The Buffalo Sabres (8-2-2) are home tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers (4-7-2). The start marks the return of Jochan Hecht, who has missed ten games with a broken finger.
The return of Hecht, and assuming a healthy Tim Connolly, leaves coach Lindy Ruff with a difficult decision - which one of his forwards to sit. Because Hecht was on IR, he didn't count as a roster spot, but with he return tonight, the Sabres will have one too many players on the roster. It is unlikely that they will put Connolly on IR, even if he is hurt, simply because it would cause him to miss at least two weeks of hockey.
As of right now, Ruff has still not announced who will not be playing tonight.
In other news, Ryan Miller is riding a string of two shut-outs and looks to extend that tonight. That would be great for him, and even better for Buffalo. Miller was infamous last year for letting in a soft goal toward the end of a game to ruin his bid for a shut out. He's only had nine his entire career, two of them this year.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Game Summary - November 6, 2008
Devils Beat Lightning 4-3 in a Shootout
That noise you heard last night was the collective sigh of relief by all Devil's fans when Kevin Weekes stopped two out of three shots in a shootout agains the Lightning last night, getting his second win in as many starts. Panic began to set in over the New Jersey area when it was announced that future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur was having surgery on his elbow to repair a torn distal bicep in his catching arm and he would miss up to four months.
Jussi Jokinen opened the scoring at 16:28 of the first period. Weekes would turn away eight of the nine shots fired at him in the opening period, while his counterpart, Mike Smith, turned away all eight of the shots he faced.
A bit more action in the second period, which saw New Jersey tie the game at the 16:05 mark with a goal by David Clarkson. They would take the lead at 18:44 with a goal by Patrick Elias on the power play.
New Jersey brought on the offense in the second period, firing 16 shots at Smith, while the Lightning mustered up seven shots toward Weekes.
In the third, Jokinen scored his second of the night on a power play at 10:52. This tied the game at 2. Just over four minutes later, Jay Pandolfo scored his second of the season, giving the Devils the lead again. However, just one minute thirty seconds later, Martin St. Louis would tie the game again, and that's how it stayed.
The overtime produced four shots per side, but none could find the back of the net.
In the shootout, Vincent Lecavalier scored on Weekes, but he stopped shots by Jokinen and Vaclav Prospel. Zach Parise hit the goalpost, but Elias and Jaime Langenbrunner both scored on Smith, giving Jersey the win 4-3.
Columbus Comes from Behind to Beat the Oilers
Columbus held a two goal lead at one point in the game, but required some late game heroics to capture a win in this game.
Late in the first period, Ales Hemsky took an interference penalty, setting up a two minute power play for the Jackets. Thirty-five seconds into the power play, Kristian Huselius would score, giving Columbus the lead 1-0 going into the locker room.
Early in the second, Columbus took a 2-0 lead when Derick Brassard scored just 2:31 in. However, the Oil would come back just over three minutes later when Andrew Cogliano scored with Jason Chimera in the penalty box. And then, at 16:28, Ethan Moreau scored a short handed goal to tie the game at 2 apiece.
The Oilers would continue their assault on goaltender Steve Mason, scoring two goals in just 20 seconds. Hemsky and Kyle Brodziak would score, giving Edmonton a two goal advantage early in the third.
The Jackets came back, however, with goals by R.J. Umberger and Fredrik Modin just under a minute apart to tie the game. It would stay that way until some late game heroics by Manny Malhotra. Malhotra scored his first goal of the season with just over a minute left in regulation to give Columbus back the lead, and that's how the game would end.
Anaheim Keeps on Scoring: Beats the Blues 5-2
Anaheim has figured out how to score goals. They have had a good defense in the last few years, but their offense wasn't the most powerful. The third-lowest goal scoring team last year has suddenly found themselves on top of that list, and want to stay there. They continued that quest must to the dismay of the St. Louis Blues.
Rob Niedermayer got the scoring started early, when just thirty-six seconds into the game, he shot one past netminder Chris Mason. St. Louis would come back just two minutes later with a goal by Patrik Berglund. Beglund scored his third goal of the season, getting one past Jonas Hiller, making his first start.
St. Louis would keep it close through the early minutes of the second, trading power play goals by Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald, to keep the game all tied up. However, Corey Parry and Ryan Getzlaf would add two more goals to the Ducks total in the second, and head to the dressing room up 4-2.
Things tightened up in the third, with the only goal being scored late - an empty netter by Getzlaf.
Anaheim center Getzlaf continued his assualt on the stats sheet, adding two goals and an assist and giving him a share of the NHL total points lead with Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins. Teemu Salanne also extended his points streak to eight games.
That noise you heard last night was the collective sigh of relief by all Devil's fans when Kevin Weekes stopped two out of three shots in a shootout agains the Lightning last night, getting his second win in as many starts. Panic began to set in over the New Jersey area when it was announced that future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur was having surgery on his elbow to repair a torn distal bicep in his catching arm and he would miss up to four months.
Jussi Jokinen opened the scoring at 16:28 of the first period. Weekes would turn away eight of the nine shots fired at him in the opening period, while his counterpart, Mike Smith, turned away all eight of the shots he faced.
A bit more action in the second period, which saw New Jersey tie the game at the 16:05 mark with a goal by David Clarkson. They would take the lead at 18:44 with a goal by Patrick Elias on the power play.
New Jersey brought on the offense in the second period, firing 16 shots at Smith, while the Lightning mustered up seven shots toward Weekes.
In the third, Jokinen scored his second of the night on a power play at 10:52. This tied the game at 2. Just over four minutes later, Jay Pandolfo scored his second of the season, giving the Devils the lead again. However, just one minute thirty seconds later, Martin St. Louis would tie the game again, and that's how it stayed.
The overtime produced four shots per side, but none could find the back of the net.
In the shootout, Vincent Lecavalier scored on Weekes, but he stopped shots by Jokinen and Vaclav Prospel. Zach Parise hit the goalpost, but Elias and Jaime Langenbrunner both scored on Smith, giving Jersey the win 4-3.
Columbus Comes from Behind to Beat the Oilers
Columbus held a two goal lead at one point in the game, but required some late game heroics to capture a win in this game.
Late in the first period, Ales Hemsky took an interference penalty, setting up a two minute power play for the Jackets. Thirty-five seconds into the power play, Kristian Huselius would score, giving Columbus the lead 1-0 going into the locker room.
Early in the second, Columbus took a 2-0 lead when Derick Brassard scored just 2:31 in. However, the Oil would come back just over three minutes later when Andrew Cogliano scored with Jason Chimera in the penalty box. And then, at 16:28, Ethan Moreau scored a short handed goal to tie the game at 2 apiece.
The Oilers would continue their assault on goaltender Steve Mason, scoring two goals in just 20 seconds. Hemsky and Kyle Brodziak would score, giving Edmonton a two goal advantage early in the third.
The Jackets came back, however, with goals by R.J. Umberger and Fredrik Modin just under a minute apart to tie the game. It would stay that way until some late game heroics by Manny Malhotra. Malhotra scored his first goal of the season with just over a minute left in regulation to give Columbus back the lead, and that's how the game would end.
Anaheim Keeps on Scoring: Beats the Blues 5-2
Anaheim has figured out how to score goals. They have had a good defense in the last few years, but their offense wasn't the most powerful. The third-lowest goal scoring team last year has suddenly found themselves on top of that list, and want to stay there. They continued that quest must to the dismay of the St. Louis Blues.
Rob Niedermayer got the scoring started early, when just thirty-six seconds into the game, he shot one past netminder Chris Mason. St. Louis would come back just two minutes later with a goal by Patrik Berglund. Beglund scored his third goal of the season, getting one past Jonas Hiller, making his first start.
St. Louis would keep it close through the early minutes of the second, trading power play goals by Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald, to keep the game all tied up. However, Corey Parry and Ryan Getzlaf would add two more goals to the Ducks total in the second, and head to the dressing room up 4-2.
Things tightened up in the third, with the only goal being scored late - an empty netter by Getzlaf.
Anaheim center Getzlaf continued his assualt on the stats sheet, adding two goals and an assist and giving him a share of the NHL total points lead with Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins. Teemu Salanne also extended his points streak to eight games.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Twelve Games In: My Thoughts on The Sabres Season
Three nights off! The Buffalo Sabres have three nights off, and I don't know what to do with myself. There's no breaking news coming out of HSBC Arena; there's no game to recap; no predictions to make. What's a Sabres fan to do? How about some thoughts of the season based on twelve games?
First, the Sabres are winning. They are sitting in first place in the Northeast Division with a nice little record of 8-2-2. If the playoffs were to start today, they'd be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins.
They are currently ninth in goals for with 38, and tied for third in goals against with 25. They are seventh on the power play, and third on the penalty kill.
They look the team they were a few years ago, when no one predicted they would make the playoffs, and basically wrote them off from the beginning of the season.
They may have been written off at the beginning of this season, but they are showing, once again, why they should be taken seriously.
Let's break down the season so far
Who's Hot
Thomas Vanek - Thomas Vanek is off to the best start of his short career. He currently leads the league in goals with eleven. He's scored short handed; he's scored on the power play, he's scored even strength, he's scored game winners and he's scored in the shootout. But more importantly, he's playing well in his own end. He's making smart plays, helping out the defense. He's getting the puck out of the zone, and not turning it over in front of his goalie. And he's being rewarded for his play with more ice time, time on the power play, and time on the penalty kill. Sure, he still makes mistakes, but who doesn't. He's becoming the on ice leader that the Sabres organization knew he could be when they signed him. He is most certainly becoming a very good two way player, and things can only get better
Ryan Miller - Miller is showing why he is one of the premier goaltenders in the league. He is leading the league with a 1.62 GAA and recently registered back-to-back shutouts for the first time in his career. With the exception of one game, he has looked stellar. He is in the game. He is seeing the puck well, and he's making the stops he needs to make. He said before the season started that he was looking forward to a long career with the Buffalo Sabres, he liked the way they looked and he liked what they were doing to build the team. And I think that has helped him immensely. He knows his future is secure in Buffalo. Buffalo has signed a capable backup goaltender, and have lightened Millers workload. This has allowed some of the weight of the world (or at least the team) he was carrying to be lightened, and has allowed him to play the way he should be playing.
Clarke MacArthur - Drafted in the third round in 2003, MacArthur has spent most of his career with the Rochester Americans, former Buffalo Sabres AHL team. Last season he played in 37 games and registered eight goals and seven assists. This year, he has started in all twelve games, and has registered five goals and three assists. And he's playing smart hockey. He's averaging about 15 minutes of ice time per game, and is currently skating with the second line. This young man may be about to have his breakout season.
Andrej Sekera - This young man has been playing some amazing hockey. Drafted in the third round in 2004, he played in 37 games for the Buffalo Sabres last year, garnering two goals and six assists. In his twelve starts this season, he has eight assists. He is playing some very smart hockey, and is very good at getting the puck out of the zone and down the ice. He is very good at reading the play and setting up goals. I anticipate he will be rewarded with a notch in the goal column very soon. He is still making some young mistakes, but he is certainly maturing and is proving to be a real bonus to this team.
Who's Not
Derek Roy- Roy has been slow out of the gate this season with only two goals and four assists. After posting great numbers last season, and showing some maturity, Buffalo was expecting more from this young man. And while he's not playing terrible hockey, he's not finding the back of the net. Buffalo prides itself on its depth on offense, and while it hasn't affected them yet, they really need better production out of players like Roy.
Drew Stafford - Selected as a first round pick in 2004, Stafford played in 64 games last year, amassing 16 goals and 22 assists. This season, he has only found the back of the net twice, and has only one helper. It's time for him to step up.
Jason Pominville - Another player that is not off to the fast start that we expected from him. Four goals and five assists is not what Buffalo expects from the player they rewarded with a long term contract in the off-season. He needs to start playing the type of hockey we saw from him last year.
It's tough to find too much to complain about with this team. They played a few bad games that they lost, and they played a few bad games that they won. But they have played some very good games as well.
They look like a new team. They are playing very well in their own zone. Lindy Ruff has stopped focusing on the offense and is trying to create a successful two way team. And that is critical in this league. You are going to face teams that are great offensively and teams that are great defensively, and in order to win the ultimate prize, you need to be able to play against both types of team.
The addition of Craig Rivet on defense has helped immensely. Not only has the team accepted him as a leader, making him the captain, but he has provided some much needed veteran experience. That coupled with the return of Teppo Numminen has been a huge helper to this team in their own zone.
Miller has been amazing thus far, as has Lalime. Each goaltender has one loss, but they are both showing good numbers. Having Lalime as a backup is going to help Miller immensely - not only in the nets, but behind the scenes as well.
I can only see good things for this team, provided they continue to play as the team they are. If the first twelve games are an accurate predictor of things to come, Buffalo's season is going to extend far beyond April.
Four Sabres Named to NHL All Star Ballot
Four Buffalo Sabres have been named to the fan ballot for the NHL All-Star game in Montreal on January 25, 2009.
Thomas Vanek — Vanek currently leads all players in goals scored with 11. He has scored even strength, on the power play, and shorthanded. He also has three helpers and is sitting at a plus-5 right now.
Derek Roy — While Roy hasn't shown a lot of offense yet this season, he is expected to be a huge player for the Sabres. He currently has only two goals and four assists, but has been playing decent hockey for the most part this season. Time will tell if he is indeed going to break out this year.Teppo Numminen — Teppo, at the age of 40, is looking at his fourth NHL All-Star game, the last one being in 2001. After missing the entire season (except one game) last year, Buffalo re-signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason, and it's paying off.
His veteran leadership and smart play is helping Buffalo to become a better all-around team. He has one goal and four assists so far this season.Fans can begin selecting up to six players from both the Eastern and Western Conference on November 12. Each team in the NHL has at least two players representing them on the 104 player ballot.
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