LabattBlue

I am not sure if Max can be consistent throughout the season(and the playoffs), but I am surprised by his point total to date. If he can keep this up and end up with 85+ points, his recently signed contract is going to end up being a steal for the Sabres. If other GM's haven't noticed yet, what Max has done to Hatcher and Witt in recent games is going to make them realize that the slow footed blueliners have no future in the NHL. One note on the game...it is very encouraging that the Sabres can have a game as sloppy as this one was at times, and still come away with a 3-0 road victory.

Kotalik was one of my question marks coming into this year, but I'd be more concerned if the Sabres were losing and he was not performing. Keep in mind that his PP time is being reduced due to the presence of Spacek on the PP point along with Pominville's continued emergence(including time on the PP point). That being said he does have two goals(fluky or not) and hopefully he will get hot soon as he strikes me as the type of player who is streaky. The important thing is that he works hard and contributes in other ways when the puck is not going in the net.

Ottawa fans have seen this before(Game 5 of last years playoffs). Tallinder scores in the first minute of the game and Pominville scores the game winner. Other thoughts... -Great shot by Drury to make it 3-1 -Biron was excellent. One 3rd period save on a pass across the crease was his best save of the night. -Much like last year, Roy, Max & Vanek as a line concern me in their own end. You have to play smarter with a 3-1 lead than that. -Tallinder was very good again last night. Jumping in to the play early in the game to get the goal and being very solid in his own end. I thought Lydman struggled though with a couple of bad giveaways. -Pominville looks like he is destined to be score 25-30 goals a year. His confidence is building. -After getting spanked by Ottawa during the regular season last year, it is good to go into their arena and get a W. GO SABRES!!!

Game thoughts... - I'm not sure if one referee was responsible for all the calls(including the quick whistle on the Max goal that was waved off), but if so, he is terrible. -Does anyone know why the Sabres like to crowd into a small area when on a 5 on 3? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to spread the players out and force the opposition to chase a little? -It's only two games in, by I don't see Vanek dogging it as much and I also sense more of a willingness to work harder along the boards and in traffic. -Great pass by I believe Kalinin to send in Briere all alone. -Where the heck did a good chunk of the fans go? A 2 goal deficit with 5 minutes left in the game and you are running for the exits? -Fantastic shots by both Max and Vanek in the shootout. -Kevin Sylvester and Rob Roy are still terrible. - Amerks win opener 6-0...Stafford and Paille 3 points each!!!!!! GO SABRES!!!!

Don't you worry about the Sabres game. Instead, I expect a lengthy report on the Sabres prospects in Rochester. ;)

Buffalo 5 Montreal 1. Sabres come out firing and never let up. Game is over by the 2nd period and Peters will see his only 3rd period ice time all year long. ;) Goal scorers... Vanek, Pominville, Tallinder, Roy & Briere.

Sabres win a close one 3-2. Roy nets 2 and Drury gets the other one.

I'm listening to the wgr feed. Seem to be working okay.

Your new avatar says it all! Also on this day...Larry Quinn realizes he has F***ed this up in a big way and is trying to find a scape goat to blame the new logo design on. His choice...Jay McKee, since he is on his way out anyways. ;)

This was a very good deal by Regier. Even though I was slightly disappointed in Hecht's game during the playoffs, he is one of the Sabres best forwards and one that I would like to see locked up before he hits the UFA market. He turned 29 yesterday and I'm not sure if he has 1 or 2 years left on his current deal.

Gilles Hamel...pumped in a very impressive 27 goals during his first year with Winnipeg and then fell off the face of the earth. :o http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=2106

12 shots on goal? WOW! Why do you torture me PASabreFan with these great memories? B-)

I remember Gare being very bitter to the tune of something like..."How could they do this to me after all I've done for the team". In hindsight, Foligno had 10 good years for the team and Peterson was a solid checking center for 4 years. It's safe to say Foligno was one of the most popular Sabres in their history.

Can we skip "This day in history" on "no goal" day? ;)

While sitting at the game last night I was wondering the same thing. I thought for a while I was watching pee-wee hockey and that the Sabres were not capable of lifting the puck off the ice. :P Note to Sabres...it is very difficult to beat a goalie who is in the butterfly position with a shot along the ice.

Can this series end already. Bernie Parent is torturing me. :angry:

I hate you Bernie Parent. Better goaltending was definitely the difference in this series. :angry: :angry:

Campbell cannot handle the minutes of a top 4 defenseman. Increasing his minutes will hurt the Sabres as much as having to play Fitzpatrick or Janik more. Unfortunately, the Sabres can't get by on just playing McKee, Lydman & Tallinder.

I thought before the game the score was going to be 4-1, the only problem is that I thought this was the game the Sabres stepped up their play and showed that they can be a dominant team. :( Not only do they need to win 3 & 4, they need to play strong. GO SABRES!!

Just a couple of observations 24 hours later... I was very worried about the Vanek-Max-Roy line in their own zone, but they held their own and Vanek played with enough intensity to show that he may still be a factor down the road. To close out a 2nd series in a row on the road was really special and shows me that this playoff run could really be something special. For a guy(Pominville) who wore the label of "one dimensional player who may not be fast enough to make it at the next level" prior to the season, he came out of nowhere to burst by Alfie. Still unbelievable. I don't think Connolly will be back this year, but I pray to the hockey gods, that Kalinin is a fast healer. Miller deserves kudos. He was really steadied his game and appears to be gaining confidence. GO SABRES!!!!

My game thoughts... -The arena was filled with "Let's Go Buffalo" & "EMMMEERRYYY" chants all night long. Going down the stairwells after the game it continued with "SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP" chants. -Saying the arena was loud after Dumont's goal would be the understatement of all-time. -It looks like Vanek is firmly in the press box for the near future unless there is a rash of injuries. -Pregame party was good except they could have used about 50 more beer vendors. Did they think everyone was going to show up and want to drink pop? <_< -Tallinder is the man!!! -Novotny showed great poise in his first NHL playoff game. -Now that's the Max I've been looking for. -Great effort by Miller and solid team defense. The 2nd period was somewhat weak, but I thought the Sabres had the edge in play in the 1st & 3rd except for when the refs were trying to give Ottawa the game. -Fitzpatrick stepped in and gave a solid effort. -When the PA announcer got on to announce the game winning goal by Dumont, the entire crowd did it with him. VERY COOL! -WTF were the refs looking at(review) after the OT goal.

To the amazement of all , the Sabres jump out to an early lead and hang on at the end for a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead. Connolly continues his charge to the forefront of stardom. GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!! GO SABRES!!!!

Game 6 thoughts... -After all his years in the NHL, Teppo finally gets to play on a team that WINS a playoff series. -Silence is golden...there was no sound sweeter than the deafening silence in the Wachovia Center last night. -As a sidenote to the point above, I wonder if the fans, as they sat in shock, could hear RJ with his calls of "THEY SCOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!. :lol: -What a pitiful effort on behalf of the Flyers. I'm surprised any fans were left by the end of the game. -Good to see Drury-Roy-Grier get it going offensively. -One positive not on the Flyers...I was pleasantly surprised that they did not goon it up in the 3rd period. BRING ON THE SENATORS...GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One aggravating thing about yesterdays game... One consecutive PP's in the 1st period, Drury tried to stickhandle through the Flyers as he entered their zone. This is what I expect from Max, not from the leader of the team.

The Sabres really put the clamps down on the FLyers. GREAT team defensive effort and most fun I have had at a Sabres game in a LONG time.