X. Benedict
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Thanks for that. I think I remember the fire at Sardinia too. My condolences to your wife.This hit close to home, as Jimmy's daughter is my wife's best friend and she knows the family well. Funny thing is, she knew the man long before she had any idea what hockey was. We knew he had cancer and we knew it was terminal but it still happened very quickly. My wife was sobbing last night when they did a moment of silence in the FNC before the game (we were watching on TV). That was unexpected and really cool for her.
My wife wrote a nice tribute to him today on her facebook wall, and she gave me permission to paste it below:
Jim Roberts: A wonderful man:
If any of you saw the Sabres game last night, there was a tribute made to my best friend's dad; Jimmy Roberts. He was not only amazing in the hockey world; (5 time Stanley Cup winner) he was an amazing man who loved his family dearly, had an awesome sense of humor, and was very giving to others.
I can't remember the exact date that I met the Roberts family, it seems like I have always known them. Years ago, in the middle of nowhere where I used to live in Sardinia, NY, there was a piece of property right by my parent's house. From the road, you couldn't see anything accept a driveway that went back into the trees. There were no resorts, no fancy pools, nothing except 2 ponds, many acres of unspoiled nature and a log cabin.
The Roberts family made this property their oasis, their summer get away. As a little girl, every time that I saw the Roberts clan pull into that driveway, I knew that there would be weeks of fun. Corri and Vicki are the daughters of Jim Roberts. Corri and I are the same age, and almost instantly grew a bond. We would make up crazy dances and skits to show whoever would be watching...
So, about Jim: He loved to have huge bbq's at their summer resort, in-the-middle- of nowhere. (of course he was the master chef behind that bbq grill!). The fun and giving Jim Roberts would invite all of the neighbors down for a party. We never had to bring food or drinks, there was always plenty to go around. He and his family; so giving.
When I was growing up, I didn't really know what hockey was... here I was in the presence of a five time Stanley Cup winner, and had no idea! Jim didn't act like he was someone 'famous.'. In fact, it was only when Corri and I were a bit older that he once joked to me, "How can you be my daughter's best friend and NOT know what hockey is?" Of course, he was kidding. Well, I learned what hockey is, and knowing what I know now, I am in awe of what he accomplished.
I am thankful to have known Jim Roberts; he was a great man. By purchasing that property, in Sardinia (in the middle of nowhere), I have an amazing friend for the rest of my life. I love the Roberts family and I am sending my love now to Judy (wife), Vicki and her family, and Corri. He will be missed......
There was a VERY nice write-up about Jim in the St. Louis Post Dispatch yesterday, with some hilarious anecdotes and quotes that you old-timers will appreciate:
Also, next time you are down at the FNC, check out the picture on the plaque of the French Connection statue. That's Jim chasing them into the zone:
11155033_10206552796247938_1251445302599088844_o.jpgRIP, Jim.
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Any update heard on Lehner?
High ankle sprain, might as well have a broken leg. It won't be soon. 2.5 to 3 months and then there is the time to get back in shape.
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You sick bastard. I've privately told you about my seizure disorder. And you still post this.
Wasn't there a pill to cure this?
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Thanks PA. As much as we battle a times, I consider you a friend, and that was a friendly thing to do today. I'm not sure if anyone knew Scotty better at the time than Jimmy , they were together in St. Louis, Montreal and Buffalo. (And juniors)
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Sorry I wasn't clearer. It took me by surprise. I didn't know he was sick.
5 time cup champ, 5 years on coaching staff in buffalo, Hartford coach. And one of the best checking forwards in the game.
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I barely remember him. Had to google. What were the circumstances that led him to be the Sabres' interim coach?
Scotty brought him in as assistant. And Scotty was going to focus on GM duties and Jimmy coached.. Jimmy was here about 5 years.
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Jimmy Roberts died, I'm sad. From his time coaching in Buffalo and his returns he was at one time an aquaintance.
I once sat on a porch one night and we talked long one night about what his retirement from playing and what coaching was like.
He loved teaching the game in the AHL more than coaching in the NHL.
He was funny.
He was most grateful for his family and the friendships hockey gave him.
He played the game the right way.
RIP , Jimmy.
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I'm confident goals will come.
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Notes: Sabres got eaten alive on the dot - which gave a ton of point shots to the Habs.
Face offs matter - especially if you have guys like Subban and Markov that can pump biscuits on net.
The first two periods I was marveling at Samsons vision.
I'm not as discouraged as you may normally be after a 7-2 loss.
That could have easily been a 5-5 game. 3 times they had the Condon beaten and hit pipe.
Kane, Ennis, and somebody.
Sabres need some ugly goals.
Ocho, well, he'll need to forget this one.
Amazing how good Mitchell and Flynn look on fourth line duty.
Larsson was frustrating to watch last night, he wasn't skating.
I really thought....at least the first two periods that Sabres were stride for stride with the Habs forwards.
It's really on the backend and sets that generated the Habs offense.
Actually for 65 min. It was fun to watch.
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Could it be that It's only game 7 and there are a lot of fans that don't even realize the season started yet?
And yes I would still call those people fans.
It's October. I think there was an Oct game in 2005, and half the place was empty for Danny Gare's sweater retirement.
It will pick up. The season for most U.S. fans start once the college bowl games are announced.
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There seems to be a Foligno man crush starting to blossom :ph34r:
Nice job egg, you and wild are keeping the bar high.
I've been loving Marcus's game.
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Buffalo actually matches well with the Habs speed. Except Franson and webber.
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There are 14 guys worse than Ray. Wow.
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This was awesome, I've been hoping we would do another version for a different song
What was that Billy Joel song.....Summer Falls (sadness or euphoria)?
it would be a hard one to cover though. :)
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Yep. That's what that means.
That tells me his goal isn't playoffs for this year. He's not worried about maximizing points now, when those points might make the difference in whether we make the playoffs this spring.
Or it could be doubts about Ramo. He's been flat.
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After watching my first 3x3 last night, I think the NHL erred on keeping the shootout. That is so wide open that all games would end, IMO, with 10 minutes. It takes more than 5 minutes to run the shootout. They should just let these teams finish it on the ice, like men.
I wonder if the nhlpa wants to keep the shootouts. It is kind of a niche stat for player negotiations for those who excel at it.
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A few game notes:
- I thought Pysyk made some nice plays in in the D-zone but he almost gave the game away at the end of regulation. As to why he had the least ice time among the D: as I've said before, I think his game is limited. He's doesn't contribute much offense (hence zero PP time and almost zero OT time -- and very little production in the AHL too) and he's not physical enough to clear the crease (hence zero PK time -- and less overall time than McCabe).
IMHO, for Pysyk to be an effective NHL defenseman, he needs to be able to use the right amount of force and momentum to separate the puck from the opposing forwards, make the right decision in the d-zone a very high percentage of the time and either skate it out or pass it out of danger with a very high level of competence. Now, the good news is that I've seen him do all of those things quite a bit so far this year, so I'm reasonably optimistic that he can get there. But unless his offense really develops, I don't think he's going to be as prominent a player as many here think.
- Kane running over Phaneuf was awesome.
- The Sabres looked befuddled in the 3-on-3.
- Chad Johnson played a great freaking game.
- Many here got their wish about breaking up Eichel and Kane -- I don't think they played together much (if at all) during the 3rd period & OT last night.
- Zemgus was back up to 17 min last night, although I think 1 or 2 shifts were in OT.
- I thought Risto was a little up and down last night too, although he got 24 min. Franson also a bit spotty.
- Ennis also played a very strong game.
- They'll need more than 1 goal to beat the Habs, but they can get there.
Great notes. Franson has intermittent hiccups. We have a fast team, and that makes him look really slow. I wonder if Nolan Pratt could run him down.
3x3 the Sabres look bewildered for much of it. Lots of retreating. It's gonna be a blast though. The shootouts are a disappointing end to the 3x3 OT.
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Was most fun I had cheering for them in 3rd and OT/Shootout in forever. As RJ said, give me 10 minutes of 3 v 3! Will be interesting to see stats after a few more weeks of play (4v4:SO vs 3V3:SO).
On Johnson, is he the exact opposite of Hasek? This guy seems to just sit there square. There's barely any movement almost like he's in a staring contest. Or even Miller would say he would play games. Show shooter something to bait. Whatever works!
Ocho is a nonbeliever. He doesn't believe your first move, stutter step, or deke.
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saaaaweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
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Kane responds with this tweet:
Glad we could " BUST" out a win tonight.
The guy keeps it interesting. :)
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That's a few years away....a lot will have changed by then. Let the GM worry about contracts.
Really though. Enjoy the hockey. His presence is really trans-formative. Instead of getting outshot and outdrawn by 10 every night the Sabres are outshooting everyone and outdrawing everyone by 10. It's, what is it called?, it's, nice.
Embrace the nice.
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The who now?
That's rich. Being called obnoxious (so you're nfreeman now?) by the most consistently obnoxious member here.
Self-immolation by Buddhist monks practically turned public opinion against Vietnam or something, Hoss must have known that or something. We will miss Wildcard though. He's become one of my favorite posters - a true son of this board. But this is too important.
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I read somewhere that opposing goalies have a .944 save percentage against us so far. That ain't gonna hold up.
The Sabres are making goalies look big. Not enough traffic. Not enough screeens and deflections. Really give any NHL goalie today a clear view and more than 95% of the time he'll stop the puck.
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Eichel does see the game from above already. He shall not sit! I am covering my ears and going lalalalalalalala.
me too. lalalalalalalala.
New year, tons of firepower, still cant score.
in The Aud Club
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I forget, if you see O'Reilly for more than 4 hrs. Seek medical attention.