Game On!

I'm going to try a live game blog tonight. First off if you haven't read the Buffalo News' 40 memories article do so. I'll post the link later.

With a few minutes to go to face-off it's good to see RJ.

Random thought -- is there a Blogger app for the i-phone?

Anthems -- the live band was quite sweet, but the singer was a tad flat, but then again he's still far and away a better singer than I am.

Katebits must be famous -- a pop-up showing the HD feeds for the game said "TWC."

And we have real hockey!

With 2 minutes gone it's been in the Sabres end too much

18:00 -- post.

My source for the video feed cut out so I'm on WGR's app to listen -- not sure what the lag is yet.

Video's back at about 14:00

I realize not many people will read this, but I always enjoy reading live game blogs afterwards, and figured it'd be fun. Miller does't seem to have gathered any cobwebs t brush off over the summer


ROY SCORES! Beautiful

Apparently Harry agrees with me, calling it a "highlight" goal.

Well, at least Buffalo has one team that knows what it's like to lead a game!

And my I just saw that my mom commented on it in her facebook status almost as soon as Roy scored. What can I say, it's a family thing.

10:20 -- not sure about that face-off. I'm looking at you, Niedermeyer.

Powerplay -- tripping by Ottawa's 9,

1:10 down in PP and it's looking just as craptastic as ever.

PP over, hope to see some improvement on that this season.

Goose and Montador standing up, looks like a Kaleta penalty,

Goose, Montador, and Kaleta standing up of Leopold. Lets hope there's more of that this season.

3:15 -- Miller chant starts

2:40 -- Good save, maybe by Morrisonn after Miller is caught out of position.

:45 -- Roy wide on a breakaway; Great read to start his rush.

End of 1st -- 1-0 Buffalo

Second Period:
What's up with the bright blue dashers? The ad for Irwin and Enterprise looks like they might be electronic. That's got to mess with that board, but then maybe it's just the cameras.

Couple chances this period already -- our boys look dominate in the first minute and a half here.

17:32 -- I think I'd like Ruutu if he was on another team simply because he has a fun name.

15:35 -- those 2 boards are definitely electronic -- now advertising Subway and something else. That's got to have an effect on the puck when it hits that part of the boards. Sorry, my nerd side is coming out again.

PP, Buff, pen to Fisher of Ottawa. Lets hope it's better.

14:15 -- Meyers had a bad pass letting Ottawa to run down and eat time.

This power play is looking even worse -- Stafford tries a drop pass type thing and gives it away. Giveaways galore.

And now for something completely different.
Last weekend I was at a party at a friend's house and for the first time in my life I won a "guess how many candies are in the jar" contest. Candy corns are great, except for my teeth.

Lee holds up Grier, so another powerplay.

Poor Vanek can't get anything in on like 100 attempts tonight. Vanek takes high stick from Ruutu, but no penalty!

The Buffalo Herd's (a group that raises money for the Ottawa Children's Hospital)hats remind me of Fred Flintstone's lodge hat.

Lots of pushing and shoving tonight, but then how could we expect anything less against Ottawa.

6:42 -- Sabres get 100 rebounds but can't bury the puck.

Ottawa getting a few chances...

Kelly scores to tie the game at one with less than a minute left off a feed from Ruutu. The rush was spurred when the puck jumped Leopold's stick.

End of Second -- 1-1.

Drink some water and breathe boys, then come out strong and pull out the win!

Well, I'm not sure if I'm going to make it through this game -- I'm back on a (mostly) normal sleep schedule and by 2130 my body now knows to sleep. So not cool when hockey's on.

Hahaha, the Ford Fiesta is back.

Montador, 2 min for slashing, 17:45

Eating away time on the PK quite nicely.

PK successful.

10:41 -- Campoli, cross checking. Great, we have to endure another powerplay.

GOAL! Either Vanek or Roy. The powerplay worked!

Roy credited with the goal.

Come on, boys, lets get another one.

I learned earlier tonight that Vanek is the same age as I am. He wrote a book (available in Europe and only in German), whereas I finally got a college degree and still need another few years of school before I get to what I want to do with my life.

Senators on the powerplay, but I missed why.

Another successful PK

Neil went after someone. I still hate that guy. Ok, so maybe not hate, but if I was on the street I'd go out of my way to either call him a jerk or completely ignore him.

Penalties to Roy and Neil, which should give us some good 4-on-4 hockey! I actually enjoy that -- more open ice to let the plays develop. I'd love it if the NHL went to 10 minute 4-on-4 OTs and did away with the skills competition shootout.

4:35 -- Montador down on the ice but reaches out with his stick to knock the puck away. I love seeing dedication like that.

3-on-1, Ennis' shot goes wide.

Penalty to Stafford at 2:50

Goose wins the faceoff and leaves the ice, reminding us all of the why it's great to have a face-off specialist.

Less than 2 in regulation

Roy blocks a shot, as does Pomminville when Ottawa had an empty net but can't make things happen. Will they keep the net empty with 46 seconds left?

Net still empty...

Penalty to Grier for slashing with 20.6 seconds left. Cue '80s synth pump up song, "The Final Countdown." I hate the '80s synth sounds.

1.3 seconds left, maybe, as .3 seconds were added a few seconds ago.

SABRES WIN! Yeah, Baby, beating the Sens is an excellent way to start the season!

Fun Stuff and Odds & Ends

When I was in school (I think around 8th or 9th grade) one of the teachers (my friend John's mom) organized us to play Boomwhackers (plastic tubes which are designed to play a specific note when struck) and we performed "Joyful, Joyful." Today my my college West Civ teacher discovered them via the internet and posted some videos. One of them caught my eye, and so I give you Sabre Dance performed on Boomwhackers.



I know many of you are a trapped in the off-season lull, but I am already getting excited for the season. I can't wait for hockey to start. We already have the schedules out and soon the season will start. Being a fan from the distance isn't always (read: is never) easy, especially when I don't have fancy things like satellite TV or NHL Season Pass, but I love following the games. (I've mentioned before how I got the Flycast app for my phone so I can drive around listening to RJ calling the game even when I'm 4 hours away from Buffalo. 'Tis great!) I love that more of my fellow bloggers will have regular Sabres updates, and that feeling during the first few games that anything's possible, no matter what decisions, good, bad, or indifferent, were made during the off season. There's something about the start of the season which is full of hope, and I, for one, can't wait for everyone to get swept up it. That, to me, is a huge part of what being a fan is all about.

Where have I been?

Well I ought to have updated this several times since I last did, but I have excuses! At first I didn't want to talk about the olympics, then I got busy with school. Somewhere in there depression over the Sabres early departure kicked in, but I promise that I was working on a post before they dropped the series. Mix in a desperate need to find a new place to live then moving and starting my summer job and you get this far into the summer without hearing from me.

My summer has been good though. Just a couple brief thoughts -- I light the signing of Rob Neidermeyer (or however it's spelled) I think it will help even out the young bucks. Kaleta's settlement is a good thing and I'm glad that Darcy knows how to use arbitration. For those of you who have been under a bigger rock than I have been the Sabres took Kaleta to arbitration so no one else could sign him to a pricey offer sheet (a la Vanek) so we would have more time to negotiate a good contract. It seems all parties involved got what they wanted. I'm not sure how I feel about Kennedy getting waived, in part because I have not read anything about the situation. I have no thoughts on Jordan Leopold since I don't know much about him.

Catching up

Ok, time for a real update. I could make excuses about being busy with school and other stuff after the Olympic break, but the truth is that I could have blogged about the Sabres if I wanted to do so. Lets face it -- they didn't give me much reason to talk last month. But now they are (almost) back to their old form and have locked up the NE Division. Our boys finally get another shot at that nice shiny cup. IF they decide to play well in front of Miller then they have a pretty good shot at it. Lets face it, as much as we all enjoyed Miller getting international recognition during the Olympics we were all thinking "If he loses it here but wins us the cup then it's all fine." Right now they need to have their "eyes on the prize, man, eyes on the prize," but not in the Mystic Spiral sort of way. (Side note: I just tried to find a clip of Trent and Jesse doing their "eyes on the prize" thing and couldn't find one.)

At any rate I plan on commenting a bit more on here. But right now I'm going to enjoy the awesomeness of finishing no worse than 3rd in the East (and possibly 2nd) as I fall asleep.

Buyer's Remorse

If I were the GM of an NHL team other than the Sabres I think I would make it a policy never to sign a free agent who came from the Sabres. The Flyers signed Briere and all they for was a huge cap hit plagued with injuries. Drury's production has dropped significantly since signing with the Rangers and now Ales Kotalik is a -18 and looking for a new team. Now the trades seemto be doing alright but if I were a supersticious person (which I am most definitely not) I might infer there is a post-Buffalo curse. I, however, think that someone decided to make a calculated risk that didn't work for the Flyers and Rangers but paid off (in part) for Buffalo.


I started typing this in the morning but heard that Kotalik is off to Calgary for a 4th liner.

Mayday!

So I've been a lazy blogger. I've been reading and writing other things and bored out of my mind. Unemployment doesn't suit me at all. I'm really looking forward to going back to school next month just to have something to do. Anyway on to hockey-related thoughts.

I'm not going to lie. When the Sabres lost 4 in a row I was starting to worry they were falling into old habits, but they've pulled out. Kudos to LaLime for his win over Chicago of all teams. I have much more confidence in our back-up than I did before. I'd like to take a moment and reflect on back-up goalies. A few years ago I met John Blue, former back-up for the Sabres (and the Bruins) at a church-planting conference run by The Chapel. He is now working with a new church in Orange County, California. I definitely didn't expect to meet a former Sabre there, but it was cool. After one session which was held over Buffalo wings the guys from my church and I were talking with him. One of the guys from my church brought up hockey, and Mr. Blue mentioned how as a back up goalie they have to be ready for anything. They never know when they will be called up to jump in the middle of a game due to an injury or start with very little notice. Yet if a back-up loses a couple games then all confidence in them can be easily lost. I never really thought of what kind of nerves they must have to fight before that. But think about it -- a good back-up is easily forgotten. They come in for a game or too and if they are good they win them or at least keep it close, yet no one will remember the good back-ups because if they were really good then they'd be a starter. It is assumed that a back-up isn't that great. On the other side of the coin a bad back-up goalie is remembered for being, well, bad. Why did Lindy Ruff fide Miller so much last year? Because we had no faith in LaLime. I'm very glad that LaLime has improved and I think he can become a very dependable, (and, unfortunately, forgettable) back-up.

How great is it to see different guys stepping up? Hank has double his goals from last season already, which rocks. Who really expected Kaleta to have 2 goals in a game and get us a win the other night? Certainly not this guy. It's great to see our rookie defenseman getting in on the scoring action as well. Yes, I know, the top six need to contribute more, but it's refreshing for me to see more guys stepping up that Goose and Miller. Granted my perspective on last season is a bit skewed since I had very very limited internet access last season (it still blows my mind that I actually had a more dependable connection in Iraq than I did at the posts I was at for training before then). Mid-November to the week before Christmas last year was a total loss for following the team, but it seemed that when I would check in on the Sabres it was the same comments from bloggers (and at times Miller and Goose as well) about lack of effort and how 2 guys were carrying the team. This year more guys are stepping up in enough ways to pull wins out of games that would have been lost last year.

Finally the reason for the title of the post. I was looking up funny pictures today and this one just made me think "What in the world is going on here?" It's one of those 1 in a billion shots where you can't help but think "That is the most awkwardly timed picture ever."


That's certainly not how I remember Brad May. For more entertaining sports pics go here

Yes, I finally got to see this. Apparently the owner or co-owner of the Allen Americans is a Stanley Cup winner (Red Wings, 2002, or at least that's what I heard. I'm too lazy to look it up right now)

I also got to see some good hockey last night with a 5-1 win for the home team and a good fight right in front. It was the first time my cousin Kim has seen a hockey fight live.

As always I ran into some other Sabres fans and was able to let them know the score because I have a fancy phone now that lets me follow my team from anywhere I have a cell signal. (I can even listen to RJ's play by play in my car, which is nice when I'm driving around Scranton)

Here's a few more pics from last night.










I was just able to get my camera in since although it has a nice lens with great zoom capabilities the lens does not detach.

So I give up on listening to the Sabres game tonight sine every time I try to I hear Boston score right away.

So right now I am on a road trip. I am currently visiting family in a metropolitan area which is home to both a NHL team a CHL team. I plan on taking in a game on Wednesday. Feel free to guess which metropolitan area I am visiting!

Well looking at the score that did indeed suck so nothing missed.

My new favorite player is...

It's nice to see a game tonight, though it looks they're content to sit back with a one goal lead in the third.

I bought a new book last night! "Perrault said to Rico..." is about stories from the Sabres as they started a thriving NHL franchise in a city that many thought could never support a pro team without drawing heavily from southern Ontario. I have to say that I think I have a new all time favorite Sabre -- Kito Tsujimoto, drafted from the Tokyo Katanas, and the man who never existed (though his bumper sticker reminded all those who can read Japanese to "Think Stanley." The book seems to be a must read for Sabres fans and also comes with a CD. I haven't listened to the CD, but I'm enjoying the book (though I've just started).

Perhaps I'll post more after the game.

Thoughts on a young season

The Sabres are off to a sharp start (cue rimshot, sorry, I couldn't resist) with a 5-1-1 record and currently sitting in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. The defense sounds like it is starting to lapse, however, so Lindy had better start cracking down. The biggest thing that stands out to me this early in the season are the first 3 games where the Sabres stayed in to grab at least a point in some close games. It seem like the kinds of games they lost last year they are staying in and battling through to victory this year.

BUT they also show signs of going back to their old frustrating ways. I haven't been pleased with what I've heard as far as the defensive corps goes for the last 3 games. Sure, they won 2 of the 3, but the Thrashers game shows how much they depend on Miller (who is off to another great start). Tonight's game and last Friday night's game both sounded like the defense went into a "Well, we have enough points to pull us through" coasting mode that just won't cut it. Sharpen up, boys.

I'm not sure what's up with this "condensed" schedule, but it doesn't seem that condensed to me. The sabres are playing 3 games a week until the end of November. That's right, every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are game days, and only those 3 days, every week until a Thursday night game sometime around 30 November. What is this, football?

In this early season we've seen one trade already because of our problems with extra wings. (Great, now I'm hungry for wings and there's no good places around here) I'd like to see a trade to get a better back-up goalie, but I don't think that will happen with the current cap conditions. We need to have someone we can trust when giving a much deserved rest, and I just don't have confidence in Lalime.

So here's the question: Who would you offer as trade bait for a back-up goaltender?

When one is entering WNY from the East on I-90 the first radio station to come in is WBEN. AM stations tend to have a bit better coverage than FM as far as strait up distance. I can pick up WBEN somewhere around the 390 (maybe a bit before). The next stations to come in are the FM stations, which start to come in good enough for listening about when I'm passing the RIT Conference Center. Why is it that I have to wait about 30 more miles until I reach the Pembroke exit (48A) in order to hear the Sabres game? WGR really needs to up their power. I heard the last few seconds of the 2nd and the first two goals before I headed into my parents' house. Why, WGR,must you torture me? Apparently there's some app I can get for my I-phone to listen to WGR, but I'm cheap (yes, even though I have an i-phone I can still be cheap and not pay for the extras. I saved up my money for my car, motorcycle, and phone while in Iraq, so I have the right to do so) and thus will only get it if it's free. Or if I find I must get the app to listen to WGR anywhere in the country.

I just watched The Kaleta's hit and he did not leave his skates until after the initial contact. It was a legal hit, so toughen up, Phoenix.

I won't be watching or listening tomorrow night as I will be at a friend's wedding reception.

Well the Sabres lost in OT but I am going to focus on some of the good things I saw. The team was much more willing to get into scraps and looked a lot more physical than last year. Granted, last year I was stuck following the team a day late on blogs or listening at 4 am though I was able to watch a couple games. But the fact remains that last year the Sabres wouldn't have gotten into as many scrums. I loved the way they all had Miller's back on Saturday night. Good job boys. Secondly the penAlty kill seemed on top of things as they went 5 for 5 on the kill. The power play may need work but at least I can have some confidence in the PK. Finally I got to buy a T-shirt and bumpersticker for my new car from my friend Renee.

-- Sharpie

17:20 in the 1st -- Timmy Ppg goal great view

1435 -- my hockey terms need refreshed

OK so this live blog will have to waitt til the intermission

after the 1st-- Sabres PK looked alright buut the 2nd PP looked as craptastic as last year's sounded

1-0 Buf after 1

0826 in the 2nd -- can't cplain about Buffalo's grit

17:20 in the 1st -- Timmy Ppg goal great view

I am at Best Buy (tm) right now and just saw a great site -- all the display TVs had Hockey on! Tha is right, NHL hockey clips were able to be seen on about 50 TVs in high def.

quick hits

Just a few random, mostly non-hockey related thoughts tonight since I feel like throwing something up on here.

1) I almost have a car! I'm just waiting for the inspection (of sorts -- since I live outside of NY it is basically getting a New York inspection without the sticker. I'll have to get a PA inspection when I get it there) then I can pick it up. I'm getting a Ford Explorer with about half as many miles as I was hoping. God certainly provides

2) I might be getting a motorcycle soon. I plan on getting one this fall and tonight saw a good learning one at a great price.

3) What ever happened to music that wasn't over produced and music that was written by the bands who actually have talent? I'm listening to some Sixpence None the Richer on Youtube! (and yes, Youtube! should always be spelled with and exclamation point) because I only have one of their songs. It takes me back to my high school days. They have such a signature sound (well, really it's Leigh Nash's voice). Now days we get over-sampled music that's greatly compressed so the highs and lows are squished together. I heard a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and it seemed far too subdued. I miss the raw sound of earlier rock bands, which is probably why I liked what I heard of Deathcab for Cutie's latest EP. But at least pop has moved out of the '80s synth faze.

4) The season starts on Saturday! It will be great not only to see or hear a meaningful hockey game but also to do so at night instead of 3 or 4 AM. Time to dig out my Sabres shirt that I last saw when I put it in a footlocker in Iraq to send home.

Just a few quick updates...

I plan on catching 3 Ahl games this season as the Pirates will face the Scramton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins twice away and the Hartford Wolfpack twice away. I hope to live blog from at least one game via my new phone.

I am still hoping to go to the season opener.

I am still getting used to the fact that games are on in the evening not at 3 am. This also goes for listening to Bauerle on the morning not the evening.

Hockey is coming...

Just a few random things on my mind right now (since I actually have extra time)

I hope to get tickets to the Sabres season opener this year. I've never been to an opening game.

I was thinking today about how in less than a week there will be NHL games. Yes, they're pre-season games that don't count for anything, but it does mean that the season is right around the corner.

Speaking of games I hope to see the Portland Pirates a few times this season. They're coming to Scranton a couple times and playing in Hartford, CT twice. Since my sister goes to college near there now I'm hoping to see one of those games with her. It will probably be the second one since it's right before one of her breaks.

I was about to post a comment on a friend's facebook wall about hockey almost being here when I saw she posted a new status update a few hours before. My friend has an interview with the Sabres on Monday! Working for the Sabres would definitely fit her well. (Even if she does like Detroit as well.)

-- Sharpie

I've managed to stump one of the greats...

First of all I am NOT dead or missing! Life got busy here in Iraq for quite a while. (getting up very early and being up relatively late will do that, but someone had to make breakfast and dinner). My job has since changed, and I hope that by the time the hockey season starts I'll be back to updating regularly!

As some have reported Direct TV is dropping the VS network at the end of the month. (barring a last minute negotiation) I decided to e-mail one of the hockey blogosphere's greatest minds in an attempt to find out how this will affect us fans. The following is from me:

"James,
With Direct TV dropping the VS network at the end of the month (barring last minute contract negotiations) what would it take for the NHL to opt out of their current contract with the network? Is there any chance that those of us who have Direct TV will be able to see more of the NHL than just our local teams without buying the Center Ice package?

-- Sharpie"

I figured that with his vast knowledge of the hockey world and how he keeps track of everything from salary cap figures and trade possibilites to the lastest on the Jim Balsillie saga he would have some light to shed on the matter. Imagine my shock when I received teh following e-mail in response:

"Jeez, Justin I really don't know. We don't have all these stupid television issues with the NHL here in Canada fortunately and there are tons of games on basic cable

Lemme see if I can get an answer to that from the league.

James"

At least as a well respected hockey journalist he knows who to talk to in the league to get the info. As much as I hate the Versus announcers I just don't have the money for the Center Ice package. (Assuming I do get satellite or cable when I get back.) I am trying to expand my hockey knowledge, especially in the Western conference.

We can still blame Gary Bettman for this one, right?

WHAT?

So I was casually checking the hockey scores during my break today when I noticed that the Sabres lost 3-0 this morning (last night for those of you in the states). My first reaction was "WHAT!" Come on, I mean after the Sharks game I figured they could get at least ONE point! Instead of dwelling on it I'll e-mail some friends and take a nap. Besides, the news won't have coverage online for a few more hours. Lousy time difference.