SabreFX

Milbury doesn't think a guy getting skate kicked in the abdomen and groin is reason enough for the trailing ref to blow the whistle.

They're so much smarter defensively with Enroth in net. Miller's composure isn't quite there tonight, but he's still putting in a solid effort and saving their butts. Bruins should have 5 or 6 by now. I hate how the Sabres have reverted to just standing in a little box directly in front of Miller.

What did Kaleta say? I hate that DirecTV cuts off the feed so soon after the horn sounds.

Roo-we-dull looked pretty good there on the one shift I've seen so far. Certainly smarter and more alive than Myers ever does.

At least the Amerks line continues to show signs of life. Let's hope they don't go all Foligno on us next season.

So Vanek came back too soon...again. He's great when he's at 100% which typically only lasts about 15 games thanks to the 50 cross checks he takes to the back and ribs per night, and he's kind of brutal the rest of the time when he's Mr. Grimace. His next team will have to invest either in some much needed back surgery (hey, maybe Darcy can pull another damaged-goods trade like the Roy for Ott one) or they'll be buying him some new body armor. Once again, expecting them to win 4 in a row was a bit too much.

If we have to have games on NBC, I will happily have Dave Strader and Brian Engblom call them talk during them than Doc, Ed, and Pierre by far. Sure, they mentioned Ovechkin more than any one Sabre, but their ramblings are at least mostly cohesive and Engblom is quick to praise a good play regardless of which team did it. They did seem to have some heavy man-crushes on Steve Sullivan though.

Ah, gotcha. I don't buy that excuse that the Pens fall apart without him. I'm not saying that's what you're saying, but some of the commentators have implied it even when those same people were the ones saying the Penguins had enough talent and depth to overcome Crosby's absence prior to them losing to Buffalo.

I didn't see the game. What did Orpik do/not do?

Penguins lost 6-1 to NYR. BWAHAHAHAHAHA. Look what Buffalo started.

My prediction: The Sabres will take an early 2-0 lead on goals by Ennis, stunning the Penguins who expected Buffalo to roll over as soon as the puck dropped. Rolston, finally realizing that the Sabres can't protect two or three goal leads, tells his team to go for the jugular. Luke Adam regains his confidence and scores two more. 4-2 Sabres after 1 period. The Penguins try to scare Buffalo into their usual shell in the first part of the 2nd period. Matt Cooke tries to take Kaleta's head off, but Patty sees it coming and turtles. Cooke misses and ends up cracking Iginla's skull. John Scott gets a game misconduct for yelling "OH SNAP!!!". The Penguins, in disarray, allow three more goals. 7-2 Sabres. A frustrated James Neal cross-checks Gerbe in the face repeatedly. Ref grabs Gerbe by the jersey and throws him in the box for embellishment. Penguins score on the powerplay. 7-3 Sabres. During the 2nd intermission, Milbury drops some F-bombs and is escorted out of the building. He punches a little kid on the way out. Third period gets underway. Myers accidently scores on Miller after tripping over his own big stupid feet. Miller gives him the standard "are you effing kidding me!?" look. 7-4 Sabres. Stafford, realizing he can make himself look good on NBC, cradles a pass that was going a whole foot-and-a-half away from his stick and scores. 8-4 Sabres. Marc-Andre Fleury, now in goal in relief of Vokoun, has flashbacks to last year's playoff series with Philly and is mentally shaken to the point that Jochen Hecht scores. 9-4 Sabres. Fleury leaves the game in tears. Vokoun back in goal. Rolston allows Myers to play right wing since he won't play D anymore anyway. Myers scores but is swiftly beaten up by Cooke. 10-4 Sabres. Refs penalize Cooke this time. On the powerplay, Pominville turns the puck over and the Penguins score short-handed. 10-5 Sabres. A closeup shot of Miller shows him mouthing the words "ugh, here we go again" and he prepares himself for the inevitable onslaught of Penguins shots. Penguins pull their goalie for the extra man. Ennis scores on the empty net for the hat trick! Sabres fans in attendance throw their hats. Time runs out. GAME OVER 11-5 Sabres. The Aftermath: Lemieux writes an angry letter to the league complaining about the disrespect the Sabres showed by scoring repeatedly on his team and ruining their streak and promises to do everything in his power to avenge it. Crosby, released from the hospital earlier today is reached for comment and mumbles something about Sabres fans throwing too many hats on the ice after Ennis' hatty. The NHL Board of Governors concurs and fines the Buffalo Sabres $30,000. Pegula digs in his pocket and pays it- cash. Shanahan announces that Kaleta is suspended 8 games for his role in Iginla's head injury. Sabres fans, excited after this win begin to wonder if this is a turning point for the team. It won't be. Ottawa scores 2 goals in the opening minute of Friday's game and everything returns to normal in Hockey Heaven.

Worry not Flyers fans, here are some of the struggling teams Buffalo has handed games to this season alone: Panthers, Capitals, Jets, Devils... What's that? Oh, your third string goalie is called up? We'll make him look like a Vezina contender. Your $tar player is in an embarrassing slump? We'll leave 'em open on the power-play and make sure to pass him the puck as much as possible. You question whether your designated goon is of enough value to even get you a 4th round draft pick? Tell him to shoot glove-side from the point, he's pretty much guaranteed one or two points for the night. Your vets are injured and have been replaced by nervous rookies with questionable talent? Go on, grab that trophy puck out of the back of the net for him, he'll want to show that to his grand-kids some day. I love the Buffalo Sabres and I hate feeling that what I've described above is more the norm, than the exception. Grrrrrrrr.

These are the guys who more often than not play like they want it. Our experienced guys? Not so much.

I like you guys. Those are the only acceptable answers.

What would we do with it?