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To get a little, you got to give a little, right? Well, your Buffalo Sabres will get back Evander Kane tonight after a 1 game suspension for missing a team practice the other day, but will sadly return Justin Bailey to the Rochester Amerks to get a little more seasoning in his cousine. Look for a visibly embarrassed Kane to come back full force tonight and remind his teammates that he isn't what everyone in Winnipeg cast him off as. But, you didn't come here for that, did you? No way, you came here for the good news, so sit your ass down, because that's what you're about to get. Your Buffalo Sabres, after playing Slippin Jimmy for 2 games, are 2-0-1 in their last 3, and 3-2-3 in their last 8. Now, that may not seem like a lot to some of you, but that's huge progress for a team where the two leading scorers are rookies. That stat right there tells me that not only are we winning, but that we're competitive too. The team is starting to come together folks, and now we can fasten our seat belts (how the is that not one word?) and watch the scoring race between Evander, ROR, Reinhart, and Eichel. All under contract, all under 25, and all extremely talented. Throw in Drago on the blue line, and maybe a little Finnish spice and some Cam Fowler, and we're in business. Now, who better for the Sabres to face than the team that gifted them Jack Eichel? We all owe Cam Atkinson a beer for that one. Yet, here's the catch. For whatever Nolan-esk reason, Torts has the Jackets playing much better these days. 6-1-3 in their last 10, the BJ's have stepped out of the basement and sit tied with Buffalo at 53 points in 58 games. The Jackets are 4-2 in their last 6, and are coming off a 2-1 loss against the Bruins on Tuesday night. The last time these teams squared off, I think we can all remember this goal. Game Preview (It's wrong, Jack did not score his first goal against Columbus) STATS: All Stats Columbus @ Buffalo (3-1 win) (NA) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Thursday Practice report Forwards: 9 Evander Kane – 90 ROR– 23 Sam Reinhart 88 Jamie McGinn – 15 Jack Eichel – 56 Justin Bailey 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 26 Matt Moulson Defense: 4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 29 Jake McCabe – 47 Zach Bogosian 3 Mark Pysyk – 46 Cody Franson 6 Mike Weber – 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson Power Play First Unit Catenacci-Eichel-Reinhart-McGinn-Ristolainen Second Unit Kane-Moulson-Gionta-Bogosian-Pysyk

(ahem)......Yooooooouuuuuuuuurrrrrr Buffalo Sabres will stroll on up to Canada's capital tonight for a division showdown against the revamped Ottawa Senators. The Sabres, having won 2 straight and earned points in 6 out of their last 8, will look to continue their winning ways and cling to the hope that is a playoff spot. Coming off a 4-1 win against Colorado on Sunday afternoon, the Sabres started hot early with a beautiful coast to coast goal from Jack Eichel and a responding Reinhart goal later on, one that saw the rookies continue their torrid race to lead the team in goals. Evander Kane also scored early on, and appears to have finally found his way in Buffalo as his recent hot streak has him at 16 goals now, 1 behind Reinhart, Eichel, and ROR for the team lead, despite having played 10 less games. Kane's recent antics will cost him yet another game, no doubt a power move by Evander as his self-sabotage will only make his eventual goal totals even that much more impressive. Ahhh, the Senators. Let's just say that the first blockbuster of the NHL world hasn't really paid off so far for Ottawa. Losers of 3 straight and 3-7 in their last 10, Brian Murray's gamble to vault his team into playoff contention has, thus far, completely back-fired, leaving Ottawa 8 points back of playoff contention, and a mere 4 points ahead of the team engineered by his nephew, the Sabres. The Sabres and Senators enter tonight's game with a 1-1 season tie in the series, with Buffalo winning the most recent contest 3-2 right before the ASB. The win featured 2 additions to the Eichel tower, and a towering performance by ex-Senator Robin Lehner, who's Davie Crockett impression single-handedly saved the game for the last 12 minutes of the 3rd. The Sabres will be without Evander Kane for his antics. Look for Lehner to start. Jack has 3 goals against Ottawa in his young career so far, including his first NHL goal Game Preview STATS: All Stats OBuffalo @ Ottawa(3-2 win) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Monday Practice report Forwards: 88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 26 Matt Moulson 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 56 Justin Bailey Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 47 Zach Bogosian, 3 Mark Pysyk, 46 Cody Franson, 6 Mike Weber, 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson

You know, there's just certain acts of decency, and unspoken manner of living if you will, that's everyone should abide by. Bring your own beer; don't block intersection; call your parents on their birthdays; wear headphones if you want to listen to music in public, you ###### pos, Greg; don't wear camo to a funeral; get drunk for weddings and funerals; fill the tank up if you borrow my car; if I'm driving, shut the ###### up, and don't touch my radio; return the favor; say please, thank you, and be a gentleman; you don't take videos at bachelor parties, you ######; spare a square. And, last but not least, life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it. In honor of VD, we all know there's this same code for dating. Put your phone away. Be enthusiastic. Reach for the check. Don't bring up your exes. And for the love of ######, always DENNIS. Still, if all that goes well, maybe you get a 2nd, and a 3rd date, and before you know it, you're getting married to the love of your life .Sure, it started off with a massive bang, and things were great. But, let's just say for a second, that it all just goes terribly, terribly wrong, and you just can't help yourself. Huge work party where you might get the most important promotion of your career? She brings a fog machine. That awesome puppy you waited 14, excruciating days to finally fall in your lap? Too bad, that puppy hates you, and it's because she's a cold, frigid bitch. But, lo! She warms up, starts looking good again (and I mean gooooooddd), and she goes out and buys that puppy for you. You think to yourself, "How could I not love this person?" You love that puppy, and boy does that thing love you. Hell, even your kids love it. The puppy's so good, it gets your kid their first romance. But, for no reason, your wife goes and kicks the poor girl right in the leg. "So what", you say, romances come and go. Sure enough, that puppy goes out and gets 3, 3!, more hot young things for your kid, and you are just grinning from cheek to cheek. After the first one, you're not too worried, that was a fluke. Then you wife opens her loud mouth, and pisses of the 2nd one. No dice. For the 3rd one she just slammed the door right in the poor kids face. The 4th one? Where your kid finally gets to the 2nd date, and things are looking great? Well, she shits all over that too. Now, you have to be asking yourself at this point: Why, dear God, why?!? Why do I possibly keep coming back to her?!? I work all day, every day, and she calls and calls and calls, I can't escape her! But, here's the thing, for no rational reason whatsoever, I don't want to. I know that somewhere down the road, she'll finally be everything I knew she was. So, you trudge on. You sit her down, and tell her, "Listen, things have been rough lately. Your Shrekish behavior is scaring away all of Junior's romances. Now, I know it's your swamp and no, I don't think your sister is prettier than you. But still, how about, next time Junior brings home a date, you just leave her alone, alright?" So, you go and get a new puppy to help Junior out. A shelter puppy, it's some Easter European breed, but the thing has spunk, so you take it home. Boy, does Junior, and his date, love this puppy. Hell, Junior's just the sideshow here, the puppy is single-handedly bringing this home! Your excited, you can't hold it in. This is it, you think to yourself. But, come on folks, we all know she's out there somewhere. And with the roar of some inbred Cowboy, she comes in and judo kicks Junior's date right in the ###### jaw; left foot just slicing away cartilage and facial structures. ###### it, you're done. The first puppy died, and the 2nd one has left. There is nothing, no hope. Junior sulks for the next decade or so, with no hope in site. Sure, he gets some mild success, a phone call here and there, but every time you know your wife is out there, ready to cut the phone lines. But....what's this? A new puppy? A...a better, puppy? Could it be? No, it's not one, it's 2! It's 3!. It's a god damned ###### smorgasboard of puppies! You've become the ###### ASPCA without that annoying Sara McCocklin! Sure, these puppies are untrained; they ###### on the rug, pee on the coach, and ultimately disappoint you almost every time you watch them. But god dammit, there yours. Your wife comes in, she sees these puppies, and, as she turns on the game and pours you a nice, tall beer, she tells you she won't screw the pooch this time. You look up into her eyes, and realize you just can't quit her then she gives the worlds greatest slow-blow and it's ###### nice Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Colorado (2-1 loss) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Saturday Practice report Forwards: 9 Evander Kane – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 88 Jamie McGinn – 15 Jack Eichel – 56 Justin Bailey 82 Marcus Foligno – 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 12 Brian Gionta 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 26 Matt Moulson Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 47 Zach Bogosian, 3 Mark Pysyk, 46 Cody Franson, 6 Mike Weber, 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson

For some, maybe even for most, this is the team to hate. The Fog Game, the brawls of the late 90's, the Umberger hit, the 98 playoff series and brawl. This was everything you could possibly hate if you were lucky enough to watch hockey back then. So, because I'm a little tired, and some of these clips and pics could do a way better job and stoking the fire for some of you that watched those games, here you go: The Sabres will look to bounce back after having a 4 game point streak snapped. After losing 7-4 in epic fashion against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Buffalo looks to drink deep from the character created from that loss, one that saw continual comebacks, a pissed of Jack Eichel, and Evander Kane going 3-0 in fights. Lehner was pulled after giving up 4 goals in barely over 1 period of work. McCabe got a taste at forward, and ROR was double-shifted a ton to make up for the unexpected losses of Girgensons and Larsson Larsson and Girgensons are still questionable, though one or both is unlikely to play given the call up of Justin Bailey from Rochester. Bailey will make his first ever NHL appearance, and it couldn't be more fitting to have it come against an old Sabres rival, perhaps the oldest rival indeed. Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Philly (3-1 win) All Stats Buffalo @ Florida (4-3 OT win) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Wednesday Practice Report Forwards: Nicolas Deslauriers - Ryan O'Reilly - Jamie McGinn Evander Kane - Sam Reinhart - Brian Gionta Marcus Foligno - Jack Eichel - Matt Moulson Daniel Catenacci - David Legwand - Justin Bailey Blue-Liners: Zach Bogosian - Mark Pysyk Josh Gorges - Rasmus Ristolainen Mike Weber - Cody Franson Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson By the way, those videos are ###### awesome. That hockey was so much damn fun to watch. Made me rethink my position about some things

Facts about Panthers: - They're like your cat, but bigger. - The average Panther weighs somewhere around 190 lbs, is around 6 feet in length, and is worth millions of dollars. - The long claws on a Panther make them perfect for maneuvering on the ice, as well as climbing trees. - The dominate male of the pack often depicts his dominance with a prominent mane extending exclusively from the back. The front is for business only - The pack as a whole is 5-4-1 in their last 10 hunts, including a 3-0 ambush loss at the hands of the rival Red Wings - Panthers can roar in Canadian, Finnish, Czech, American, and Floridian, the last of which is merely a 911 call - Panthers only gather during mating season with 82 annual rituals. The last time bonus humps were awarded was 2011-2012, but that party was ruined by the Devil - The Florida Panther is not a real panther, it's actually a cougar. Oddly fitting, given Florida's demographic - I once saw a Jaguar eat an alligator. Jaguar's are actually Panthers, sometimes - Panthers are often dominated and abused by their older rival in the animal kingdom, horses The Sabres, on the other hand, will look to reverse their fortune and get back to their winning ways. Coming of a 2-1 OT loss to the refs last Saturday night, Buffalo and the insanity encapsulated that is Robin Lehner will look to chuck pucks instead of helmets this time around and come out with the W. Buffalo has lost 2 straight OT games, one being the Skills Competition, and both at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The good news is, Robin Lehner appears to not only be the emotional catalyst necessary to drive some life into this team, but he's also slowly melting away the fear that GMTM paid too much for a replaceable part. Combine Lehner's play with the addition of a likely top 10 pick and the continued development of Kane, Eichel, Risto, Reinhart, and Zemgus, and it looks like National Geographic will have to do a special on us next year as the surprising upstart rising to the playoffs. Look for Lehner vs. Luongo; Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons are both questionable, with Marcus likely playing. Barkov ruled out with an UBI on a big hit from Abdelkader last night. The is a huge, huge loss for the Panthers Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Florida (3-2 loss) All Stats Buffalo @ Florida (3-2 win) All Stats Florida @ Buffalo (5-1 loss) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Monday Practice Report Forwards: 88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 9 Evander Kane – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 26 Matt Moulson – 15 Jack Eichel – 82 Marcus Foligno 43 Daniel Catenacci – 17 David Legwand – 44 Nicolas Deslauriers Blue-Liners: 4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 29 Jake McCabe – 47 Zach Bogosian 6 Mike Weber – 3 Mark Pysyk 25 Carlo Colaiacovo – 46 Cody Franson Captain Insaneo: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson

Beat me once, shame on me. Beat me twice, and I put that little ###### rat through the glass. Your Buffalo Sabres will be looking for revenge like you do against the ass-head in the office who wears his Pats jersey and spoons with a Brady fathead in his mom's basement. A game, you think this is a game? No, this is personal. Boston is the guy who eats out of the peanut butter jar with his fingers; the guy who takes your company parking spot; the girl who eats from your plate when she insisted she wasn't hungry; the guy who doesn't smokes but will always bum one off you; that dude in the circle who didn't throw down but wants in; slow walking, close talking, mouth breathing neanderthal who's idea of an argument is to simply yell louder than you. Boston's the girl that gets mad at you for holding the door, then yells out you about chivalry; the guy who claims no chicks like him, then rocks a gem-studded douchebag vest out to the bars where he brags about the chicks he's banged. That guy that one ups every story you have; the interrupter; the complainer; and that oh so special princess who says "If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best". Simply put, Boston is everything you hate in life. The Sabres, our burgeoning hero who rises from the ashes to put our city back on the map, will look to make a statement to the NHL that we are no longer the red-headed step-child of the league (Sorry bio, I'm a ginger too though. Well, 1/2). Coming off a heart-breaking 3-2 SO loss against Boston on Thursday night, one that saw the best and worst of Chad Johnson, and the worst of Dan Byslma, the Sabres will look to avenge their loss and continue the playoff push by making ground against a divisional opponent and a WC contender. Buffalo is much, much better on the road. Boston sits at 11-13-3 at home, and the Sabres are 12-11-2 on the road. Considering the away team has one each contest so far, I'll expect a Sabres win, and a better showing by DD. Look for Lehner and Rask to get the starts. Marcus Foligno is out with a LBI, and Daniel Cat-nasty will make his pro-debut. Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Boston (6-3 win) All Stats Boston @ Buffalo (4-1 loss) NA Right Now All Stats Boston @ Buffalo (3-2 SO loss) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Friday Practice Report Buffalo: Forwards: 88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O''Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 12 Brian Gionta 9 Evander Kane – 22 Johan Larsson – 44 Nicolas Deslauriers 26 Matt Moulson – 17 David Legwand – Daniel Cat-Nasty Defense: 4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 47 Zach Bogosian – 3 Mark Pysyk 29 Jake McCabe – 46 Cody Franson 6 Mike Weber – 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson Power Play 1 McGinn – O'Reilly – Reinhart Eichel – Ristolainen Power Play 2 Kane – Girgensons – Gionta Bogosian – Cody Franson

I swear, I don't know about the rest of you, but there's nothing quite like a Sabres - Bruins game. The Buffalo Sabres will look to throw the gahbahg to the curb as the Boston Bruins come to town. Coming off a much needed win in Montreal last night, the Sabres will look to continue their wining ways (winners of 2 straight, both divisional opponents) and continue their divisional domination in the process. Wednesday nights win, against a Price-less Canadiens team (5-20-1 in that stretch) was crucial for a young Sabres team coming rested off a much needed ASB. Eichel continued his point production with a secondary assist on a McGinn goal that saw Jack toe the line before giving it to Risto where a b-e-a-utiful pass was made to meg the Canadien's defender and tie the game. Johan Larsson, who may have finally found his spot in the NHL, would score the GWG just minutes later. Robin Lehner has continued to improve, and put in another solid performance for Buffalo The Bruins sit 12 points ahead of the Sabres, and hold on to the top WC spot at 58 points; the Penguins have 57 points. Boston is coming off a 4-3 OT loss against Toronto on Tuesday. Bergeron leads Boston with 19-25-44, Marchand with 22 goals, and Spooner with 27 assists. ROR leads Buffalo in every category, including Tim Horton's hit. The teams have split the season series so far, with Boston winning the most recent match-up in Buffalo. Bad news here: Buffalo is terrible at home, and Boston is amazing on the road (9-15-2 and 15-5-3). Well, lets knock these up to 6. I mean, come on guys. We're playing Jay tonight Look for Johnson and Rask tonight. Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Boston (6-3 win) All Stats Boston @ Buffalo (4-1 win) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Buffalo: Forwards: 88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O''Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 82 Marcus Foligno 9 Evander Kane – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 26 Matt Moulson – 17 David Legwand – 44 Nicolas Deslauriers Defense: 4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 47 Zach Bogosian – 3 Mark Pysyk 29 Jake McCabe – 46 Cody Franson 6 Mike Weber – 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 31 Chad Johnson 40 Robin Lehner Power Play 1 McGinn – O'Reilly – Reinhart Eichel – Ristolainen Power Play 2 Kane – Girgensons – Gionta Bogosian – Cody Franson

Here it is folks, Larkin vs. Eichel 4.0. Both red-shirt rookie phenoms stand tied at 30 points and 14 goals a piece, each 1 point behind Max Domi and a distant 15 behind Artemi Panarin for the rookie leading scorers. Whereas Larkin came out blazing from the gate, earning himself an ASG nod and plenty of well-deserved hype, Eichel took a little while longer to find his legs, and still may be doing so, indicating the best is yet to come. Since the start of December, only Panarin has more points than Eichel, and it's those two, then the rest. Eichel comes into tonight with 16 points in his last 15 games, and will look to build on his last success vs Detroit, a contest that saw Jack post 2 beautiful goals and Reinhart contribute a ppg in a 4-3 loss after the Wings scored late on a softie let in by Johnson. The Sabres will look to even the season series tonight at 2 games a piece, and continue to make a push up the standings. The Red Wings, 5-41 in their last 10 and coming off a 2-1 loss vs. St.Louis on Wednesday night, will look to further entrench themselves in a playoff picture that has seen the collapse of the Canadiens and the resurgence of the Lightning. Detroit, the only EC playoff team with a negative goal differential (-6), has only 4 more goals than the Sabres on the season, and 9 less allowed. The Wings provide a great test for our young team; filled with savvy vets and on ice-smarts that make us all look like Ted Cruz, the Wings are a team where our system and positioning is absolutely essential if we have any chance of winning. Look for Johnson and Mrazek to go. Both of these are complete guesses. Reinhart left the Avs game with an UBI, no news on his status yet, and both Zemgus and Ennis are also out with UBI's. Our team really needs to hit the gym Game Preview (Available now) STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Detroit (5-4 SO loss) All Stats Buffalo @ Detroit (2-1 win) All Stats Detroit @ Buffalo (4-3 losS) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Buffalo: Forwards: (Holy hell is this forward lineup just ###### brutal) 9 Evander Kane – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 26 Matt Moulson COR – 15 Jack Eichel – 88 Jamie McGinn 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 84 Phil Varrone – 59 Tim Schaller -17 David Legwand Defense: 47 Zach Bogosian – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 4 Josh Gorges – 46 Cody Franson 6 Mike Weber – 3 Mark Pysyk 29 Jake McCabe Johnsons: 31 Chad Johnson 40 Robin Lehner