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JACK'S BACK The night we've all been waiting for: Jack Eichel and Your Buffalo Sabres start the season.... for realz this time. Now it's not quite official but I'd be shocked if we don't see Jack on the ice tonight. The Sabres have taken 3 of 4 points from Ottawa so far this year. This is a good rivalry game, and a great time for Jack to come out scoring. Let's take it to the Senators! And now, a word from our MODO:

This ain't no party. This ain't no disco. This ain't no foolin' around. There was a bit of a circus attitude around the Toronto game. I mean, you can't get too hyped up because half the arena was going to be from Toronto. They're just weird, those games against the Leafs. Ottawa's a different story. There are blood lines that have been crossed. Our GM is from there, he's cherry picked some of the players out of their system. He drafted some of the players on their team. This is a case where familiarity breeds contempt. This isn't a fun exhibition in front of fans from both cities, this is a grudge match. There is no love lost between the Sabres and Sens. The Sabres seem to get up for the Sens. They take care of business. Let's hope the do exactly that tonight in Ottawa. The Sabres are a frustrated team, beating Toronto in all respects except the scoreboard. The only thing that will satisfy their lust is blood a win. I'm looking forward to a good game. A game were the Sabres get back to the things that made them successful in their 3-game winning streak. Look for a lot of energy, a lot of hounding, busy sticks and effective checks. Roster note: Justin Bailey was sent down to Rochester, and William Carrier was called up to replace him. Look for Nick Baptiste to slide over to the right wing while Carrier makes his NHL regular season debut. LET'S GO BUFFALO!

In a few threads we have discussed how craptastic Montreal is and how the Bruins are trending down. I wanted to centralize that discussion. I think Buffalo is on the rise. They have depth and talent. Our defense and GT is a question but I think compared to Montreal, NYR, Boston, and Ottawa that we are trending in the right direction. So which team in the Eastern Conference is the biggest dumpster fire or soon to be dumpster fire (within 2 years)? I had this to say about Boston: 2014 #25 - David Pastrnak, not a bad pick here but honestly I am taking Adrian Kempe if I am Boston #56 - Ryan Donato, not terrible but Kirkland, Dvorak, Jonas Johansson all sitting around raises and eyebrow Then this ###### happened. I have never seen a worse series of first round picks in my life. If Boston had drafted Zboril, Connor, Barzal, they would have had an amazing draft class. Or Zboril, Connor, Boeser and again what an amazing first round... instead they take freaking Senyshyn and DeBrusk. DeBrusk might have been okay but then Boeser, Connor and Barzal (who all were ranked higher) played so much better. 2015 #13 - Jakub Zboril, a little early but a good first round pick #14 - Jake DeBrusk, way early but I guess if you really want him, still confusing with who else was on the board #15 - Zachary Senyshyn, no just no. Boeser, Connor, Barzal all on the board and they take a guy who was slated for the mid to late 2nd at best. I need to break down how bad this is. Let's forget Zboril for a touch. This is their 2015/2016 seasons ppg Debrusk - 1.066ppg WHL Senyshyn - 0.985ppg OHL Boeser - 1.429ppg NCAA Connor - 1.868ppg NCAA Barzal - 1.517ppg WHL For comparison Eichel was 1 year younger but put up 1.775ppg in his NCAA year 2016 #14 - Charlie McAvoy, I had them taking him and this is a good pick #29 - Trent Frederic, the f#ck? He was graded out to late 2nd or early 3rd round guy, projects to be a 2nd line winger at best and they drafted him. Could have had Asplund, Laberge, Hajek, Mascherin, Debrincat but nope they took Trent Frederic... #49 - Ryan Lindgren, about where he should have gone but Clague and Grundstrom still sitting there and both still ranked higher than Trent Frederic.

*Ahem* Yooooouuuuuuurrrrrrr Buuuuuffffffaaallllloooooooo Saaaabbbrrreesssss are reaaadddyyyy tooooo rumble!!!!! We're back in black baby, and ready for action. We've got ROR back, Jack Eichel scoring likes it's his ###### job (which it is), a wizard in Samson Reinhart on his wing, and Captain Insano in net. We. Are. Ready. To Rolllllllll!!!!. Your Buffalo Sabres are currently coming off a 3-2 OT loss, one in which punctuating just how salty the leagues mouth tastes when it comes to the Montreal Canadians, and are looking to come back with a statement win tonight against the divisional rival Ottawa Senators. The loss, however many 'bullshits' were involved, did indeed see the revival of the Sabres power play as ROR made a b-e-a-utiful sauce pass over to 'Bury One, Give One' (@LTS) Bogosian for a questionable goal to say the least. Still, combining that with a little bit o' rough and tough that the refs stopped in order to save Scrivens from testing the Canadian health care system, the Sabres played a good game, and one they should have one. Look for your boys in blue and gold to come out strong tonight, and ruin the annual playoff push that is the Ottawa Senators attempting to legitimize failing to support the best offensive defenseman since Bobby Orr The Senators? These guys? These guys right here? Well, ###### these guys. Sitting at 74 points, 7 outside of the last playoff spot, Ottawa still thinks they can somehow make it in and lose in the first round yet again. Cue the entire Canadian capital going crazy during the offseason, freaking out that they were 'this close' from a legitimate playoff push. Hey Ottawa, wanna know what you're missing? Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly....yeah, centers. Enjoy your misery and the insane contract you shackled Karlsson to while it lasts. Game Preview Stats: All Stats: Ottawa @ Buffalo (3-1 loss) All Stats: Buffalo @ Ottawa (3-2 win) All Stats: Buffalo @ Ottawa (2-1 loss) Thursday Practice Report Buffalo: Forwards: 9 Evander Kane – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 44 Nicolas Deslauriers 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 23 Sam Reinhart 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 19 Cal O'Reilly – 17 David Legwand – 26 Matt Moulson Defense: 4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 29 Jake McCabe – 47 Zach Bogosian 25 Carlo Colaiacovo – 3 Mark Pysyk Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson

(ahem)......Yooooooouuuuuuuuurrrrrr Buffalo Sabres will stroll on up to Canada's capital tonight for a division showdown against the revamped Ottawa Senators. The Sabres, having won 2 straight and earned points in 6 out of their last 8, will look to continue their winning ways and cling to the hope that is a playoff spot. Coming off a 4-1 win against Colorado on Sunday afternoon, the Sabres started hot early with a beautiful coast to coast goal from Jack Eichel and a responding Reinhart goal later on, one that saw the rookies continue their torrid race to lead the team in goals. Evander Kane also scored early on, and appears to have finally found his way in Buffalo as his recent hot streak has him at 16 goals now, 1 behind Reinhart, Eichel, and ROR for the team lead, despite having played 10 less games. Kane's recent antics will cost him yet another game, no doubt a power move by Evander as his self-sabotage will only make his eventual goal totals even that much more impressive. Ahhh, the Senators. Let's just say that the first blockbuster of the NHL world hasn't really paid off so far for Ottawa. Losers of 3 straight and 3-7 in their last 10, Brian Murray's gamble to vault his team into playoff contention has, thus far, completely back-fired, leaving Ottawa 8 points back of playoff contention, and a mere 4 points ahead of the team engineered by his nephew, the Sabres. The Sabres and Senators enter tonight's game with a 1-1 season tie in the series, with Buffalo winning the most recent contest 3-2 right before the ASB. The win featured 2 additions to the Eichel tower, and a towering performance by ex-Senator Robin Lehner, who's Davie Crockett impression single-handedly saved the game for the last 12 minutes of the 3rd. The Sabres will be without Evander Kane for his antics. Look for Lehner to start. Jack has 3 goals against Ottawa in his young career so far, including his first NHL goal Game Preview STATS: All Stats OBuffalo @ Ottawa(3-2 win) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Monday Practice report Forwards: 88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 26 Matt Moulson 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 56 Justin Bailey Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 47 Zach Bogosian, 3 Mark Pysyk, 46 Cody Franson, 6 Mike Weber, 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson