior year at Michigan State.

As per usual:

• Tim Kennedy was born April 30, 1986 in Buffalo, NY
• His parents are James and MaryEileen Kennedy. Think they're from South Buffalo? to those who aren't from Buffalo, S. Buffalo is like 452% Irish
  
• He is 5'10, 180lbs. Yet another forward that's on the small side. Great, just what we were looking for
  
• He was drafted in the 6th round, 181st overall in 2005 by the Washington Capitals but was immediately traded to Buffalo in a draft-day trade
• For the 2nd straight year he lead the Spartans in points with 43 (20+23) in 42 games
• He's from Buffalo, which automatically makes him 1,000,000,000x cooler than anyone else on the team, with the obvious exception of Pat Kaleta.
• He's a criminal justice major...I'm not sure that any of the players will require his assistance, but at the rate TimmyHO is going, he might
• He attended Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School in Buffalo which is a private Catholic all-boys school. My sister dated a guy from Timon in high school, he did not play hockey
• He did an internship with the Buffalo Police Department in the summer of 2007
• Not surprisingly, his favorite team is the Buffalo Sabres
• He will be the 2nd Spartan player on the roster, as Ryan Miller was a Spartan
• His favorite player is Vincent Lecavalier
• He says he was "in awe for about a week or so" when he was told that Buffalo had acquired his rights
• He's totally awesome because I said so
  

My lord is this goal incredible:

I guess for Sabres prospects, when it rains it pours. This is the 3rd time Darcy has signed 2 players in as many days in the last 2 months. Good times.