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NO BOSTON HOMECOMING FOR GERBE |
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Nathan Gerbe is a folk hero in Boston, Massachusettes. His four year human highlight reel of goals and jaw dropping plays is the thing of legend at Boston College. Nate The Great, Kevin Garnett, and Dustin Pedroia could run for mayor of Beantown, and Gerbe would win the contest based on the NCAA Men's Hockey Championship that he delivered to Eagles fans last Winter. He's THAT big a deal there.
Gerbe will not get a chance to skate in front of his Boston zealots Saturday afternoon. Today, the Sabres sent #42 back to Portland, due largely to the fact that Paul Gaustad is healthy again. That, and, Matt Ellis has done yeoman's work in recent games. Lindy Ruff felt there was no point in skating Gerbe for 5 minutes per night on the fourth line. It makes perfect sense for Gerbe to skate 20-25 minutes a night in Portland, where he'll immediately share his NHL experience to Kevin Dineen's squad. Gerbe will be better for having played six games in the NHL so early in the season. He leaves a lot more wiser and more humble for having lived the NHL lifestyle for the past three weeks. Gerbe will immediate tear the AHL apart! He's hungrier now than he's ever been in his career and he wants to work fulltime in Buffalo. He'll show Lindy and Darcy that he belongs. AHL goalies better take out more health insurance now as they will be peppered by a barrage of rubber!
Gerbe was a healthy scratch in Tronna Thursday night. He had one assist in six games in Buffalo.
Another reason the Gerbe to Portland move was executed is a sign that Tim Connolly may be ready--- FINALLY--- to suit up again in the days to come. I received a text earlier today from a source who tells me that Connolly may in fact be ready to return to the lineup. #19's "rib" injury has allowed him to skate with the team in the past week. This progress is being viewed as a sign of optimism. 19 no doubt will help a centre corps who have been ordinary at best in recent games--- save Goose vs. Washington and Roy vs. Tronna. Hecht has been a disappointment on the dot and on the scoresheet.
Connolly at 70% health is better than most guys in the NHL who play at 100%. If he is in fact near his return, Lindy would have flexibility in the form of sitting the under achievers, like Hecht, rather than relegating second liners to the fourth line.
The Sabres are a better team with Connolly in the lineup. He improves their 5 on 5, PK, and PP by virtue of his prescence in the lineup
True or false statement?
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