Bruins coach, Claude Julien, knows what its like to be the hunter. His early years in Beantown were marked by struggles to achieve consistency and balance. This season, his team has been eating opposing teams alive. That is until they entered the HSBC Arena. The Sabres went bear hunting and bagged themselves the biggest, nastiest, trophy bear of the season.
"When you're the top dog, teams are gunnin' for ya. Buffalo wanted to turn things around, and tonight they were desperate. They came out and competed hard. We didn't match their intensity for two periods".
Julien's post game comments were more a tribute to what Buffalo did right, rather than an scathing indictment of his own team's play.
The Sabres needed these two points moreso than the Bruins did. Perhaps the Bruins entered the game with a a full belly, having just busted off a 9-0-1 win streak-- with two of those wins coming at the hands of the Sabres.
****
"Great win for the boys tonight! We needed that one bad!", Drew Stafford proclaimed to me after the Sabres 3-2 regulation win.
Staff was a man of few words as he was off to ride the bike after the game. Lately, all the young guys are postgame pedalling instead talking about the game. This is a good sign if you are Lindy Ruff and the coaches.The kids know that their roster spots are subject to change on a game by game basis.
Stafford played well vs. Boston. I attribute his jump to the fact that he's been reunited with his amigos, Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy. Although Staff did not get an assist on Roy's first goal of the game, he was clearly the reason why David Krejci gfailed to win the loose puck behind Thomas' net. Had Krejci won the puck and cleared it, Roy does not score the gaol. Stafford used his speed, size, and recach to win the puck. Excellent play!
****
Toni Lydman was a force to be reckoned with in his own endLindy Ruff paired Lydman with Craig Rivet and the duo acquitted themselves well against the B's top line.
"They (Boston) have such a good offensive team that you always have to be careful with them. Also, they play such a tight defensive system that there isn't much room to move. I feel like our defensive effort was so much better tonight. Thats the style that we are capable of playing every night".
Lydman's stick and body were always in shot lanes. Ditto theother 5 Buffalo Dmen. Very basic. Very simple. Very effecti
"I'd say the reason for our success against Boston is that we were so much smarter on the ice tonight. Everyone was involved and very aware. We play so much better when we are smart on the ice".
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What the Hell does Derek Roy have to do to get a call from the deaf, dumb, and blind ref on the play where Franken Chara clearly hacked Roy to the ice while teh Sabre was on a clear as day breakway??!!!! I've been watching hockey for decades and cannot recall a more blatant slash/trip on a puck carrier than that gem. Emabarrassing does not ven describe the lack of common sense on the non-penalty call.
Chara and Roy were in a foot race for the loose puck through the neutral zone when Roy hit the jets and propelled himself forward to win the uncashed winning lottery ticket. Chara, burnt like a Peter Boyle's thumb in "Young Frankenstein" proceeded to use his 87 foot long stick to whack Roy on the skate and stick, thus causing the Sabres forward to lose his balance and footing. Roy recovered despite the foul, however, was not granted a penalty shot. Not even a slash. What a pile of crap!
I spoke with Roy about is after the game.
" He (the ref) didn't give me an explanation of why no call was made-- probably because I was yelling at him. That probably doesn't explain an explanation... I don't know.. I was on a breakway and yet no call....."
Sarcasm Alert: Roy was stunned at the non-call/non-exlanation by the ref.
"I fell and I still tried to shoot the puck. He (Chara) got my skate and I was on the way down, I was falling and still tried to shoot the puck and I didn't get the call.... I don't know how much worse you can get tripped up on a breakaway.. it happens------ I guess."
My head hurts just thinking about that lousy piece of officiating.
For Roy?
"It takes a while.. it takes a minute to sink in what had just happened. You get a little frustrated and mad but, I had to bounce back next shift and be ready for the next one".
****
Mark Mancari did he best to create ice for himself and Afinogenov and MacArthur vs. the tough Bruins "Box and 1" Trap. His 6'3 225 lb. frame came in handy on the wall, in the corners and in front of Tim Thomas.
"I'm not going to score every game, so I have to contribute in other ways. I've got to really buckle down and play well if I want to stay here and show the coaches that I'm more reliable to play. I'll try to do whatever I can to help us win".
I asked Mancari if he amped his game up once he saw Kaleta and Lucic put on a two man demolition derby?
"Yeah. I'm not like Patty who's gonna hit every guy, every shift and run around. I'm a little more composed. I have the strength and ability he (Lucic) does. If there's a pile up or a scrum, I'm not afraid to get in there to protect my teammates".
I asked Mancari if he had velcro on his feet because it looked to me that everytime he had the puck on the wall, it was stuck to his skates for extended periods of time.
"We knew that Chara would be stopping the puck and we wanted to keep it down there in their end. The key for me is to hold it in and hopefully get it up to the points for a shot. I did not wantto throw a blind pass to the slot and have it picked off. I don't mind turning my back and holding onto it until the time is right".
I'd say Mancari's timing is perfect. He needs Buffalo and Buffalo needs him! He's played three games for Buffalo this season and he's thankful for the opportunity to play in the NHL.
"Its been amazing! This is where I wanted to be for a while and I feel like I just needed a chance. Luck has a lot to do with it, and injuries. I'm really happy and I'm just going to stay here for as long as I can".
Being an Ottawa 67 alum, iIasked Mancari if he's had occassion to speak with his former coach, the legendary Brian Kilrea, about his recent promotion to "The Show".
" I haven't talked to "Killer" in a while. Normally, before I come here (to Buffalo), I go here (to Ottawa) to skate. But, thisis the first year I didn't do that because I was back home doing some power skating training. I have to get in touch with him and chat about this being his last year. I've got to talk to him".
Kilrea is an institution in Canadian Hockey. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 as a builder. The guy is a stickler for the fundamentals and he prepares his young boys to play the NHL style. Just ask Brian Campbell and Alyn McCauley.
"If it wasn't for "Killer" getting me ready, I wouldn't be here, thats for sure. His style of coaching has really helped me in the last couple years and I owe a lot of it to him"
*****
I was waiting for the for the elevator to arrive to the press box after the game, when I happened to chat up a very reliable NHL source. Our subject of converstaion: Max Afinogenov. I asked my guy, who's opinion I trust implicitely, what's the problem with #61?
"The guy is a mess. Really, his game is a mess. He does not seem interested on the ice at times. Maybe its the pressure of knowing he's in a UFA year. Its hard to say, but he's looked better, thats for sure".
My follow up questions: can Max be "fixed"?
" I think so, but its hard to say with a guy like him because there aren't that many players that he can skate with. You know? He needs the puck all the time, and he needs to skate it all over the ice. There's no give and go's, there's no set plays for his linemates. He tries to create too much on his own. He tends to leave his linemate in no man's land.. like when he curls in and out at the blueline and his guys can't react quick enough to it. Who are his linemates? They change every game, right? That's because he can't mesh and play with people. He's so used to wanting to do it all on his own. I played with a couple guys like him and they were the worst years of my career because I never touched the puck. I did all the work and never got to touch it".
So, in your professional opinion, I asked, what do the Sabres do with 61?
"The guy has talent. no question. Maybe he wants to go to another team. Maybe not in the NHL. Maybe Russia".
Imagine what a coup it would be if the KHL could pluck afinogenov from the NHL.
"There are teams over there right now that will pay him NHL-style money".
***********
I happened across Max Afinogenov down the hallway from the Sabres room. Max had his shorts, tshirt and sneakers on as he was about to ride the bike. He nursed his jaw with an ice bag in one hand, while he read the stat summary sheet with the other hand.
Good game, Max.
I've been kickin your ass all season and it was nice to see you respond against Boston. Lets see what you do against Pittsburgh and Montreal.
****
Happy Thanksgiving to our Hockeybuzz.com faithful south of the border.
I'm thankful for you-- my fellow puckheads. Without you and your unbridled passion for God's greatest game, there would be no hockeybuzz.com. You are a great group of fans and I like working for you. All my best to you and your families.
Do me a favour? Whatever you do tonight, do not drink and drive. Take a cab, thumb it, Hell, grab a ride with a stranger. Don't take any chances tonight because the cops will lock you up.
Lets talk hockey!
T-Minus 70 minutes til blastoff.
****
Hell hath no fury like a Maxie scorned. 61 is pissed off at his recent benching and he's not disguising his feelings. TFB, Max! You play like a House hockey brat, you're going to sit and watch. I applaud Lindy for parking his underachievers. I'd like Max a whole lot more if he'd just knock off the act and own his faults. He acts like his coach has it out for him. Own it. Be contrite. Show your coach, GM, and teammates that you learned your lesson. Max is not a 20 year old button buck. He knows the drill. I hate people think that they are the victim. Look at your body of work, Max. It stinks and you should be thankful that your coach doesn't sit you for more games.
****
Stafford will skate with his hombres, Roy and Vanek tonight. I expect a big game from this line. They are all due for a pyrotechnics show.
Gaustad will play left wall for Hecht and Pommer.
Max will run with The Genreal and Man Child.
Peters will bang with Mair and Kaleta.
****
Philly, Ottawa, Rangers, Montreal, Chicago, Detroit, Carolina, Edmonton, to name a few.
*****
Keep an eye on Colorado. They've had a scout in Buffalo for the past 6 homes games. They are an injured club seeking a top 6 forward. Darcy Tucker is out 4-6 weeks with a knee; Wojtek Wolski is out indefinitely with a concussion, and Joe Sakic injured his back lifting weights.
*****
Marc Savard and the B's are the hottest team in the NHL right now. They are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. their ten game point stretch is their longest since they went 8-0-2-2 from January 27-February 21, 2004.
****
Its Miller vs. Thomas tonight.
***
Buffalo D pairings:
52-5
6-44
10-27
****
For those of you who love rough and tumble hockey, you'll want to buckle in now for this one. The Sabres are not happy with the way that hey have played againstthe Bruins thi sseaosn and they would love nothing more to send them out the zamboni doors with a regulation loss.
Watch closely for the Peters-Mair-Kaleta line to get the party started early. They will be looking to neutralize Thronton and Krejci before they get to running around.
***
Our thoughts and prayers to the family of George Babcock, the assistant equipment manager for the Sabres. Mr. George Babcock, Sr., the father of George, passed away Thursday.
Tonight's game is being dedicated to Mr. Babcock.
**********
@ 9:08, Paul Gaustad left the ice with an injury. He stood in the Buffalo tunnel with the trainer. More on this later.
****
1-0 Buffalo: Drew Stafford did all the work to get the puck low. Krejci could not contain Staff, who sliced out from behind Thomas and Roy deposited the rebound. Big monkey off Roy's back!
****
The Sabres are all over the Bruins in their own end at this juncture.
Tim Thomas and the B's dodge a bullet. Upon review the ref ruled no goalon a shot that appeared to cause Thomas' glove to cross the goal line. Hard to tell with the naked eye. the overhead replay provided a good glimpse of the glove touching/crossing the goal line.
No Goal.
****
However.....
Moments later...
2-0 Buffalo @ 18:29-Derek Roy scores his second of the night, top shelf short side over Thomas' left shoulder. Vanek and Pommer with assists. Roy is feeling it tonight.
The 26-9-21 line is Buffalo's best line in the first period.
***
Inspired performance by the Sabres in the first twenty minutes. They skated, hit, shot the puck and created havoc deep in the Boston zone for the majorioity.
****
1st Period Stat Pack:
Sabres outhit Boston 16-9.
[b]Kaleta [/b]had 5 hits and Vanek 2.
Both teams turned the puck over 5 times.
Buffalo had 12 shots, however, they missed the net 7 times.
Boston had 9 shots and 3 misses.
Each team blocked three shots.
***
The Buffalo D are gapping up the Boston forwards. Sticks and bodies in lanes and pressure on the puck. Forwards are doing a much better job of coming back to their end to help the D.
***
2nd Period Action:
Claude Julien installs his "ice boom" trap. One man forecheck and four men drop back to defend. The Sabres are doing a good job of cutting through the Trap with quick, short passes while their feet are moving forward.
Its the "Box and 1" on ice.
****
2-1 Buffalo: @ 4:31, Hunwick throws a point shot at Miller, it finds its way to Kobasew's stick blade
****
3-1 Buffalo: SHORTIE!!!
With Pat Kaleta in the clink for "boarding" Wideman....
Jochen Hecht's slapper beats Thomas glove side. 55s second of the season. Unassisted.
***
@ 6:32, Milan Lucic flattens Thomas Vanek in front of the Boston bench. Peters will come calling on Lucic shortly. NOBODY takes liberties with the franchise players without a punch in the face contest!
***
Boston are getting their legs going midway through the period. They are getting pucks deep and forechecking well. They are winning their share of pucks in the Buffalo end.
****
After 40:
Thomas Vanek left the game inmmediately after Milan Lucic crucnched him on the wall in front of the Boston bench @ 6:32 of the period.I scanned the bench with binoculars several times and did not see Vanek.
Wind knocked out? Back? Arm? Leg?
This would be a huge loss for Buffalo is they were to lose their leading scorer.
If the Sabres get up by three or more, they may go looking for a Boston leading scorer.
I'm here, and I'll tell you more as this develops....
*****
3RD PERIOD:
That gale forced wind that you feel in Buffalo is not associated with a Lake effect snow storm.
Its a collective sigh of relief from Sabre Nation.
Vanek returns with Roy and Stafford.
***
Mancari and MacArthur team up for a nifty turnover/scoring chance that Thomas wisely cover.
Mancari is a beast down low. Big boy with strong legs.
****
3-2 Buffalo: @ 9:25, Phil Kessel scores his 11th from Lucic and Savard.
***
Max-Mac-Mancari play a spirited game of takeaway. Max backchecked and stripped Chara of the puck which resulted in a nifty 2 on 2 rush with 61 and 25. The play ended with Max going to the dirty area-- the blue ice! Good for Max, going into Chara's cave and eating his cookies!
This is the type of passion and determintaion that Lindy wants to see more of from 61.
Max CAN play this style.
****
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