Robviously

Not sure that would work. They'd still be living in a hotel and eating in restaurants in a city where people go crazy for them and would constantly be asking for autographs, etc. You'd have all the same distractions, maybe more. If they need extra focus for home games, it's just going to have to come from within. I don't think a gimmick can get it done.

Actually he was a +1 for the game.

Dear Skip, Sounds like you and I are going to get along just fine. Sincerely, The Year 2011

When the Hawks went up 4-3, I couldn't think of one player on the team I could count on to score a late goal to send it into OT.

After last year's playoffs, the Sabres roster clearly had some issues that needed to be addressed. Darcy's response? He did nothing. Other than Leopold, we didn't sign anyone that other teams were really hot for. And we sure as hell didn't make a trade to change our team. This roster wasn't put together to win the Cup. It was patched together with Darcy's usual half-assed, scared-to-do-anything-ever effort.

Tonight was the night where Cody McCormick officially became a more effective NHL player than Tim Connolly. Thanks for the memories, Tim. Could this roster be any more convoluted? Who is the top line? Who are we counting on to score a big goal late in the game? At this point I'm counting on guys like Gerbe more than our veterans. No reason not to play Weber in the next game. But I don't think Lindy is serious about sending a message.

How many games have the Sabres played this year where they played good hockey for 60 minutes? Like 3 or 4? We're seeing an adverse effect from the winning streak these last two games. The Sabres come out flat and are completely baffled when the opposing team isn't letting them do whatever they want.

We play Boston tomorrow. Hopefully you aren't the guy flying the team plane tonight. :P

Here's a photo from North Carolina that just came over the wire: Link Looks like someone just got RE-SLUGGED!!!

It was loud after the game too. People were celebrating and chanting and yelling all over the arena on their way out. It took about 10 minutes to get out from where we were sitting (section 323) and it was getting louder the whole time. People were high-fiving everywhere and honking their horns (to "Let's Go Buffalo") outside in traffic. It was insane. I've never seen a regular season game with an aftermath like that. Not even close. And we're 2-0. When we win the Cup they're going to have to call in the National Guard to restore order.....

I think some of us were high from eating poison slugs. It's like licking toads but way more potent.

I was at the game and I can tell you that once the refs started calling penalty after penalty, the place just went insane. That was easily the loudest regular season game that I can remember. It sounded like a Guatamalan insane asylum in there. The best games are always the ones where a riot almost breaks out over the officiating. I swear people were coming up with entirely new noises to make near the end.