Bye STH!

by Anne

Well, here is the final post in Sabretooth's House.

The madcap hilarity will continue on over at Queen City Sabres Blog. Join me, won't you?

Clicky

Come on over!

Six of one, Half dozen of the other

by Anne

In the last three years the Sabres "Top 6" has looked like this:

1. Vanek

2. Connolly

3. Pominville

4. Roy

5 & 6. Stafford, MacArthur, or maybe Hecht. Someone's hurt? Move up Paille. No luck? Ok let's toss Goose up there. Not working? Afinogenov? Kotalik? Maybe Mair for a shift or two? Nah, let's scrap it and start over.

Basically, other than spots 1-4, things have been rather jumbled since Drury and Briere skipped town.

However, this season, the top 6 have basically remained consistent. The only differences were when Stafford was coming back from injury he was testing things out on the 4th line so he wouldn't hurt himself again.

Pominville, Roy, Connolly

Vanek, Stafford, MacArthur

------------------------------------

Grier, Ellis, Hecht,

Kennedy, Kaleta, Gaustad

+Paille or Mair, occasionally Paetsch

Looking at the line-ups for the past few games, you can't really disagree about that line of demarcation. No one's crossed it for more than a few shifts except Stafford, but he was an exception. Also, when a top sixer was hurt, instead of moving up a bottom sixer, Lindy brought in Ennis. I like this plan so far. I'm not sure why "Tennis the Menace" (thank you, Drew Stafford) wasn't brought up for Saturday's game instead of playing with eleven forwards.

In these recent goal scoring struggles, does Lindy leave his top 6 and bottom 6 in tact and just try to kick them into high gear? I'm  much happier with the way the boys below that line have played. Does one of them get rewarded for that? Who would get bumped down? If any change were to be made, I think I'd propose switching out Pommer or Vanek and Hecht or maybe Royzie and Kennedy, even if only for practice. Maybe get Gaustad up with Stafford and MacArthur.

Lindy shook up the lines in practice today, but he didn't switch between the groups. The top 6 were still the top 6 and the bottom were still the bottom.

Will Lindy make any switches? Probably not, but if he needs to send a message to a top 6 forward, creating such clear groupings will help him to send those types of messages down the line, even if not right now. If a top 6 player spends just one practice with the bottom 6, that should send a clear message, even without changing the line-ups for a game. It's a mental thing. Mindset is just as important in this game as conditioning.  I like it.

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?

New Blog?

by Anne

I've been kicking around the idea of starting a new blog. I'm tired of the name of this blog, mostly because it's not original and it belongs to something that already exists.

It's not as though this just started bothering me. We've been writing in this thing since January of 2008.

I've mentioned this before but I'm more serious about it now.  I wouldn't want to delete this blog and lose the over 900 entries that have been written over the last almost two years. I've already exported it to put it up somewhere else with a different name.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not going anywhere, I love writing in this goofy blog and I won't stop blogging any time soon, I'm just looking for a new venue. We shall see what happens.

Would you guys follow my ramblings to a new URL?

Danny will come too:

Where we goin'?

I don't know Danny, we'll see what happens!

Ok, its been a few days

by Anne

I hope the Sabres just crinkle up Saturday's game and throw it away and never speak of that atrocity again.

• The Canucks won last night! They defeated the red-hot Colorado Avalanche 3-0. The Avs are ranked 30th in the league in shots taken per game, and that seemed to fell them. Andrew Raycroft earned a shutout, but he only had to make 18 saves.

Kes' face drew six minutes in minor penalties last night.

That Kes, always sacrificing for the team

• Kesler had a heck of a game, as did Mason Raymond who appears to be 17 but is married? Bananas.

• Speaking of babies having babes: according to Sabres Edge, Jason Pominville and his wife welcomed a baby today or at least sometime in the last 24 - 48 hours! Baby Pommer! How adorable. Lindy put it best in his post-practice presser:

The reason Jason Pominville didn't skate today?

"The population of Pominville went up, so he had the day off," said coach Lindy Ruff, referring to a baby for Pominville and his wife.

Oh Lindy, you devil, you. Congrats Pommer and Mrs. Pommer who I think is named Kim!

• The Sunny Hedgehog Enchanters managed to hold onto first place in their fantasy league, despite having a bye week. Phew! We return to action tonight. Vinny Lecavalier and David Backes remain in the doghouse. I traded Phil Kessel. I might regret that down the line, but probably not. If this were a keeper league, I would've held on to him.
  

• The Kings are hosting a Fathers' trip for the game in Phoenix tonight. There are 16 dads on the trip. Interesting name tidbits: Davis Drewiske's dad's name is David. How confusing. Jack Johnson, whose full name is long and complicated is actually Jack Johnson III so Dad is also Jack Johnson. Teddy Purcell's dad is also Ted, Rob Scuderi's dad is Bob. I just love Randy Jones' dad's name: Butch Jones. His name sounds like he should be starring in a B-rate action movie as Rambo's arch-nemesis. There are four dads named Jim: Greene, Harrold, Smyth and Richardson. Wayne Simmonds' dad and Kopi's dad win for best names: Cyril and Matjaz, respectively. Hopefully there will be delightful anecdotes and photographs soon.
  

•  The Bills are just terrible and the Steelers didn't play so football was a bust this weekend. The Vikings/Packers game was exciting but I don't care toooo much about that. I like Brett Favre, always have, but I just don't care too much.
  

• I used to really enjoy reading Joe Caligiuri's blog. He's a trainer for the Kings, and he offered some interesting insight into the world of the LA Kings. Unfortunately he seemed to offer too much insight and his blog has been shut down. Fortunately, Google Reader held onto these posts so I can still read them.
  

• The Kings play tonight in Phoenix, which means the game is at 9:00 instead of 10:00 or 10:30. Sweet

Goooooooooooooooooooooose, et al.

by Anne

This is just a post to mention those few players that are pretty sweet and I don't mention them enough.

• Paul Gaustad is 2nd in the league in face-off win % at 67.1%
  

• Jason Pominville scored his 100th career goal and has played in something like 257 consecutive games. (that number is close but might not be exactly right)
  

• Henrik Tallinder, whom I don't really love, is leading the team in +/- which is nothing short of a miracle. He's  a +6
  

• Much like last season, Clarke MacArthur has jumped out to grab the team's scoring lead. He has four goals and two assists. Those numbers aren't exactly blistering but at least he's playing with some consistency
  

• Sir Christopher is leading the team in ice team and only he and Craigory are averaging more than 20 minutes/ game
  

• Jochen Hecht seems to be showing signs that he might be playing more like he did two seasons ago than last season. Only signs, basically it just means he hasn't imploded yet. He leads the team in takeaways
  

• Tim Kennedy and Tyler Myers, whom I've mentioned plenty have both been earning their roster spots and it makes me smile
  

• I really liked the Ellis-Gaustad-Kaleta line. I'm glad Mairsy is back and sad Ellis was hurt but that line was pretty BA, I'd like them back. 

What a goofball

No Hockey?

by Anne

I think it's totally rad that the NHL has these days in which every team plays. It's cool and it makes for some interesting fantasy hockey decisions. However, what I don't enjoy is that the following day features no hockey at all.

Part of the "Super Saturday" idea is that games will need to be condensed to accommodate for the Olympic break in February, but why then do the Sabres not play again until Thursday? Their November looks almost identical to last November. Three weeks W-F-S games followed by a week of M-R-S.

December starts ramping up they have 15 games in December which is kind of a lot.

Whatevs, I don't make the NHL schedule and for this we should all be extremely grateful. I wished there was some hockey to watch to kill the bitter aftertaste of that football game.

The Bills are terrible. I watched the game at a bar with a few friends so I was slightly distracted from the game but unable to change the channel. How embarrassing was that game?

The Steelers won, it got a little closer than we would've liked but they pulled out the win and have evened up their season at 2-2.

Thank goodness for the Pens, Canucks and Kings or I'd have little hockey to watch over the next few days when I'm supposed to be doing all this "homework" I've heard people talk so much about.

Dewey promised to try harder, he's leaping into the next game

Blogging

by Anne

I realized the other day that there are A LOT of blogs I read that irritate me. They irritate me for a variety of reasons. Most of the time they irritate me because they're not clever, they're not interesting, they're just someone regurgitating what happened in a game as it happened, not with their own thoughts, that are unique to them and I can't read in the Buffalo News tomorrow morning. I like people who are funny, who offer a different way to look at something, offer content that can't really be found anywhere else or talk about subjects rarely discussed.

One thing in particular that bothers me is when someone refers to a team as theirs or acts as though they are the only person to ever have loved a team or an individual player. Blogs are personal responses and I totally understand that, but one of the things I love about blogging about a team or teams is finding other bloggers who are as passionate and dedicated about the team you both love. Playing hockey is not an individual effort, so cheering for a team shouldn't be either. Share the love, people.

Before you go all "But Anne, you're really not all that interesting or blahhhhhh...." I'm not saying that I am, and if I checked my analytics sometime and no one's reading my blog, I'll stop. However, this blog, tiny though it may be gets thousands of hits every month, so someone must find something I have to say on the outside edge of interesting.

Back to the individual player thing: several other bloggerladies and I have discussed this so I want to know what you guys think too. It drives us CRAZY when someone who has never professed any affinity for a team or player suddenly LOVES a player when they do something good. I won't give examples of individuals who do this because that would be rude but if Tyler Kennedy scores a hat trick tomorrow, I won't suddenly be all "I LOVE TYLER KENNEDY AHHHH!!!!" I'll say "Well done, sir. You are still really fug." Ok that was mean, but he is. A good hockey player, but fug. On the converse, I have a short list of players whom I adore but I do not hope to pretend I am the only person who cheers for these players. Except for the fact that I'm probably the only Matt Greene fan in Buffalo, I don't claim any exclusive ownership to loving individual players. I have a short list of favorite players and it occurred to me the other day that not a single one of them is a Sabre. Now that Sissy has left, there are no other players that I'm consistently excited about. So, anytime Darcy wants to acquire one of those boys, I'll be ready to buy their jersey :)

I felt a little disheartened over the summer with my lack of interest in blogging and the corresponding lackluster hits, so I'm very glad to see that people are coming back to read not only this blog, but hockey blogs in general.

Thanks for coming back!

Opening Night Didn't Go So Well

by Anne

Well, in brief, here is how all four of last night's games went from my perspective:

• Toronto v. Montreal: Ok, guys, we get it, you like to hit. Two fights, Mike Komisarek nearly sending himself through the glass to make a point to his former team. Habs won 4-3 in OT.

Schenner!
Look out!
Sneaky little Scott Gomez is right behind you!

• Brooks Laich(!) and Alexander Ovechkin each had two goals and the Caps defeated the Bruins 4-1. I guess that was my preferred outcome, now that we think divisionally, at least for the next few months

Oh Sissy.

• The Avalanche beat the Sharks 5-2 and Joe Sakic's number was retired. Joe Sakic, what a dude.

Darcy Tucker is REALLY excited about scoring a goal

• Also, to celebrate his hero, Matt Duchene earned himself his first NHL point, an assist on JM Liles' goal (the 5th).

• The Canucks were losing 3-0 at one point and had a nice rally, but fell victim to an empty-net goal and bad penalty killing.

Big Bear had three shots on goal and four hits
He had an assist but they took it away :(

• Steve Montador has a personality: He talks about our youngest defensemen on Saturday's Roster. He makes fun of the JBG and I'm a-ok with that, keep things loose around the kid:
  

"I've seen [Sekera] do some pretty special things," Montador said. "He's strong on his feet, has good vision and for a European guy who has English as a second language, he talks quite a bit, which is great for a partner.

"Butler plays so confident, knows he can skate and does the little things well. Then you look at a guy like Myers who's 10 years younger than me. For a guy pulling moves and skating like that when he probably hasn't shaved a day in his life is impressive to me."

• Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks appear to be having a European affair. Just don't tell Adam Burish who's stuck back home in Chicago with a knee injury.

Ain't they sweet?

• I love game photography:

Beauchemin: No, Luke, really, let's go left
Schenn: No, Francois, the play says move the puck up the ice
Beauchemin: I really don't think that's it
Schenn: Totally man, it is
Lapierre: If you two are finished chatting, I'll just come and take that puck...

Ennis Is In & Other Stuff

by Anne

As he mentioned earlier would happen, Darcy Regier has announced that the Sabres have signed last year's other Tyler to an entry-level contract. Lil' Tyler will have a lot of competition for the "little guy" on the team job. Frankly, we already have one full-time and one who will probably make the full-time this year.

That red-headed dude is just as excited as I am

Two other things. The Sabres Media Guide was released today. Its the same old stuff as usual. They've done away with the "favorites" section, but have added their "signature," or autograph, as it would seem. Adam Mair's looks like they forgot to ask him and the PR guy's secretary had to fill in at the last second:

So neat and tidy.

I love the picture the team chose to use for the NHL.com preview tab on the Sabres.com homepage. I'm assuming this is at a critical point in a shoot-out:

I don't think they normally lean this far out during a game
Grizz and Pie are having a serious chat.
Enlarge to see how creepy Matt Ellis looks.
I think he's looking at the jumbotron.

First pre-season game tomorrow!!

I Will Not Write A Post Examining The Schedule

by Anne

Because its pretty cut and dry.

There's a long road stretch in the later part of the season but we knew that was coming because of the basketball tourney in HSBC Arena. Other than that, we travel fewer miles than last year according to some wacky chart over on On the Forecheck.

Shakespeare has taken over my life and I have neglected hockey. I'm a bad fan.

Its a good thing there's no Shakespeare in the Park during hockey season. My loyalties would be all over the map.

Confession of the day: I'm a terrible blogger and I have so many posts to write but I just don't have the energy.

I'll be back soon, I promise. I can see you're all devastated.

Also, I'm "friends" with so many hockey players on Facebook and its hella boring. All the interesting ones don't accept random friendship requests from total strangers. Psh.

Quick Hits

by Anne

• Chicago seems like a big stinky hot mess right now

• Toronto has signed "The Monster" a supposedly phenomenal Swedish goalie named Jonas Gustavsson. I wonder if he and Jhonas Enroth know each other

• Jhonas Enroth took some time to adjust to the North American game, keep the fact that there is an adjustment period, before we go hoisting The Monster's head on a pike if he lets in some softies, Leafs' fans

• The Funky Chicken apparently has signed in Vancouver

• Joe Sakic is going to announce his retirement soon :(

• Steve Montador looks like Derek Roy's older, more rugged and better looking brother

• I'm house sitting for my sister and her boyfriend. I'm hanging out with Maximus the cat, a Wii, a stocked bar and a huge HD TV. I wish it were hockey season

• SO'B re-signed in Vancouver for one year at a $600,000 raise. I'm glad. Never mind that he scored his lone goal in the very last game of the post-season. I love him and I want him to stay there!

• Of my four teams, I'm still most excited for the Kings. If all four of my teams were to make the playoffs next year, I'd be so exhausted, switching loyalties multiple times a night.

• When is Brooks Orpik bringing the Cup to Buffalo?

• The Blackhawks are supposedly looking to or supposedly should trade Soupy. His contract was a mistake as anyone in Buffalo or even San Jose could've told you.

• The Leafs have already signed this year's first round pick, Nazem Kadri, to an entry level contract. Wonder when Tavares' contract will come through.

• Speaking of Soupy and the Islanders: they have room for him. As of this writing, without Tavares' contract, the Islanders are still not yet at the salary floor, with only about 3-5 players including JT to sign. Interesting.
  

• If you live in Buffalo, you should see Julius Caesar at Shakespeare in Delaware Park. Its got lots of sword fighting, death and betrayal. The kids will love it. Also, ladies, there are a few men with really nice arms who swing around heavy swords. I don't mind coming to work and watching that. There are also some old dudes who you fear may collapse and any moment.

• Its really freakin' cold by July standards today. Its only about 68 degrees. Booo

• I might go to development camp tomorrow. But I can only stay until 5:00. Sad face.
  

Insomnia, You Win

by Anne

Here is a list of things I think about when I can't fall asleep at night, which is quite often:

• If Herbie Hancock married Nathan Gerbe, his name would be Herbie Gerbe

• Why has Chris Butler still not accepted or rejected my Facebook friend request? I assumed he had denied our friendship but, several weeks after I last checked, it is still "pending." I also learned that you cannot remove a pending friend request

• I would not be surprised to find out that Sidney Crosby is really terrible on a first date

• Do you think it really annoys Marc Staal that his little brother entered the NHL before him?

• Speaking of Sidney Crosby, did his parents just try to cover their bases and pick unisex names for both their kids? Taylor and Sidney could be male or female names.

• Would I be more or less grossed out by Tim Connolly if he still had hair?

• If Joch Hecht married Olli/Jussi Jokinen his named would be Jochen Jokinen (if you don't know how to pronounce those names, the joke is lost on you).

• I think being married to an NHL player would have more downsides than upsides.

• Why do people get so worked up about the draft? After Tavares, Hedman and maybe Duchene, the likelihood that any of these boys will see serious NHL time this coming season is not good

• Even if the Sabres tanked with the hopes of getting the #1 pick, I still think they would lose the lottery, because that's how the Sabres roll.

• I don't care about the NHL Awards because no Sabres or any of "Anne's Top 10 Favorite non-Sabres" are nominated for anything. Unless you can guarantee me shots of Vinny in a well-fitted suit, I'm not watching. Wait, I just remembered Iggy is nominated for something about being totally badass and bald or something like that. I will watch

• I desperately need rehearsals to start. I'm going out of my skull with boredom.

• Why do I bother choosing favorite non-Sabres? The list changes drastically every year or so. Its very hard for me to keep on loving a player if his team is annoying. The notable exception being Jarome Iginla and his Lames.

• Why does Bucky Gleason still have a job?

• What will it take for Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier to be fired? Can I help speed along this process in any way? Let me know.

I love this picture so much

• Sometimes I think about moving to New York or Chicago or Pittsburgh or Boston but then I realize that it would be tough because I know I'd always want to come back to the B-lo

• It really drives me crazy when people try to out do each other by proving they were fans of a musical artist for SUCH A LONG TIME. No one is impressed. "I WAS A FAN OF LADY GAGA BEFORE SHE EVEN HAD AN ALBUM." Whoa. Ok, calm down there, captain.

• Katy Perry can't sing, yet she's a recording artist. Honestly, have you ever listened to her "sing" her song "Thinking of You?" She sounds like a goat choking on its own saliva

• I miss these fools:
  

I miss them :(
I don't like the playoffs without them
Or the offseason
Also, I'd really appreciate it we re-signed Jaro :( Pretty please? :)

Game 6 or Anne Doesn't Want to Talk About It

by Anne

• Game 6 is tonight and that's all I can say about it

• I'm really excited about the two Portland Pirates games that will be played in Buffalo. I've already circled November 12 on my calendar

• Slick Rick will be on the Lunch Express this week. Wooo! Loves me some Rick Jeanneret

• The world would be a better place if everyone did what they were best at and only that. Leave the other things to the people who are best at those things

• "smithfield nc welcome to KKK" was what someone searched and found our blog.. Also, whomever it was that searched "Sabretooth emoticon" and found our blog, can you tell me where I can find one as well?

• After the United States and Canada, the country that came in 3rd with the most hits in the entire history of our blog is Malaysia

• Let's go Pens.
  

Its Too Sunny to Watch Hockey

by Anne

Not only do I have to work tonight and will miss game 2 between the Penguins and the Butter Snaps, I will also be working on the most beautiful day of the year thusfar in sweet, sunny Buffalo.

Its a perfect late spring day here in the B-lo. The kind of day that makes you forget about January because its worth it for days like today.

Earlier today I was attempting to find an old interview with the Gronk on YouTube. When I typed in "Jordan Staal" it said "Also try: Ryan Getzlaf." Um, alright, thanks, I will? Good to know YouTube's search engine knows which hockey players play for which teams and are also related. "Also try: Marc/Eric/Jared Staal" would've been much more expected than "Ryan Getzlaf." If that is his real name.

Also, I miss the Sabrez.

Scott Cullen wrote his off-season homework report for the Sabres and, for the most part, it was all stuff that Sabres fans already know, but if you aren't a fan, you'd find interesting. Except for the part where he suggested Chris Neil might be a good fit. If you remove the past and personality from Chris Neil then, yes, Mr. Cullen is probably correct. However since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is still just a movie, that can't happen. The awkward tension between Neil and Adam Mair would be pay-per-view worthy, though. Do we need another agitator? It doesn't seem to have made a huge impact on Ottawa, why would we bring him here? If we were to go out and get an agitator, I'd take Steve Ott over Chris Neil any day of the week.

Also, I may dislike Phil Kessel immensely but I also feel for the guy. He's had successful surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder which will require a full six month recovery. For those keeping track, the 2009-2010 season starts in just about 4 1/2 months, meaning if Phil stays on track to recovery, he'll miss at least the first month and a half of the season. That's definitely tough luck for Boston. Do they go out and find a comparable player only to trade that player or Kessel when he's healthy? Where are you going to find a comparable player that's going to be cheap and/or disposable. 30+ goal scorers ain't cheap, kids. The upside is that Yick is only 21 so he should be able to make a quick comeback. He only missed eleven games when recovering from cancer. This will be tough for him, but I'm pretty sure nothing seems insurmountable when you overcome cancer at 19.

So Erik Cole is most likely back in for tonight, Ruutu did not skate and will be a game-time decision. It'd be pretty super if the Pens could bring a 2-0 series lead into Carolina since those Butter Snaps are a little cocky about being down 1-0 in a series which seems like an odd thing to be proud of. "Yeah we suck at first but then LOOK OUT!" Imagine if that was someone's pick up line at a bar? I don't think I'd give him my phone number.

Let's Go Pens!

Some heroics tonight would be grand.


Woo.

I Don't Really Like Talking About My Flair

by Anne

• I'm officially finished with the Spring 2009 semester! Yee-haw!

• I called in sick to work cuz I was hungover, whoops. But it was totally worth it.

• Now I'm watching Office Space with my sister and her manfriend. Anyone who has never worked in office need only watch this movie to know what its like.
  

• Send some positive vibes to Scott Walker these days, his wife Julie was just diagnosed with cervical cancer but is expected to make a full recovery. This must be tough for Scott, their families and the whole team.

• Tyler Myers is tearin' it up at the Memorial Cup Championship. He had three points (1+2) in the tournament's first game as his Kelowna Rockets defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 4-1

• I love lazy Sundays.

• My perfect post hangover breakfast did not fail me today. Tim's Iced Cap and a delicious bagel = hangover free day

• I'm using my sister's computer and she wants it back so I'm going to watch the 2nd period
  

Finals Week

by Anne

I'm marching headlong into CEP week at Buffalo State College and therefore have lots left to do. There's a running tally under my Facebook photo if we happen to be Facebook friends. I've already completed two of my five final papers and my take home exam is due today. After today I will be finished with one of my classes entirely. Wooo!

Since I worked a bizillion hours this weekend, I did not get to watch much hockey.

The Good:

Pens won on Saturday! Hoooooray! Malkin with the OT winner was just what the doctor ordered. Hooray!

Canada defeated Sweden to appear in the Gold medal game against Russia for the second straight year

The Bruins shut out the Butter Snaps last night

The Bad:

The Canucks lost.

Team USA did NOT win bronze.

Canada did NOT win gold.

My feet hurt.

My puppy is sick again.

Sigh. Soon finals week will be over and I'll be back to blogging daily with posts of actual substance, not like the junk I've been typing out over the past week or so.

Also, my hockey-reference.com sponsorships of Pie and Big Bear are about to expire. Should I renew?

Hooray! Check y'all out later

Someone Please Give This Man a Hockey Team

by Anne

Someone please explain to me why Celine Dion is a) on my iPod and b) why I'm not only not changing the song, but kind of singing along? "Its all coming back to me nooooooooowwwwwwwwww!!!!!" My favorite thing about that song is the bizzaro verse that was cut out of the radio edit and everyone always looks really confused when that part comes up. Ok sorry, enough about Celine Dion.

Friggin Jim Ballsilie will never friggin' go away. The man seems willing to give a kidney or another vital organ that might not come in pairs to get a FRIGGIN' NHL team. Why can't he have one? I mean I know all the reasons but poor Jim has this one dream that Gary Bettman is stomping all over.

Everyone's lighting the torches at Jobing.com Arena saying things like "Bankruptcy! Lack of attendance! The League's taking over! BURN IT DOWN!" Lest we forget Sabres fans, waayyy back in 2002 (sarcasm people) basically the exact same thing happened to the Sabres. The League had to take over our financially crippled team (Ok the Rigas' family was in jail but still). Hockey doesn't belong in Phoenix and it isn't like teh team has been there since the 60s or 70s. They'll get over it.

Tell him to move the team to Manitoba or Saskatoon or some place in Western Canada far away from Buffalo. Then we won't have to restructure the conferences and what not, just the divisions.

Jim Ballsillie is going to lose his mind if someone doesn't sell him an NHL team soon. He's like the reject hanger-on little brother who just won't get a clue and go away. Does this mean Gary Bettman is the quarterback of the football team? HA. Gare-bear.

Quick informal poll: Why can't we have North and South Conference? Then everyone has a crappy travel schedule and the Canucks and Avs can stop whining. This might be a lot more expensive travel-wise but that is not my primary concern which is why I will never be the CFO of a corporation. I've sat in class and figured all this out, Gare, call me. We'll do lunch. You're buying, kthanksbye.

Or we could be the like the NFL that divides up their teams into the AFC and NFC without any rhyme or reason. I can TOTALLY do that. Give me that flamingo hat I was going to make Lindy wear for my entertainment and I'll create two conferences. A division of the Lighting, Islanders, Thrashers, Avalanche and Kings would be HILARIOUS. They'd have such warped stats it would be phenomenal.

What's that you say? I have papers to write. Sigh. Off I go.

Sunday Morning Stuff

by Anne

• Not having cable at my own home has really cut into my commitment to the playoffs. I actually fell asleep before the third period of the Canucks game on Friday night. Shame. Shame on me.

• Its hard to commit to yet another season of no Sabres in the playoffs. Everytime I watch a game I think about how much we need that atmosphere and how much we miss it.

• The Pirates lost game 2 to the Bruins by a score of 2-1, tying the best o' seven series at one apiece. Although Bhonas Jhonas set a new Pirates franchise record shut out streak in the playoffs at 82:01.The previous record, held by Ron Tugnutt was 77:53. Congrats MVP! The series moves back to Portland today at 4:00 p.m. Wooo!!

• The Stanley Cup playoff series are going well for me... except for the Rangers/Caps series, that one is NOT ok. Also, Detroit is just beating the snot out of Columbus. I expected Columbus to win at least ONE game. Maybe they'll take one at home. The Blue Jackets fans need that much. They need to see their team win at least ONE playoff game or they really won't be much better off than they were when they never made the playoffs. Come on, Nasher!!

• The Sabres signed T.J. Brennan and Drew Scheistel the other day, both to three year entry-level deals. Welcome Aboard posts forthcoming.

• Check out The Faceoff Boards, just added to the blogroll on the right, or click the link.

• I just started working at Macy's and I trained all day yesterday with a woman who had no teeth in the top of her mouth. There are MANY things about a person's appearance I can disregard and ignore but a lack of chompers is not one of them. We all know how much I love Matt Greene, but I saw a video of him the other day in which he was missing about 5 or 6 teeth in the top of his mouth and I was totally grossed out. I didn't think it was possible.

• The Team USA roster is BALONEY. Ok, not completely. It boasts Jack Johnson (LAK), Dustin Brown (LAK), Patrick O'Sullivan (EDM, formerly LAK), Robert Esche (Somewhere in Russia), Nick Foligno (OTT) and Staffy. However it DOES NOT boast Matt Greene, Paul Gaustad, Peter Mueller, or any of the other still eligible gents. Although, the roster got a SERIOUS boost when Jonathan Quick was indicated as probably joining the team after his groin heals up. THEN J-M Liles was added. Let's take a moment and reflect on why J-M is so popular with this blog.

1. He's Ryan Miller's BFF
2. He's an excellent defenseman who plays a lot of minutes and can really move the puck
Reasons 3. through 56986987. He's pretty...

Let's Do It For Our Country

• I have more training today. Hoo. Ray. Happy Sunday everyone.

• Also, Brett Bucktooth, my favorite Bandit whom I mentioned once a few months ago scored a goal last night and I discovered he wears #26. 26 happens to be my lucky number. Its like it was written in the stars for Brett Bucktooth to be my default favorite Bandit. Oh and that one I thought was cute, Kim, help a sister out here. Scott or Sean Greensomething. Yes, my dedication to him his made obvious by my inability to accurately recall his name.

• Wait, GREENsomething. Perhaps I just have a fixation on players with players who have a color as part of their last name. Although, as of yet I have not fallen for Wade REDden or Andrew BRUNette
  

• If you have a spleen that you are fond of, do not play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is the second year in a row that a player has had to have their ruptured spleen removed. Last year it was Avery and just yesterday, the Bruins' Matt Hunwick had to have his spleen removed. In 2007 my dog had his spleen removed but he wasn't playing in the playoffs that year so I'm not sure how its relevant other than I just realized that my cocker spaniel and Sean Avery have something in common.