LTS

Of course, that first beer after the game is really nice too. ? I'll manage to get some before and after. I can't afford to drink during the game. ?

I probably missed whatever it was because I was busy just glossing over threads where people kept arguing over each other. No more time for it. And it really sucks if that is what causing so much angst... sigh.

Ticket arrived today! I believe Eleven said nothing was booked afterward. I know d4rk indicated he and Josie were going to hit the Beauts game at 5pm. I'm intrigued by that concept, but it also means that I won't get back home to Rochester until much, much later... (assuming I stay out after THAT game). I'm pretty much a passenger in this, so whatever works out.. I'm game.

I thought they would be a bubble team at the start of the season and nothing has made me change my mind. Unless someone is getting stupid at the deadline I don't think the Sabres are going to do anything but move a few bodies out to prepare for the bigger jump next year. Columbus is a wild card in this... they'll go downhill fast if they dump Panarin and Bobbo. There are a few teams that are a bit more desperate to make the playoffs (Penguins and Capitals) and I think they will try to add for the run. They are nearing some roster turnover and need to make it in. The Hurricanes, Canadiens, Islanders, and Sabres are all able to float another year without significant pressure. Boston seems to be more of a lock, but if they lose a few they'll need to win now as well. It's foolish to chase the playoffs, as much as you'd like to get your players in there for a series. It won't help if you make dumb moves and sacrifice the future. We'll only hate things more in 3 years if the Sabres try too hard to win today and end up sacrificing too much for the future.

I mean... I love his name and all, but I can do without him.

Even if I am not checking a bag, I just throw my carry-on suitcase to the gate check. I don't mind waiting a few minutes. The only time I would be concerned is if I have a tight layover. At that point I just explain to the gate attendant the situation and ask if I can secure a spot so I will not be late for the next flight. That usually gets me upgraded in the boarding order without even having to change my seat. If I have time in the layover then I will gate check and make my boarding process easy. I waltz on at the end, sit in my seat and away we go!

They were intimidated by the flow...

After the first year with ROR things weren't all that bad either right? Things can still go sideways in St. Louis. But this is exactly what I had heard and felt all along. Well, St. Louis was a fine team last year until they decided to trade Stastny and take a little tumble. This year they weren't winning. ROR was doing his thing and he's still doing his thing. He hasn't changed anything. If the defense/goaltending doesn't show up, ROR would still be doing his thing and the Blues might be bad. So, it's probably safe to say that he has an impact on things, but his impact has remained constant so he was not the catalyst for the change. I think ROR is a better Stastny for the Blues, but not a massive improvement. The Blues are talented enough to win without him too I believe. Maybe not as much, but they'd be successful. I do like your analogy and totally understand what you are saying. I guess it's like saying, if Aragorn wasn't there and the cavalry shows up, would they have been enough to turn the tide? And now I hate you for making me use that analogy... ?

I'll take additional commentary to the ROR thread. The problem for St. Louis is the GT. It doesn't mean ROR is not a problem, or won't become one.

I'll probably plan to hit Pizza Plant prior to the game. Grab a Pod and some beer. It was pretty empty in there last year when I got there. Got a little busier closer to game time but that's when I went down to the arena.

ROR has nothing to do with the St. Louis turn around. I posted it in another thread. Summary: Since Dec. 1 their scoring rate has dropped, but they are giving up far less goals. They are more committed to defense and they brought in Jordan Binnington to replace Chad Johnson. Binnington has a remarkable record and stat line since joining the club.

The difference in the Blues has nothing to do with ROR. He was their leading scorer on December 1 when they were 30th in the league. He's their leading scorer now. He could be a problem still. The team is talented enough to win despite him, unlike the Sabres. The difference in the St. Louis Blues is Jordan Binnington. Who, prior to December 2 had not played a single game in goal. During the first 24 games (through Dec. 1) the St. Louis Blues goaltenders were: Allen: 7-7-3 - SV%: .896 3.24 GA Johnson: 2-5-0 - SV%: .895 3.12 GA December 2 through today: Allen: 9-8-1 - SV%: .899 2.88 GA Johnson: 0-0-0 - SV%: .800 3.92 GA (45 minutes TOI - he was pulled in his only game) Binnington: 10-1-1 - SV%: .927 1.82 GA Blues GF/GA - through Dec. 1 GF: 3.04 GA: 3.29 Blues GF/GA - Dec. 2 through today GF: 2.96 GA: 2.53 It seems that a really good backup goaltender and some better defense is helping the Blues win more. Their scoring rate is actually down. Also, they play in the Western Conference. ? They are still 17th in the league in points and 2pts behind the Sabres.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if he mailed it or emailed it. Either way, I have no email nor ticket in the inventory. If it's mailed.. perhaps it arrives tomorrow. I got a mailed one last year. I'm game for whatever.. so I'm just rollin'

Let me hunt around. You emailed the ticket? ( I have no email of it and nothing in the ticket inventory in my account). I had stayed out of here until my son's team was eliminated from his travel league playoffs. I'm now 100% in for the game. Did I read that you guys got Cole's again? ( I saw the comment about the Beauts game too ).

This trade cannot happen because Twitter doesn't allow enough characters for the insiders to parse it properly. ? It's certainly creative. I think a trade of that complexity would melt people's brains.

So Berglund was a bad choice? I mean, ever since he quit.... ?

Since January 16th when his request for a trade (or play more) was made, Beaulieu has played only 1 game. Everyone else on the team has played more, including CJ Smith and Matt Hunwick. Given the school district freaking out about nothing, all activities were canceled tonight. Sooooo I guess I will be around to watch the game.

The sound mix on TV has, as per usual with MSG, been awful. During the Jets game I was subjected to some knucklehead in the crowd yelling Let's Go Jets! so loud I was having trouble hearing the play by play. They had the mix really screwed up the other night when Dunleavy was calling the game too. I don't listen to WGR specifically, but on the Rochester broadcast on 96.5. I have noticed that they have altered the play-by-play audio to sound more AM, almost like they put that into mono. It used to get lost in the ice microphones they were mixing from TV. Now it sounds very crisp against the much fainter ice microphones.

Of course you have to think that there is a considerable number of teams that would be knocking on Panthers door for Huberdeau. Could be a bidding war... That said... I think he fits. I'm not 100% sold on him, but I know he's a roster upgrade.

I agree. I think people of all countries, by and large, are not for war. Even in the countries you mentioned I don't think it's a vast majority of their societies that feel that way. Generally people want to just live their lives. My problem is that while people don't want the war the egos of politicians might just screw us over anyway, regardless of what the people want. I just hope it doesn't happen.

Right. The thing is that is usually talked about as the deterrent to using the weapons. Unfortunately the egos and hatred between people only seems to be growing. Growing to a point where it's not important that someone wins only that their opponent loses even if it means everyone loses.

Isn't that just the bitch of war? We put our work into creating devices that destroy rather than devices that could change the world. I'm not sure why we have to hate each other on this planet, but it's certainly our biggest flaw as a species. Any war on this planet that resorts to nuclear weapons at this point will be the end of us. And I think any war of significant size will see someone pull the trigger on using them just so they can "not lose". There are no winners. Sigh.

Excellent work. It's got so many influences you can pick up in the music. It's a nice change of pace from the stuff I have to hear each day (kids!).

Now that's classic!

My game doesn't start until 10pm tonight.... Let's hope the Sabres put me in a good mood for it. Let's Go!!!