Iron Crotch

Yep. Got stuck up at the blue line while his man scored behind him.

Ugh. That lead didn't last long...

Wow - the Leafs defense parted like the red sea there! Nice shot, Reggie!

Was watching the St. Louis Blues on TV the other night and the commentator was noting how their offensive zone entries are flawless. Everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing and where they're supposed to be on the ice. Then I watch the Sabres continuously get rejected at the blue line... and I wonder if we even have a game plan for zone entry?

Not Weber's best fight, that's for sure...

As best as I can tell, it was started by the fans themselves at the end of 2008 when the team was clinging to a one goal lead in the third period of a game that could clinch a playoff spot. It was unprompted. Then it somehow just stuck. It would only happen a few times per year in 09-10, but now it is every home game.

I could see Ellis being sent down (doubt anyone would pick him up). I'd also love to see us trade Leo. Many teams are looking for veteran d-men.

The TV timeout standing O is unbelievable to see in person. It absolutely fires up both the fans and team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBB2BIhTIcs

One of the big differences between Buffalo and other markets, as I see it, is the quality of in-game marketing. Buffalo is stuck in the 1970's when it comes to creating a fun in-game experience that isn't entirely reliant on an exciting game on the ice. I've had season tickets in Nashville for the past 4 years and it is consistently a louder barn than Buffalo. Not even close. Here they have ice girls, mascots rappelling from the rafters, an exciting pre-game intro designed to fire up fans... they have a boisterous arena announcer who fires up the crowd (the days of Milt Ellis type announcers are long gone), they play the sort of upbeat music that fires up the crowd (granted the world-class sound system here helps), they have in-game giveaways and contests, they have funny videos playing during stoppages in play, they have fun stuff where they bash the other team during timeouts, they have various fan contests between periods... They also have a stage set up at one end of the arena where live music is played between periods (often by big-named stars who live in the area). Here there is a "7th Man" tradition where during one TV timeout of every game the entire crowd will stand and cheer (standing ovation) for the entirety of the TV timeout, regardless of the game or score (very cool if you haven't seen it). Many on here think it is "gimmicky" to try to add to the in-game experience. I disagree. This sort of stuff makes the arena experience fun, regardless of how lousy the team may be playing.

I'm watching the Nashville - Phoenix game and the arena in Glendale, AZ is easily 2/3 empty... probably 3/4 empty. It continues to be a complete embarrassment for the league to have a team there.

Darcy is indecisive and will wait until the last minute to decide... what a shock. :P

That's just it. We had all sorts of proven centermen 5-6 years ago. We let Briere go. We let Drury go. We let Timmy go. We let Roy go. We let Goose go. Regardless of why any of those moves happened, you'd think a GM could look at his roster and have the foresight to see that he has no proven NHL centers to replace those he let walk. Hodgson is basically a rookie still. Ennis didn't start playing center until the end of last year. Grigo is 18. Hecht is pretty much a winger. Leino doesn't even want to play there. You'd think an NHL GM would see that he has no proven centers and maybe address the problem by bringing in an older veteran guy for a year or two.

Good thing TP gave Darcy a contact extension. Glad to see we're committed to sustained mediocrity. :cry: BTW - I get the feeling Derek Roy is going to have a huge year in Dallas.

Without Vanek our forward lines look pretty pedestrian to me... our best chance to win is to play a hard-nosed, gritty, dump-and-chase style and roll 4 lines. This game will have to be won the hard way... we'll have to play gay porn hard (I watched Goon last night)!

In the past, Lindy has played a d-man as a 4th line winger. I actually wouldn't mind seeing Weber in place of Scott on the wing. At worst it allows some insurance should a d-man go down or a couple d-men end up in the box. I can't imagine Weber being any less skilled as a winger than Scott!

Yeah, I fly all the time and to have a random search is totally humiliating. It feels like you're assumed guilty until proven innocent. And at a sporting event it is even more ridiculous... I'd like to see the statistics on when wanding or random pat-downs have EVER averted a dangerous action at a sporting event. Seems like it is just a way to allow uneducated grunts a 60-second power trip and a license to harrass whomever they choose.

Is the "WHAT A GOAL!" call really necessary on an empty netter? Boy I hate the Canes... and their announcing team...

Awful.

Oh crap, they called that on Vanek?!

Vanek is definitely earning his paycheck tonight.

Look what happens when you actually shoot the puck.

Faceoff losses cost us again.

Jordan Staal also lacks eyebrows.

"Biscuit in the Basket" and "Hey, hey what do you say?" are two of the stupidest goal calls imaginable.

VAN THE MAN!!!