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VANEK AND KALETA SIT; FULLY MONTY |
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Thomas Vanek (ab issue) and Pat Kaleta (neck) will not skate in Tronna Monday night. I can't wait to see Jerko Ruutu get his ass jacked up in Buffalo on 12/26!
Nathan Paetsch will skate the flank on Line #4 in PK's stead.
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Versatility is the key to playing in the NHL today. Just ask Nathan Paetsch. You have to do a little nit of everything at a high level. Lindy Ruff likes what he sees of his vet Dman, Steve Montador, 5 on 5 and on the PK. Say hello to the point on the second unit PP opposite Craig Rivet. Monty's role is simple: BOMB THE PUCK AT GUSTAVSSON! GET PUCKS THROUGH AND LET THE FORWARDS CREATE OF REBOUND AND DEFLECTIONS.
Hecht, Roy, and Stafford will work this unit with 4 and 52.
What a concept! Getting point shots through the schmozzle! BRILLIANT!
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Please indulge me the obvious stat:
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not beaten the Buffalo Sabres in their last eight meetings.
This past Friday night in Buffalo, the Leafs jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first period, as they out-worked and out-hustled the Sabres to loose pucks. During the first period intermission in that game, Lindy Ruff and the team leaders had reminded the rest of the Buffalo soldiers that they had been shutout by Ottawa on the road two nights earlier. Eight Buffalo players had eaten chicken at an Ottawa eatery last Tuesday night, and several players were suffering food poisoning when the Sabres were skunked by The Sens. Friday night at home, Lindy wanted no part of excuses. Lalime, one of the chicken consumers, was originally slated to start in goal Friday night. In his stead, the NHL’s best goalie to date, Ryan Miller, was pressed into action. Lindy’s thinking was to go with Lalime vs. Tronna, then come back with Miller at home on Saturday night against Sid, Geno, Guerin, and the Pens. Buffalo flipped the script, Miller again tormented his Team USA brain trust, Burkie and Wislon, and emerged the fray with the win. Lindy wanted his team to play “the system”, and that they did in the final forty minutes.
Vesa Toskala was lit up like a Christmas tree in Buffalo Friday night. The Sabres dropped a holiday-themed blitzkrieg bop on the Leafs. Ron Wilson summoned “The Monster” from the bullpen to assist the beleaguered Toronto D. Mission accomplished. Young Gustavsson bailed his team out in the 5-2 Buffalo win.
Saturday night, in front of the home crowd in “The Big Smoke”, Gustavsson authored a thrilling 2-0 shutout over the big, bad, Bruins. "I'm so happy to be back on the ice and back playing at home against the Boston Bruins and have my first NHL shutout," Gustavsson said. "That's not something that happens every day." Great bounce back effort from the young Swede.
While Gustavsson was standing on his head in Tronna, at the other end of the QEW, Buffalo’s Patrick Lalime was manning up against the Cup Champs. Lalime stopped 23 of 24 Pens shots—several of vintage quality on future Hall Of Famers Sid, Geno, and Guerin. Lalime and his French Canadian counterpart, MA Fleury, were sensational in through 65 minutes of a 1-1 hockey game. Kris Letang would score the only gola of the Shootout by going roof daddy on Lalime. Buffalo stole a point from the defending Stanley Cup champs to set the stage for another showdown with the Leafs on Monday night on Versus.
We know this much for certain:Wilson will ride “The Monster” until he falls down. The kid’s shutout will serve as a shot of adrenaline for his team’s efforts on home ice. Whats not known is whether Lindy Ruff will give Ryan Miller the crease, or, if he’ll reward Patrick Lalime with a much deserved back to back appearance. Lalime has been brilliant in his last two starts against Chicago and Pittsburgh. Two weeks ago, he volunteered to go to Portland of The AHL for a conditioning and fitness retreat. He returned to his team a better goalie and a better teammate for having made the sacrifice without complaining and carping about it. It would not surprise me in the least if Lindy Ruff gives Lalime the cage again Monday night to say Thank You for being a professional and for having the backs of your teammates. Miller has nothing to prove to Burke and Wilson. He’s already the #1 goalie on Team USA’s Olympic squad, and he deserves another night off.
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I absolutely LOVED the effort put forth by Timmy Kennedy in the Pittsburgh game. The kid was one of the best forwards on the ice for both teams, high praise when you consider he was running with future Hall Of Famers Sid, Geno, and Guerin. In my opinion, Tim Kennedy deserves more ice time. He makes this happen in all three zones every time he hits the ice. With vanek in the press box Saturday night nursing an abdominal injury suffered at the hands of a Tyler Myers shot, Kennedy skated 17:06, 4:43 of which came on the PP. This was new territory for TK, as Lindy had not used him on the PP previously. The boy became a man while befuddling A Fleury, Orpik, and the rest of the Pens PKers. Kennedy's speed and fast hands are a lethal combination that allow him to weave in and out of high traffic areas and set screens down low. His passing was crisp and on the tape, while his feet were always moving. TK ended the night a +1 for his hard work. Good on ya, TK!
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If I'm Brian Burke, I walk up to Paul Gaustad Monday morning inside the ACC, I shake the 6’5”centre’s hand, look him in the eye, and say, "Congratulations. You are a going to be playing for your country in Vancouver in February".
Goose has been a one man army since his return from his knee injury. The Buffalo centre missed ten games after he injured himself in Philly on Black and Blue Friday.
He returned to the Buffalo lineup Friday night vs. Ron Wilson's leafs. Goose was a man's man down low and in the faceoff dot.
Ditto Saturday night.
11:21 Even strength
9:11 PP
2:52 Shorthanded
Goose was up in Sid's grille all night long. He made Fleury's life miserable by making himself a human wall, especially on the PP.
In his two games back in then starting lineup, Goose has improved his NHL leading faceoff prowess to a sizzling 64.3%. Burke needs a face off man who he can trust in key situations. Goose is a 6'5" tower of power and possesses the phyicality and smarts to beat the likes of Crosby, Thornton, Getzlaf, and Toews in the dot. Lindy always preaches that its harder to create offense when his team is chasing the puck after a faceoff loss (see Tim Connolly's anemic 42% win record). Goose uses every tool in his box to perform his duties to his team. You won’t find a more committed, harder working player than Paul Gaustad.
Honk for the Goose!
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Now would be a great time for Darcy to look for a bonafide NHL PP point man to trade for.
Thank the Hockey Gods that the Sabres can kill penalties with proficiency and tact. Its not a pipe dream to think that Buffalo could be amongst the NHL's elite teams if only their PP was middle of the pack.
Lately, the Powerplay is gawd awful and it needs help. The Pens handed Buffalo 8 man advantages Saturday night. BAGEL for 8 is not good enough!
Marc Andre Fleury was flustered by the down low screens of Goose, Kennedy, and Stafford, however, the Sabres--- namely Connolly and Pominville-- are not scaring opponents when they play pitch and catch from the halfwall to the point. More times than not, Connolly and Pommer are getting their point shots blocked and rejected. They are easily defendable from the points. Wouldn't you just love a Sheldon Souray, Drew Doughty, Matt Schneider, Tomas Kaberle, or a Chara from the point?
The problem as I see it is that Buffalo point shots are not getting through the schmozzle of bodies and sticks that are packed into shot lanes. Connolly and Pommer are tipping their pitches and opposing D are taking them deep.
Rivet and Myers do a nice job up top from the points, however, they can’t play the full two minutes.
Buffalo are leaving points on the table by going through the motions on the PP. If they want to maintain home ice advantage for the Playoffs, they better fix their PP now.
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No Vanek for Buffalo on Monday night as he rests his abdominal issue. Nothing a few days away from the ice won't cure.
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I don't care if Don Edwards starts in net for Buffalo and Mike Palmateer for Tronna. The Sabres win the game skating away.
Buffalo5
Tronna 3That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
Happy Holidays!
Garth
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