Soups no longer on

This is about the Sabres. They just traded Brian Campbell for a former fist round pick. A 23 year old (they were the youngest team in the league and they just got younger -- is that good or bad...Meg?)

Anyway, the argument I heard for trading his was that it was important so that they got something for him. I thought that if he stayed they would GET 3 months of him playing defense, which is a pretty significant thing, but instead, they traded him and got something else.

I think this something else is less significant, but it won't be going away at the end of this season. So it's a trade off trade.

And the thing is, he wasn't going to stay. He's not the number one defenseman on the team (that's Hank Tallinder and Tony Lydman), so you can't pay him number one money. And thus, he was going away. He was leaving.

So I guess the Sabres got something. Lets hope they didn't need Campbell to make the playoffs.

Brian Campbell

I am so tired of people calling up and telling us that it’s management’s fault that they didn’t get it done with Campbell.

These must be the same people who yell shoot at the games on the power play. These people think they are smarter than the player, and thus they and only they know when to shoot.

Likewise, these people like to tell us all that Campbell is cheaper if he signed in the summer (or even now). And what these people forget is that Brian Campbell also knows that he's cheaper now. And he would be more expensive if he waits. He’s waiting for that very reason.

The Sabres could pull a Brinks truck up to Brian Campbell’s front door and tell him that they’ll pay him what he wants, but that isn’t good business. There’s a $ figure on the table in the early goings that EVERYONE knows is a discount dollar figure (even the guys who yell shoot know that an offer now is less than he might get on the open market).

This is the time, in every player’s career, where they get to pick. Prior to this time, they HAD to play where they were told. And they pretty much had to play for what they were told to play for. In Campbell’s case, he worked hard to get better to get this choice. There’s power in getting to choose.

Now, he has a chance to see what all that hard work is worth. And the longer he waits, the more he’ll get paid. So for all the people who claim that the Sabres should have gotten in done last summer for cheaper seem to forget that Brian Campbell also has to make a decision on waiting.

Oh, and Campbell knows when to shoot as well. But only recently.

Hockey is a business. And in my opinion, Campbell isn’t even the #1 defenseman. Tallinder and Lydman are the #1 team. They go up against the top lines. Can you pay your not #1 guy #1 guy money?

Look, every team could use a guy like Campbell (we can!), and it would be good if he would stay here. But not at 7 million a season. And maybe not even at 5 million. But there are teams all over the league that would make him a big offer (see, McKee St. Louis) and make him their go-to guy.

He’ll get more money on the open market because he’s an all-star who brings big hits, spin-oramas, and big plays that put people in the seats. In some US markets, he’s a premium for that very reason. Unfortunately, the Sabres don’t need that premium. They don’t need more puck-handling entertainers (see Connolly, Max, Vanek, Roy), they need players.

I hate to see him go, but really, he’s deciding to wait to see what’s out there. That’s his choice. And we should point it out.

Winter classic #2

When I was ten, we played hockey on an ice rink in my backyard. My parent's backyard is on a little hill, so it wasn't flat. But it was awesome.

Then, some of the parent's got together and build a rink in front of the school that is right near our house. You could see it.

Each day, we would walk over with our stick and a shovel and shovel the ice and shoot around a puck. A puck.

Outside.

I think that's maybe why I loved the game so much. Maybe that's why I sat there looking at the ice, looking up at the snow, looking at 73,000 people, and saying wow.

There is talk about doing this every year in a city somewhere. We'll see. Every year might make it lose the magic. But I'm not sure of that. I think if it came back to Buffalo next year, it would still be magic.

The winter classic

For now, let's talk Winter Classic.

It began, as all events at a football stadium do, with tailgating.



Then, we went into the stadium to watch the game with 73,000 other fans.



First came the national anthems. Or, the Canadian national anthem followed by God Bless America. Now, I'm not a citizen of this country yet. But, there is a national anthem, not national anthems. God Bless America is a nice song, but it's not an anthem. We were at the end with the Canadian Flag. Here's the American one.



Then the Sabres came out to flames. As did the mighty penguins in their equally mighty baby blue. Those were the uniforms they originally enter the league in. Sports teams tend to use names that either have meaning to the city (New Orleans Jazz) and/or invoke attack (Sabres, Predators, Sharks). Pittsburgh picked penguins and baby blue. No wonder Mario Lemiuex didn't want to go there.



It snowed. Interestingly, three different kinds of snows fell. In the first period, the snow was sorta blowy, but with little flakes. It was warmish out, so it melted immediately on us. On ice though, it sat. Meaning, even though the Penguins scored in 20 seconds, it was tough sledding out there.

They decided to zamboni the ice every 10 minutes, so each period was this drawn out affair. Still, it looked like hockey, it felt like hockey, and it was outside. It was cool.


The pile of snow in front of the Zamboni is what they were getting off the ice. Remember, this is just one of them. They use two Zamboni's in the NHL. And this was period #2.

If you click on this picture, you can see a bigger version. And in the version, you will see how much snow was falling. It was wild.

Overall, who cares if they lost? In this post I linked to a story from the New York Times, the Toronto Star and the Guardian Unlimited UK. This was a truly international event, and well worth some cold toes.

Buffalo V Ottawa

Tomorrow, I’m on my way to Ottawa to go curling, and I’m going to wear my Sabres sweater.

I don’t care that Ottawa is off to the best start ever and the Sabres aren't.

See, it’s cyclical.

Two years ago, they’re awesome, we beat ‘em.

Last year, we’re awesome, they beat us.

See? We have them right where we want them.

More Hockey, less heroes

A writer's strike looms. If they go on strike today, and that seems likely, it means no Daily Show next week. It means, depending on how long the strike goes for, a looming freeze in the Heroes season.

But thankfully, the Sabres write their own scripts every night.

good to see

Welcome back boys. My favorite part, "If you're still watching this to the end, thanks for sticking with us". Way to sell the game.

Winter Classic

With the weather hitting into the mid 70's today, a number I should say that has some, though limited meaning to me, it seems crazy to talk about the Winter Classic. most people in these parts say shut up. But this winter classic is a hockey game. Outside. On New Year's Day. And we're giddy up to go.

According to Business Week (a Buffalo rag), the game sold out in 30 minutes. That's 41K tickets sold in 30 minutes. And while there are reports that the NHL made tickets available to Toronto fans and Pittsburgh fans, the simple fact is that many of the people there will be like us, homers.

Yes, we got tickets. And there were many people left out in the cold (or is that the warmth?) According this article in the Globe and Mail, there are a number of people left out. But the simple fact is, the NHL needed this game to sell-out fast. If it didn't sell out, that would have been the lead. Instead, with the supposed help of Toronto Blue Jays season tickets holders, they could release this statement:

"Yesterday's sales demonstrated "once again that our fans are the most passionate in sports, more than 42,000 tickets to the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic were sold in the first 30 minutes of availability this morning," a statement from the NHL said." (from Globe and Mail)

The game sold out. Many people are going. Many people can't go. Across the board this is a win for the NHL. And Buffalo. They picked our stadium because it had to be in the US for TV, and where else could they guarantee a sell-out?

Anybody wanna babysit?

The last Sabres post of 06-07

We were able to go to what turned out to be the last Sabres game of the year. Fittingly, they came back from a goal down in the third period to send it into over time. But I started to feel a deja vu.

At some point, I half expected Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators captain, to score short-handed by beating Jason Pominville. Because that's the opposite to what happened last year in game 5 when the visiting Sabres clinched the series in 5 versus the favored Senators. Alfredsson was the goat.

This year, he was the hero. And while he didn't score short-handed, he did win a one on three battle and then beat the goalie. It was a great individual effort. Great enough to expunge any demons left in Ottawa fans. He was the difference in the series. That, and the Sabres inability to muster a continued offense.

As for our team? There will be some changes. Briere and Drury are most likely gone. The team's character will be different, especially since Drury is their only Stanley Cup winner. They'll get some new guys. They'll get a new year. As for this year, Hockey just ended. I have passing interest in seeing Ottawa vs Detroit or Anaheim.

We cheered though. It was another fun season in Buffalo. In hockey, when you have a rooting interest, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. Right now it's low, but it'll get better. Summer's almost here.

tick, tick, tick

The Sabres won game 4 last night. After going up 3-0 (ironically down 3-0), they hung on for a 3-2 win. And, yes, they barely hung on, but they hung on.

The Sabres have three games left on the schedule, albeit two of them "if necessary". Of the three left, two of them are at home.

It's one shift at a time, one period at a time. I know these guys are professional hockey players, but I'll make a curling analogy. When the team gets down early, it's easy to panic and go for it. But it's often smarter to play a simple game, and go for a deuce. Get 2, force to 1, get 2, and so on. Take your food off the panic button and play a simple game. It begins to frustrate the other team. That's why this post is called tick, tick, tick. This is the mindset of the players: Ottawa wants it over. The Sabres want it to never end. The extra day is murder for the Sens, and wonderful for the Sabres. Every extra day is a victory, even one on the schedule.

If on Saturday, the Sabres can get out of the gate fast, and score another goal in the first few minutes, the Sens will have to work hard to not get frustrated.

So, we'll see. Game 5 is three days away. That's three days for the press in Canada (mostly Toronto) to ask Ottawa how tight their necks feel. Will it matter? It might. It might not. But a win on Saturday will make it matter. Then the Toronto press will really wake up and begin asking the questions that Ottawa doesn't want asked, namely, "is this the same old Ottawa?"

We'll be downtown on Saturday, with Autumn, watching the game with the masses of people. It should be fun. Win or lose, we get a chance to celebrate a fun season.

Last year, Sabres Senators

I remember listening to Ottawa sports radio last year when the Sabres were up 3-0. Game 4 was in Buffalo. We didn't go to that one, we went to game 3 (they won). Anyway, the prevailing talk on sports radio in Ottawa was simply this: steal a game in Buffalo, win game 5 at home, and then see what happens. The fans on the other hand, called up with the 'they're done' theme. The radio guys talked of hope. The callers talked of dread.

That's where we are. The fans are pissed, and rightly so. These aren't the Sabres, it feels like. There's even a joke e-mail going around about an Amber Alert for the Sabres since they are clearly missing.

And that difference is telling. In last year's playoffs, the Senators didn't play badly. In game 2 last year, they out-shot the Sabres almost 2-1. And those are the ones that got through. Jay McKee was blocking shots at a league leading pace. And while I sat listening, smiling as they threw around what if's, somewhere deep inside of me I could see Ottawa coming back. I could see a win giving them momentum, going home. It didn't work, Sabres won in game 5, on the penalty kill, short-handed. But there was nothing easy about it. When they won, we the fans were relieved.

So, to tonight. Game 4. The talk on sports radio today is simply win one at a time. Win this one, and the series goes on ice until Saturday. And that's nice, because the Senators will get 3 days of being asked why they didn't close it out at home. And it isn't Saturday night, hockey night in Canada, it's Saturday afternoon, Hockey Day in the US. And that's something.

The game is already on NBC's schedule. It's also a chance for Brett Hull to come to Buffalo and tell us why the Senators will close them out. It's a pipe dream of epic proportions really. To expect this team to break through some tenacious playing by Ottawa will, as Lindy Ruff opined, "Take something special".

This entire post is grasping for straws. It's asking the team that seems to come back from just about anything to come back from the biggest thing. It's bleak. The team has to believe in the one game at a time mentality. The team just has to think they are special enough. I'm ready to think they have it in them. And I realize the irony from last year.

really, like that?

Honestly, it wasn't supposed to end like this. It's not over, but it's bloody close. Going into game three last night, the Sabres most likely had a game plan. Play shut-down, opportunistic hockey. Just like last year in the playoffs in Ottawa. You can get outshot 40-20, but make the 20 count. Last year, they would frustrate the sens, leaving only outside shots. And Miller handled them. But occasionally, be it the power-play, or the penalty kill, they would turn it around for an odd-man rush and score, like Jason Pomenville did in game 5 last year. Opportunistic. That's why the Sabres only got 15 shots. They prepared for that style throughout the season. A game in New Jersey was practice. They could play that game. That's why Miller was the first star. The game plan was somewhat sound, the problem, to me, was two things.

1. They didn't play it well in the first. True, Ottawa was riding high, pumped. Up 2-0, they came out flying. It's weather the storm time, and they weathered. In period 2 they didn't allow a shot for the first 10 minutes. Game plan on. Except:

2. The power play was a continued embarrassment. I'm a fan of these guys and a general optimist. I'll give credit were it's due if Ottawa's scheme was better than Buffalo's. But the power play has been in shambles since the Islanders series. It didn't get better versus the Rangers. It's been worse than flat in this series. There were moments last night when the Senators looked like they were on the power play in the PK.

So this is it? It's not gut check time, that was last night. It's play for pride time. It's get one in Ottawa so the fans can say bye, or boo, or whatever the fans in this town will come up with. But if Game 2 was the last time we see them at home, it's a better memory than that game last night.

Sabres dig a hole

On this blog, last year, I linked to a place whereby you can dig a hole to China. Last night, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sabres lost a heart-breaker. It went from elation, with Daniel Briere scoring with 5 seconds left in the game, to deflation in the second overtime.

Now, the Sabres head back to Ottawa where they are 7-1 lifetime. Can they summon up additional magic and dig out of this hole? It's a good question. We'll find out on monday night. If you're a Sabres Fan, then watch this, compliments of Meg, who believes. We do as well, for the record.



One win in Ottawa, on Monday night, and the pressure changes. Then, game 4 feels like a must win for the Senators. If they lose both in Ottawa, the fans will turn, the team will be in turmoil, game 5 will be a celebration. Anything short of that, and Game 5, assuming there is one, will be desperation. Down 0-2, heading to Ottawa, where the fans will be nutty, the Sabres need to start with one win. That's the magic we need. A complete road game, where everyone pitches in. It could happen.

What makes a perfect night?

You start with a walk with the family. You grab some take-out Sushi from one of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. A Sashimi platter. You add a beer, a smiling baby, and you settle in for a hockey game. So far, so good.

Then, the Senators score short-handed. They pounce on an opportunity and score. That was what the Sabres used to do. All the time. One little opening, and they barreled through the door. That's our team. The Sentators second goals was even scored from the spot Daniel Briere likes to shoot from in practice. Their captain scored from our captain's spot.

Still, the Sabres fought back. Max gets a nifty one, and then Toni Lydman, channeling Bobby Orr, scores to toe the game. And it appears we're good. But it never felt good. It never felt like our team, pouncing on chances. It was Senators with breakaway's, and odd-man rushes. It was their team that had the play. I'm generally a positive guy. Even with a few minutes left, I was ready to believe that one goal would have created a desperation that could have turned the tide. Instead, a Senator wins a foot race for an empty-netter, and the game ends with a whimper.

It's not over. The great part about the NHL is that you can lay and egg, and then watch it. The Sabres can, and will adjust. Game 2 is a new night. A 0-0 score. And then on the road, these Sabres have been outstanding. For the next day, we'll be biting our fingernails. Then, we'll get game 2. Adjustments. Drive. Determination. As the old sports saying goes, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. And the Sabres are more than capable of shifting into another gear.

Superstition in sports

At the end of every period, Ryan Miller, the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres is the last off the ice. And before getting off the ice, he does what can only be called a twirl. At the end of the game, after a win, all the Sabres have to touch his head.

In the warm up, Daniel Briere grabs 7 or 8 pucks and shoots them in the net. He takes each puck around the pile to shoot it at the net. Even the last puck -- it goes around an invisible pile.

Superstition? We the fans are a superstitious lot. We wear the same clothes on game day, sit in the same seat, drink the same beer. We try to do things, in a superstitious way that help ensure our team's victory.

For players at a high level, superstition is more about routine. Ryan Miller does a spin. Briere shoots the pucks. These are routines that help them get into game mode. In Bull Durham (yes a movie), there 's a speech to the effect tat when a player is on a streak, that player should respect the streak. There's something to that, but it's more about being prepared. Getting in the right mindset to be victorious. To prepare. I expect they'll be ready. In fact, watching them all year, I can almost guarantee it.

We're ready. We're starting the night with Sushi. And hopefully ending with cooked Senators.

Game day

Game one is tonight. Sabres v. Ottawa. I was checking out some stats about history. now, it should be noted that history means nothing. Especially to players. They live in the now, in the moment. But we fans, we can look back. And celebrate. So this is looking back. The Sabres have met Ottawa 3 times in the playoffs. They are 3-0. If you click on the picture below though, you will see that I circled the most interesting stat. And that is, the Sabres playoff record in Ottawa. Awesome. (Click on it to make it bigger).


Let's go, Buffalo.

It's Miller time

As the Sabres go deep into another playoff run, I want to take a moment to point out a couple of things that Ryan Miller does so well. A couple of things that I think make him a classy competitor.

The first is that during the National Anthem’s, Ryan Miller faces each flag. Ryan Miller shows respect to the Canadian flag during the Canadian Anthem and to the American Flag during the American anthem.

It might be an obvious nod to the many Canadian fans of the Sabres who cross the border to see the games, but Buffalo plays both Anthems regardless of who is playing. Round three will be on CBC, and they show the anthems. So we might get a chance to see Miller looking at the flags (Versus doesn't show the anthems, something that annoys me to no end). I think his respect for the flags is one of the more classy things I’ve ever noticed in sports.

The other thing I think is interesting is how Ryan Miller simply says “Play Hockey” to describe playing well.

When asked about a late goal he gave up in a nothing-nothing tie, Miller said that it was good to see the team 'play hockey', and bail me out. He didn’t say it was good to see the team play well. He never says he played poorly. Just hockey.

I think that’s awesome. I think that's the mindset of a champion. A player who expects to play well so much, that his term for it is to merely play.

It might seem like a semantic thing to not ever use play well and play poorly. But I think it's part of what makes him mentally strong. It’s a great mindset to get yourself into. It means you never think in terms of a sliding scale. You play hockey, or you don’t.

I saw him standing on my street once, just after the run in last year’s playoffs. I gave him a guy nod.

I honestly think he’s become my favorite athlete. Partly because of the classiness during the anthems. But mostly because to him, playing bad means not playing.

Sabres run still going

There's nothing more nerve-wracking than the NHL playoffs when one has a rooting interest in the outcome. Nothing. There isn't a moment where you're not on the edge of your seat, or couch. Last night, we watched the Rangers 'hold serve' in the series. That's a tennis term to tell you that they won both of their home games. It's series, the people say, somehow implying it wasn't a series at the beginning of the series. Even though, it should be noted that they call it a series at the beginning.

But I digress. The Sabres are better on home ice because they can match better. Will they be better? Evidence shows they will be. Were they bad last night? The first goal for the Rangers was a pinball goal, off Jagr, then Numinen. If Roy doesn’t hit a post, if Vanek stretches, if Connelly can finish, if Briere’s goal holds up....yes all ifs. However, there’s no if about this: it’s a best 2/3 and two of them are at home.

I’ll take that.

Sabres Win

The Sabres just won game 5 to win the series. We were there. And we got to see something that makes hockey special. The teams shake hands. After basically killing each other, when the game ends, they shake hands. And hug. And that's great. It's one of many things that makes hockey great. In this cup run, I'll try to let you know some of the other things.

Go Sabres.

Sabres Game 1

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Buffalo Sabres vs. The New York Islanders ... See my Tabblo>