That Aud Smell

I used to get gifted tickets in the oranges back in the 90s by a STH who had his seats near a dear friend of mine. He always provided the same written instruction (written on the envelope containing the ticket(s)): Enjoy. Don't forget: Stand up when we score.

This is a succinct summary of what the Sabres need to do in order to succeed (make the playoffs) this season.

Let's Go, Buffalo! The league did Buffalo a favour with a Monday game (oof), but an Original 6 opponent from Canada. There will be a LOT of red in the arena. It should be a pretty evenly split crowd. I'll be in the house with the Chets and Muffys - rattling my jewelry.

Everything about the team looked pretty good last night, so it’s hard not to make this inference. And Levi did struggle against the Flames, imo. (Made breakaway stops, but flubbed others for goals.) The evaluators clearly see special traits in Levi. His athleticism is obvious. I think it’s a safe bet that be will be a good pro goalie. But he’s 21. Relying on him as the 1 was always a gamble. If Comrie can regain his form, it’d be a huge shot in the arm. Thing is, Comrie’s track record suggests he’s good for ~25 (30?) games. Can Levi give average NHL goaltending for the other 50+? Also, spaketh not of UPL. For the love of God.

I concluded the other day that he must be playing hurt. He’s looked mostly bad.

Ooooh. Southern Junction. They moved from Chandler to ... Connecticut Street, I believe. Near Mr. Sizzle's. That place is so interesting. As the name suggests, it's American southern barbecue combined with south Asian principles of roasting and flavouring meat. We've gotten takeaway from them a few times -- really, really interesting (in a good way).

I haven't been there yet, but I am planning a pilgrimage to Nephew's on Tonawanda Street in the Riverside district of the City of Buffalo. Per Galarneau (sp? (who writes about food for the Buffalo News)), Nephew's is the successor of Lee's BBQ. As to the latter, it was "the heart of a bar-car-wash-barbecue complex that fed and employed generations on Fillmore Avenue." His write-up goes on to explain how this barbecue has created devoted followers over the decades, including many Buffalo Bills like Thurman and Bruce. Also, of interest and intrigue (from Galarneau): "Here’s a genre note: ... [Y]ou should know that these ribs are not barbecue, in the classic sense. Not Southern style, cooked long and slow in wood smoke until meat comes clean off the bone. Nephew’s ribs, and Lee’s before him, are spare ribs grilled over charcoal in covered cookers. The meat is turned and cooked and basted, with only their drippings as flavorful incense, before they’re ready. This pork popsicle is to be gnawed, for sure."

Disagree with the Rolston comparison. But I am starting to lean this way. Bring in one of the retread warhorses whose message infamously gets tuned out after a few years. In the meantime, make the gotdamn playoffs.

To each their own. We've had the Mighty debate on this board before. IIRC, @Eleven also thinks that Mighty is garbage. I funking love it - occasionally (6-8 times a year?). It just tastes like home to me.

Score one for the vibes. The guy was/is just clearly beloved by everyone associated with the team.

I've regularly driven past that intersection for the past 20+ years. I'm not sure how long they've been there. Anyway, it is never busy. Weirdly so.

Gramma Mora's started on Niagara Street. First time I went was in the mid-80s (?). And it appeared that Gramma was working in the kitchen. That place was legit - at least as far as my young culinary standards were concerned. At some point around when they moved to Hertel, the restaurant was bought out by an Italian-American family that was in the restaurant operations business. We used to laugh because there was a period of time -- maybe it's still the case? -- when a Mexican-American family was running an Italian/red sauce/pizza joint across the street on Hertel. As for El Palenque: I went a few times and will not go back. That was place was (is?) dirty. And the food was decidedly mid. I've come to conclude that they're using that place as a front for illegal activities - money laundering or some such. It has endured, yet it is not good. The location is very good. Maybe that has something to do with it. That's accurate nowadays. Gramma Mora's on Niagara Street was so damn good.

I love Mighty. But yeah. That is not Mexican food.

I have one "stick" in my TV's HDMI port - a Roku. It is of no use to me in broadcasting a hockey game. It's easier for me to unplug that Roku device (dongle? (I love that word)) and plug in another HDMI input (a cable running from a laptop) than it is to futz around with some additional streaming stick (which I'm not even sure how to use (would it allow Airplay from a phone?). Lol - boxes. Are those still a thing in the States?

Laurel?

Also, it bears mentioning, that a short drive down 90 to Batavia/Genesee County and/or a pop up north a bit into Orleans County will yield several fantastic taquerias. I don't even know the names off the top of my head. I've been to at least 3. One in Batavia for sure. Another in Albion, maybe? Anyway, the agricultural character of those areas (and its reliance on migrant workers) has given rise to excellent, authentic Mexican/Central American food options.

Let's Go, Buffalo!!

Taqueria Los Mayas - corner of Union and Genesee. The tacos are very much legit. It seems like there's a grandma back there in the kitchen. The place is mobbed every time we go. We generally opt for takeaway. Casa Azul. They're in Allentown. This is a little more on the hipster side of things. The proprietor (Zina Lapi) is a poster child for a reinvigorated Buffalo. Las Puertas on Rhode Island in Buffalo. This is upscale Mexican (white linen on the tables). I haven't been there in a while, but it's blown my mind when I have gone. It's authentic ethnic cuisine, but it's not street food nor is it like a grandma's cooking in her kitchen. Think more like an upscale French bistro. Pretty incredible.

Yah - same. The VPN helps me with ... other outlets.

I thought it was agreed that the team would need to play a tighter defensive game than last year.

This is a helpful thread. I'm going to skip MSG+, renew my VPN subscription, use my iPad, and maybe look at getting a spare laptop to connect to my tee-vee for big games.

For sure. And I like that it probably arose organically from his teammates -- maybe during a practice session. Maybe one of the forwards - unable to finish a chance on a rush drill - remarked "dude's a beast."

i heard the broadcast team mention a blocked shot.

I feel like you guys should have reached out to tell me that this is his nickname. 😁 I watched the Instagram content last night and saw Cozens announcing the starting lineup by saying "Beeeeeeeesss" would start (in goal?) and then saw DG in the post-game locker room talk saying "way to go, Beast" and was like ... who?

Oh, agreed. Call it the Evander Kane Corollary. That guy was a Corsi darling on the Sabres, iirc, but I felt like so much of it was low-chance wristers from bad angles. But a fairly even game - with the Sabres having the edge on balance - is consistent with the Corsi being 50/50 and the "high danger chances for" being heavy in the Sabres' favour. I liked the game last night. And I think it's coming for the top line. They were good against the Bolts. I thought about this. It's a valid point. (Gah! A point!) But I'm not gonna sweat it now.