Saudi Arabia Rob

I think he may be slight less than $9 million, but pretty darn close.

We can now stop the alternate universe and root for the Sabres.

This is really frustrating. Where was all this "pride" earlier in the season when there was actually flickers of hope after that 10 game run? So now they don't want to be in the basement and it's motivating them. Sorry, followed this team since 1970 and don't root for them to lose. However, that was the plan for this year and now they will blow it. I think every thinking fan wants to be able to go to a Sabres game with a Crosby or Stamkos-like player. While clearly there is a lot of hype over the top two guys and there's no guarantee it won't be Alexander Daigle, I think most fans understand, have put up with this miserable suffering for two years, and now want the "plan" to pay off. I don't blame anyone at this point for having mixed feelings and being very disappointed about this sudden surge of "player pride." Many of whom would have loved to have been traded to a playoff contender at the deadline.

Murray can start kissing McDavid goodbye.

The refs are going to call something on a Red Wing this game?

This is realy strange, but do you think the Sabres are going to blow the first pick in the draft? They just went 4-1 and a number of players (Meyers, Ennis, Stafford) seem to be playing with some fire in them. I never thought I'd want them to lose....

Scary how Pegula has been morphing into an almost Ralph-like individual.

It's not a bad show. I was down at the Sabres Store a couple weeks ago and they are more than willing to talk with you during their breaks, etc. Peters is really a pretty funny guy in person as well.

Not for 10 years, like the Devils. Sad part is that will more than likely be on the highlight reel before Vanek's or Roy's goals which were superior shots.

My tours were in '04, '05, and '07, when all these educated Iraqi were indeed trying to blow the hell out of us. Unfortunately it did take 3,000 of our comrades paying the ultimate price to get where we are now. Whether you agreed with the invasion or not, we are now giving the Iraqis a chance to restart their country instead of living under a dictator who brutalized and abused his people. Return home safe, my friend.

Agreed...painful loss of at least a point. One amusing thing, I was watching the Hockey Night in Canada feed and the announcers kept pointing out each time the Canadians' fans would sing that stupid 'Ovey song, or whatever it is, the Sabres would score. They actually seem kind of nervous in the last 90 seconds when the fans started in. All-Star break is well needed. Maybe Tallinder can get back...and stay healthy.

What still rough to watch is the power play. There were too many times when Toronto was able to come back with a 2-2 and generated short-handed shots. I know the Sabres play risky, but... In the third, Ruff put two defensemen on the PP. Smart, obvious move with the way it was going late. Agree on the Marty observation...he always seems to let in the one goal which makes the games a bit too "interesting" down the stretch. How many times have the two-goal games become one-goal games with three or four minutes left because of a Marty goal. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a great guy and keeping him as the backup is the right move this year, but gosh, does he have to make every game interesting?

My biggest concern is Tallinder, I'd hate to see him gone for any period of time...again. I would not get too overly concerned about the loss in particular, as mentioned numerous times, three months of good hockey shouldn't be overridden by a few bad games, even if it is against Ottawa. What is concerning is how when teams hit the Sabres, it seems to throw them off their game.

"Ovechkin drew an automatic $100 fine for the hit, which will be reviewed by the league office to determine if further action will be taken." For those of you scoring at home, here is how that breaks down: player "A" does something in egregioius violation of the rules, which the on-ice officials feel is an attempt to injure. NHL says "Bad boy, you owe us $100.00, Mr. $1 million-per-year superstar..." I mean seriously, wouldn't that be like one of us doing the same thing in a bar league and getting fined a quarter? Imagine if it was Adam Mair hitting Ovechkin or Crosby or Sundin like that...there'd be hell to pay in the league office.

Ouch...it seems like the Sens took one right from the Sabre's playbook with that one. Looks like the next week or so will be a rough stretch. Good thing all those points were banked earlier.

Agreed it did work for their team, but their team still has that "old hockey mentality. Here's another quote: ("I stepped on the ice and saw the puck come toward me," Robitaille said. "I knew if I touched it it would be too many men, but I didn't interfere with their guy and as far as I'm concerned a tie game with 30 seconds left, that's a questionable call.") Once again, as long as these guys still don't get the refs aren't going to let stuff slide in the last five minutes of a close game. they'll continue to fall behind the rest. Robitalle paid for his thoughts with the misconduct at the end of the game. I think we're in violent agreement on this one!

Got this from the paper on Flyers: {However, Philadelphia played with an energy and intensity that's been missing most of this season. They also showed up with a bit more aggression as Triston Grant, Mike Richards and Ben Eager all got in some punches -- and 5-minute majors -- in three fights that energized the team. "It was old Flyers hockey," R.J. Umberger said. "That's how we've got to play, to go back to our roots.} Please Philadelphia, go back to your roots and old-style hockey. You'll be cellar dwellers for another decade!

This is almost just too much to take. I think the fact it's a different guy every night makes it even more impressive.

It'll be interesting to see how much gas they have left in the third period. As long as they stop taking penalties we should be OK. At even strength against every line but their top one, we've put constant pressure on them.

A posting last week suggested the Sabres needed to lost big to end their winning streak. It would wake the team up and get them playing well...if that theory hold water, this may be the game! Hopefully this isn't a trend. They've got a busy couple of weeks ahead and need to get on a roll again. I certainly hope no ones ready to throw them under the bus...I have a feeling they'll be on a roll shortly.

Surprized no one threw a hat onto the ice...I guess it must be bad weather up there!

I know I'm stating the obvious, but Dom just isn't at the level he was even two or three years ago. The poke check was great, vintage Dom, but he definitely doesn't have the right-left mobility he had before. I know he's 42(?), but I'm glad we had him in our prime. To quote the Great One...this team is good, scary good. Miller won this one for them.

They seemed to be getting their legs under them near the end, which is good. So much for the "luxury" of having five days off. I think the first five minutes of this next period will set the tone for the rest of the game.

With this group, I'd hate to make any predictions. The only catch may be it's the third game in four days. Do you think it'd be a good idea for Biron to play? They have almost one week off after this game.

Simply as a spur for discussion and not to spoil the mood, I thought Kalinin didn't have that good of a game defensively. He made a great breakout pass on Briere's goal, but seem to get beat a lot and outmuscled in his own end.