LTS

A team finishes the season with a certain overall rank. There will be expectations of them to beat certain teams they could be matched up against in the playoffs. If they beat them, yes, I am happy, but they were supposed to beat them so I am not as happy. In short, if you make it to the playoffs, you just go win games. That's all. If the team goes out in the first round because they matched up against the team that won the President's Trophy people are going to say, "Well, they lost to the best team in the league this year." It's only when you lose to those who finish below you in points that it's a big disappointment. It's why winning the President's Trophy isn't always the best thing. The expectations are that you will the Cup, because you were the best team. Teams that squeak in are usually more loose and ready to play. In the 06 playoffs the Sabres should have won the Cup. The Sabres lost the battle of attrition. It impacted their ability to win games, and they still almost overcame the setbacks to win. So yes, that's horribly disappointing. But had they lost in round 1 or 2 before all the injuries set in, it would have been an even monumental disappointment. That said, if Carolina was the second best team in the conference the Sabres might have beat them before all the injuries and then they might have been able to hold out over the remaining teams because they weren't as good. It's all ifs and buts.... in the end, you win or you go home. Certainly owners want more games, it does equal more revenue. If you want that, build your team to win the Cup and they will win round 1, 2, 3, and 4. You will get your games. No sense in being rewarded for being almost good enough by getting into Round 2.

Ready for the game. Sweaters are on.. he looked as stupid as a 15 year old would when he thinks his Dad is pulling one over on him. He won the league today too. Let's Go Buffalo. I'm ready for this.

This is something I completely agree with, unless injuries are impacting your team in which case you'd love to pair up against a "weaker" team first. But generally speaking, you need to win 4 series, that's that.

Last game before Sweden... hope they fare better than the Lightning did in their last game. Which.. ummm coincidentally? was against the Islanders. Anyway.. I'll break out the 50th anniversary sweater for this game tonight. My son is insanely jealous of me going to Sweden for the game. He'll be even more jealous when he sees my in my 50th sweater... he'll be slightly less jealous when I hand it to him to keep instead... Gonna be a great day full of hockey. He plays for his league championship today and then we're home for the Sabres game tonight. I love days like this. Go Sabres.

Imagine if they actually have someone skating on the ice in a Taro sweater? Just imagine.....

This is the one spot I would use that Trump GIF that so frequently gets used. But since i don't want to see his damn face on my screen I'll just say it. "WRONG!" But, you know, to each their own. Go Sabres.

This guy knows how to make lemonade from lemons... That's finding a silver lining. Well done. ?

Hell yeah. Get into that thread above. Welcome to the forum.. and definitely get in on the meetup and hanging out at the game.

This is one of those things... where if I was not sure what I was doing Saturday night, I might buy into. But it would be totally last minute.

There's a very immature part of me that wishes his first name started with an S. But.. yeah.. it's not good. Worse than Toronto? I don't know.

Saw only parts of the game. But getting outshot 12-6 and 21-5 in periods is not a good sign. Teams have learned how to defend the Sabres and they are starting to press the team. There are some bad habits starting to appear and they need to correct those. Most notably? Teams are getting the Sabres to focus on a low puck carrier while a guy drops in behind the play and has a clear shot at the goal. I've seen it in a few games now... the Sharks were able to execute on it as were the Rangers. The Red Wings not so much. They need to pick it up. They are much slower moving the puck out of their zone and almost look like they are beginning to think out there... and thinking is the enemy of being good. I'll take the win.. but against better competition.. that's not a win.

Detroit is the Atlantic Division definition of the Rangers. They are going to be just as desperate to stop the losing as the Rangers. Buffalo is traveling from NYC to Detroit to play. Not far, but not insignificant either. All in all, this has all the makings of another bad game for Buffalo. Let's hope the team comes out fired up to show that last night was an anomaly. Let's hope the ice is better than it was at MSG. There's no doubt the crowd size will be similar! Go Buffalo... and seriously this time. Go.

Need to make sure I share my number with those who will need to contact me.. or find some way of communicating while there. ?

I'm breaking rules. It looks like I can easily walk to the restaurant that MODO posted above. Nice. 15 minutes. I can handle that.. and I'm sure I'll stop 52 gazillion times along the way.

I'm in... I'm likely buying a transport pass, so I could just hop the train, bus... whatever. Looking for the freedom to just jump on and off public transport anywhere. ?

Not much to add... Except, just win baby!

I said undefeated... Sigh... I was wrong. ?

This is obnoxious. ?

The Sens called. ?

Well, when you start 8-1-1 you have to find something to critique....

Read this article this morning. There will be plenty of these. The test is coming for this team. They will hit a rocky spot, things will go downhill. It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. From all reports, the team communication is certainly set up to be able to handle it. Whether the players can or not remains to be seen.

The face value of the ticket was about $150 for the Sabres fan section.. if I recall.

The evolution occurs like any other evolution occurs. Naturally and at its own pace. It's not sped up by anyone claiming people should get over it. You cannot control the general public and in the eyes of the general public, the term carries certain connotations that project images of blacks being hanged. You don't have to agree, but you should accept that's how it works in the world. Whites don't have to say sorry to every black person, they just have to not act like what happened is no longer a big deal. It is to people and it's perfectly fine to accept as a white person, that blacks have not yet "gotten over it". So you simply just avoid using those terms and remain cognizant of the impact that those actions of the past still carry in communities outside your own. Even if you happen to work with people of all different races, etc. It doesn't mean you work with the general consensus of those races.

Just wanted to point out that, for me at least, the plane departs two weeks from today. Getting some planning done for the trip.. no idea what all I am going to do yet. ? The excitement... it's real.

And some of us lucky Yanks? I wonder if i could sell the ticket and my authentic 50th sweater to cover the cost of the trip to Sweden. Then again.. why would I be going? Sabres 50th weren't even listed on shop.nhl.com yesterday. This is why there's no 4th line. ?