topshelfcookies

Dear lord..the game has started and what an awful camera angle. It actually feels like you've tried to scalp tickets to a saturday night game in Montreal. I think the camera is higher up than the press box! Rough start for the Sabres, Montreal is really dominating thus far

WJAG, I'm hesitant to talk about the Peters fight, simply because I didn't get home from work until after the 1st period, so I really missed alot of the action. What Briere said in the postgame interview sounded like that it wasn't so much that the Peters fight sparked the team and got them all worked up, but instead the Peters fight helped to slow the game down, which allowed the Sabres to get their bearings.

I really liked the way the Sabres shut the door in the third and tightened up defensively. It was a lot more boring than we're used to seeing from this team, but I think it's great to see that this team can lock down when they need to. The wide open glitzy attack can serve us well in the regular season, and through stretches of the second season, but it's nice to know that if the Sabres have a 2 goal lead heading into the 3rd during the playoffs they understand the appropriate type of game to play. I had to laugh at the crazy props that Briere gave to Peters in the post-game interview with Lorentz. Peters apparently suggested they alter the order of their pre-game warmups somehow, and then Briere praised him for sparking the team/calming the game down with his fight in the 1st period. I don't mean to turn this into an Andrew Peters thread, I just thought it was interesting to hear Briere speak so much about Peters on a night when his hat trick clinched the game for the team. Whether you like Peters in the lineup or not, it was classy of Briere to go out of his way to praise his play. I think it's things like this that go a long ways to keep the team so close in the dressing room.

Claude, I'm glad you mentioned this. After a face off in the 3rd period (I think it was after Carolina's 3rd or 4th goal) they kept the loudspeaker music playing (while the Sabres had clear posession) for at least 30 seconds after the start of play. Bush league is the perfect way to describe it. It was as if I was watching an NBA game.

I'm really glad that the Sabres are playing the Canes tonight, after a day off, even if it is their 3rd game in 4 nights. There were numerous times vs Philly that it looked like the guys just simply stopped skating. Tonight should be an interesting game in that again, Buffalo is all banged up, and at the end of a tough stretch while Carolina is really playing pretty well. I expect the Canes to play a very physical style of game tonight, I think alot of teams in the league feel that the "book" on Buffalo is, if you can't skate with 'em, bang 'em. The fact that we have a few rookies on the blue line tonight will only encourage the Canes to be more physical and try to establish a strong forecheck. While there's not too much to complain about with this team, I'd personally like to see the Sabres play a bit better in their own end. There were times against Florida they they started running around a bit, and there were scrambly moments vs Philly. Special teams decide the outcome of tonight's game. A Sabres comeback attempt in the 3rd falls a bit short, losing 4-2.

SDS (or other Moderators, Now that various websites (si.com, espn.com, tsn.ca, etc) are beginning to post updated weekly power rankings, is there a way we could incorporate them as a thread or a place on SabreSpace.com? I don't necessarily feel that Power Rankings are the be all and end all of discussion, but they're interesting, and it's pretty cool to see national media giving the Sabres big props. What do you think? I don't mind just tossing up a thread about it whenever I see one updated, but I think it'd be cool to have it in a centralized place. I would suggest including the following: Website Date published Sabres place Comments published Perhaps we could also include other info...lots of places include the record of the team on the date the rankings are published. Also, some mention the highest ranking that team has acheived, as well as the lowest spot they occupied. What are your thoughts?

I got chills, just logging on and seeing GAME DISCUSSION THREAD! It's been too long since I've seen that. Predictions tonight? Yes, Lindy will have his boys out on the bench when the Canes go through their raising of the "Southeastern Conference Champions" banner. The Sabres and Canes play an even 1st period, Buffalo gets a PP goal from Spacek, but really starts to take over in the 2nd and 3rd. Miller is solid, but not unbelievable. The defense is outstanding. Buffalo wins 4-1, goals from Spacek, Vanek, Mair and Drury. Let's GO BUFF-A-LO!

Let's all chill a little here boys. We honestly had no business being in this game...we were completely dominated in the 2nd period. Even still, as Dave alluded to before, if Miller doesn't let in that 4th goal, who knows what happens? I'm not saying that we tie the game up, but in my opinion Ryan let in two rather poor goals...neither one of which appeared to be screened from him, though they might have been deflected. Regardles, we've got our split...and that's the important thing. Let's chill and come back to Buffalo for some home cookin. Hopefully Teppo and TIMMAY! will be back by Game 4, and that's good news. It's now a best of 5, and Buffalo has home ice advantage.

It's officially Monday! Let's have at 'em. While I still feel Buffalo takes this series in 5 or 6 games, I've got a hunch that Game 2 goes to the Canes. Carolina squeaks a couple funny deflections past Miller, and also score one on a breakaway. For whatever reason, Buffalo's shots seem to be drawn to the pipes, as we hit the crossbar once and ring shots off the metal 3 different times. Buffalo isn't really outplayed, we just can't find a way to get the puck in the net. Carolina 4-1 (EN goal for the Canes. Drury for Buffalo).

I'm not sure if you're straining PA. Chemistry and camaraderie do play a factor in the playoffs, however I just feel that at this point in the season, and this point in the playoff grind, neither team necessarily has an edge in this "intangible" category. For a team to finish 2nd in the Conference, and then make it through two rounds of the playoffs, including coming back from 2 games down, I would say that Carolina has demonstrated just as much chemistry as the Sabres have. Your second point regarding youth and endurance might hold more merit, but only if this series goes 6 or 7 games. Neither the Sabres or Canes have really played very many games so far this postseaon (both have played 11 of a possible 14) and will have had almost a full week of rest/practice. I think the only way that youth and endurance would have come into play would be if Buffalo had 4 days off, and Carolina only had 1 day off before starting the Conf. Finals. With plenty of time off, as well as a standard every-other-day playoff schedule for this series, I'm not sure how much youth and endurance means to either teams legs. The only night it might really matter would be if there's a game that goes multiple OT's, then travel, then another game. Even then...that's a stretch to say one team would have a significant advantage. Good thoughts though PA!

Before the playoffs started, I have to admit that I really didn't think very much of Sweet Caroline. Two rounds later, I'm more than happy to admit that I grossly underestimated them. The main reason I simply didn't fear the Canes, was that I thought their goaltending would end up killing them. I didn't like Gerber that much, and Ward was sort of the odd man out this season and was never really able to grab his starting job back once Gerber stepped in. I'm still not sold on Ward, though he's certainly going to prove a tougher challenge than Emery did. What I'm looking forward to: 1- These two teams are so evenly matched, top to bottom, forwards, defensemen, coaching, special teams, equipment trainiers....etc, I think that this series will simply come down to heart. You could write a season summary describing the Sabres, and for all intents and purposes it would describe Carolina the exact same way. In my opinion, it's laughable to say that Buffalo has a DISTINCT edge at any one position. While the Ottawa series had plenty of free-wheeling and lots of offense, I think THIS will be the series that makes everyone realize why the new NHL is so good for the game. It's only Tuesday and I'm already getting pumped. I'll hold off on my picks until later in the week...I've got to give myself some time to let it sink in that we just beat Ottawa in 5 freaking games!

I was just thinking...since I almost always just watch the games, and don't really like lugging my laptop downstairs, just to end up spilling beer on it, I never end up participating in the chats. However, it was always fun, going back through and reading posts the next day after a game. Is there a way we could start posting a thread containing all the comments from the chat session? It'd be fun to take a look back and read through the spontaneous posts.

These guys are ready. There's no way Ruff will let them not come hard tonight. Listening to them last night, they all sounded as if they hadn't accomplished anything. They're the hungriest team that I've ever seen to reside in Buffalo. Great feeling about tonight again for me. Yesterday I had a great feeling all day, but just couldn't accept that Ottawa could actually go down 3-0. Anways: Sabres win 4-0 tonight. Not only is the HSBC rocking, but when Tim Connolly is the final player out of the Buffalo dressing room, then glides to center ice to take the opening draw, the place expolodes in chants of "Tiiiiimmmy...Tiiiimmmmmy". Connolly continues his run to the Conn Smythe trophy, setting up Mad Max as the Sabres score early in the 1st on the PP, then on his very next shift, Connolly roofs a shot from the top of the circle, beating Emery clean, glove side. Roy and Grier net the other two Buffalo goals. The final 3 minutes of the game, the crowd sings "Na, na, na..." (Oh...if Tim doesn't play: The Sabres win 4-1. Roy, Novotny, Max and Grier for Buffalo. Drury gets 2 assists.)

Great jab by Lindy in his postgame presser. When asked if he had heard what the officials were looking at after Dumont's goal he responded: "They have to look at everything now, just to make sure. It's something they started after '99". CLASSIC. It was great.

Emery's save % is now at .895% Miller's has risen to .915% after tonights game.

Well, kudos to the posters here on TSR! Lot's of people said earlier that if we were to win tonight, Miller would have to steal a game for us, and lo and behold! The hit on Connolly was absolutely clean...no doubt about it. But I'll second the hopes that Timmy is good. The Sabres need to figure out their PP somehow...they've looked like crap for most of the postseason. Has there been a 2 on 1 that the Sabres HAVEN'T scored on? My goodness, they've been just DEADLY. Game 3 is going to be INSANE.

Let's have at em! It's 10pm Sunday and I'm getting anxious. What are your thoughts/hunches/gut feelings/brains telling you? Personally, I have a bad feeling about this one, though most everyone else I talk to doesn't seem to share my reservations. Ottawa takes it, 5-3. Empty netter for the Sens wraps it up. Vanek, Connolly and Pominville net our goals.

BRH, good point. Those three goals aren't going to just hang around and twiddle their thumbs either. They're going to make like the 2000 US Oylmpic hockey team before Monday.

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYY fadjkdau 89faeujfkewau890uwea ru3809 ur32ur9 EIFAEW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Chris Drury, Chris Drury!!! Do you believe! The Buffalo Sabres battle back all night long and what happens? Drury burries it and burries Ottawa in Game 1 of the best of seven series!" I'm naming my first born son Rick Jeanarette.

Well, about 3 hours until gametime, and I still feel like tonight is the Sabres' night. This series will come down to special teams performance more so than any other factor. These teams are simply too closely matched in every other area, though Ottawa has a distint edge in defence and "name players". If Ottawa's superstars play like superstars, this will be a different type of seires...maybe the Sens will take it in 5. However, if Buffalo is able to not completely shut down Ottawa' s big guns, but at least contain them, Buffalo will give itself a chance. I think the great part is that this series eventually will be decided by whichever team wants it more. These teams are evenly matched enough that it'll eventually come down to pure desire.

No injuries tonight...except the water cooler and some other equipment that Rober Esche destroyed after he was pulled!

I'll give Max the benefit of the doubt tonight and say SLUMP OVER. He looked like a different player today, and wasn't going out of his way to avoid getting hit. Did you notice though, that he rarely was given the puck to lug through the neutral zone? Especially on the PP. The last two weeks, and even Games 1-3 of this series, Max was almost always the one responsible for breaking out and gaining the opposition zone on the PP. Today, I don't remember seeing him do this once. Drury, Connolly and Campbell were the guys most often taking it in. Still, Max looked more comfortable with the puck on the half wall and down low, which is good to see. The instincts and speed he showed to get to the net on his goal were fantastic. I wish that MSG was broadcasting only so I could have seen Robataille diagram that play on the camera shot that shows the whole zone. I think that play was a great example of Max using his hockey sense as well as his acceleration. Good game for Max...better game for Connolly...best game so far for Briere. AND By the way...holy Kalinin Batman! Dmitri has been one of our most consistent D-men throughout this series, in my opinion. I've been frustrated with him as much as anyone through the course of the season, but he looks like a different player out there in the 2nd season. He's generally calm with the puck, making good outlet passes, joining the rush when appropriate, making good decisions when to pinch, PLAYING PHYSICAL, and has been doing a really nice job of playing his man, not the puck in front of the net. He just doesn't look like the same intimidated player he was for much of the year. I think he looks confident, and is playing with some good aggression. It's been great to watch....I just hope he starts playing like this from Oct - June, instead of just April - June.

Those ubiquitous orange t's were really nasty looking tonight. What a horrible idea. It just made it look like the stands were empty, in my opinion. I can't think of anything new to add tonight. The PP, a soft goal (1st PHI goal), and two bizzare goals (2nd and 3rd PHI goals) did us in. Also, I can't figure out what the hell our PP was doing (or wasn't doing) tonight. It's really, in my opinion what lost us the game, more than anything else. The frustrating thing to me, is that it doesn't seem like the Sabres made any in-game adjustments. It appeared like they were running the same type of PP throughout the game, when it was obvious it wasn't working. I'm sure Scott Arniel will figure out a way to tweak something for tomorrow night, but that's pathetic he couldn't get his hands on some video during intermissions and figure out something new for the 2nd or 3rd period. All in all...I think it wasn't a horrible loss, and it will be nice to clinch it at home.

Guys, I just can't get the chat to work. A blank grey screen appears when I click on the link above. What should I do?

I think the first goal wins tonight. It's really important for the Sabres to hop out to an early lead again tonight, and not let Philly feel like they can hang around with the Sabres, despite being outplayed.