Marty Biron told me that he likes it when I call Thomas Vanek "HDTV". Vanek was in high def mode against the Lightning! The guy is scary good!
Hey, Marty. Tell your boy Carter that he better eat his vitamins and whey protein if he's going to battle HDTV all season for the NHL goal scoring race!
Vanek is in a different stratosphere right now, and he may never cool off.
Great game by the Sabres. They get two goals on the PP, one on the PK, and one 5 on 5.
Goose and Mair threw hands and it psyched the team up to the point that they pulled away from the Bolts with hard work and grit. Tampa pushed. Buffalo pushed back,
The Sabres have won three in a row and are eager to get their hands on the Toronto Maple Leafs Fiday night. Should be a spirited tilt! Its always great when Ron Wilson comes back to Buffalo for a serenade of boos. Who will ever forget the psychological war that Ruff and Wilson waged against one another in the 1998 ECF when Wilson was coaching the Caps? Classic smack in that series!
Check back shortly for postgame comments from: Pommer, Gerbe, and Kotalik.
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You knew it was only a matter of time until the powder keg finally exploded for Derek Roy.
Roy has been held pointless just twice in the past 12 games.
He has 6 goals and 7 assists since November 14, including the GWG in Saturday's 4-3 win in Tampa.
Roy is second on the Sabres in scoring with 8 G/ 13 A in 27 games.
Who da thunk moving Vanek off Roy's line would jumpstart #9?
Nathan Gerbe and Drew Stafford have been complimenting Roy extremely well since the Tampa game on Saturday night. This line is creating scoring chances with their quick hands and quicker feet.
On Saturday night in Tampa, and then again on Monday in Da Burgh, the 21-9-42 line caused disruption in the attack zone with there quick, pinpoint passing and their quick shots. They busted the Tampa Trap for a gola and they did the same on the Roy goal Monday night.
Lindy has found the fountain of youth with this most productive grouping.
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Since Thanksgiving, the Sabres PK have ben the best in the NHL. From 11/26-12/8, the Sabres have killed off 31 of 32 opposition PP chances-- including ywo 5 on 3s in Pittsburgh Monday night. Thats a staggering 96.9% kill rate!
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HDTV will be attacking as he wants to add to his NHL leading 20 goals scored tonight.
Vanek's 20 goals is 27 games is sick. I love his chances to score 50.
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6:20pm:
Just getting settled in. I see that there will be scouts here from Dallas, Toronto, San Jose, Calgary, Minnesota, Chicago, Atlanta, Columbus, Carolina, and Edmonton.
***
1st Period:
Toni Lydman and Reggie Sekera draw the assignment of containing the Stamkos-Lecavalier- Prospal line. They've been Buffalo's best "cover corners" for the past few games and Lindy is liking what he see. Marty St. Louis is patrolling the third line for starters.
Rivet and Spacho are paired, as is Tallinder and Teppo
***
Gary Roberts is sitting two seats away from me. His wonky groin won't allow him to help his team in their time of need.
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@ 7:33 of the period, in the TV timeout, PA announcer Jay Moran introduced former President Bill Clinton. "Bubba" waved and received a warm ovation from the crowd.
***
@9:15, The Kotalik-Mair-Afinogenov line creates nice puck possession and zone time. Good scoring chance.
Moments later..
1-0 Tampa:
@ 10:21, Stamkos picks up a loose puck and feeds Marty St. Louis for the snapper.
***
@ 14:51, Konopka interferes with Mair.. Sabres PP.... (Z was earlier announced as a scratch, sorry)
21-9-26-29-6 to start
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@ 16:22, Ruff assessed bench minor.
2-0 Bolts:
@ 16:18, Recchi scores off the faceoff. Basd Dzone coverage by Buffalo.
***
Bad Blood is bubbling..
@ 18:18, Gautad finished Ryan Craig with a clean body check on the wall.. the linesamn's arm went up to signal penalty as Craig lay dinged on the ice. Artyukin came after Goose, Craig followed and grabbed Goose; 28 fed Craig a half dozen upper cuts and sent himm to the canvas in a hurry. Knockout- Goose.
*** Goose was holding his right hand as he went up the tunnel to the Buffalo room.
Penalties: Craig 2-2-5 (delay of game, roughing, fighting); Artyukin 2 for roughing; Goose: 5 for fighting; Paille- 2 for roughing.
****
1st Period Summary:
Shots were even.
Both teams had scoring chances. Tampa made most of their opps. Sabres got an adrenaline rush with the Staff PPG at the end of the period.
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2nd Period:
I spoke with Tampa owner, Oren Koules, in the intermission.
He's here with the Bolts, as is Brian Lawton.
Koules: "Nice pass by Stamkos on the goal, right?".
Clearly a shot at his former coach who took some unfair pot shots at the 8 year old rookie on a Toronto radio station on Tuesday.
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As for the action, its back and forth right now. Buffalo better lock it down and play the system.
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I'm told that Adam Mair agitated a few Bolts by chirping at their bench on Saturday night in Tampa. It appears thats what precipitated the beat down that Mair heaped on Konopka. The refs cleared a wide berth and let the boys be boys.
Credit to Zenon for eating some haymakers.
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@ 8:13, 61 takes a trip to the box....
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2-2:
Thomas Vanek all alone in big ice????? Fogettaboutit!
HDTV scans a lazer through Mike Smith. His league leading 22nd of the season. How'd that taste, Jeff Carter?
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3-2 Buffalo:
@ 18:59, Artyukin takes out Teppo with a gratuitous late shot after a whistle......
Then @ 19:46, Vanek Strikes AGAIN! His 22nd of the season.
Backhander, top shelf where Mama hides the cookies!!!!!
*****
Sabres dominated the second period, shots wise and otherwise.
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3rd Period:
Didn't Vanek have two hat tricks against the Bolts last season?
**
@ 4:57, when did it become mandatory for a goalie to have to play the puck in his own end with opposing players in his area?
Ryan Miller just received a phantom "delay of game" penalty for holding onto a puck and drawing a whistle. I smell a carry over for Miller calling out Peel and St. Pierre after the Pittsburgh game.
***
Speaking orf disgusting calls, Al Kotalik is called for "running" Paul Ranger from behind on a touch up icing. Ranger sold it like he was run over by a Ford F250. What a pile of.... Kotalik shrugs his shoulders in bewilderment. Can't blame him. Ranger looks like a soccer player what with his muy macho acting job. He should audition for "The Hills" he's so convincing and real.
Tampa skates 6 on 4.....
4-2 Buffalo:
Pommer dots the "i" and crosses the "t" with the empty netter.
****
Off to the rooms.
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