Terrible week of hockey results for the Sabres. Th.ey lost a a gun fight with Grabner on Sunday. Laid an egg vs.Tronna. Were shutout by the Blues on Friday night. Now this stinging loss to the Caps. all four losses were on home ice. February is starting to feel all too familiar like october and November did for the home fans.
We are less than 48 hours away from the beginning of the Terry Pegula Era. A Tuesday morning presser will serve as the launch point for the new owner.
Before then, the Sabres have big business to tend to. They have lost three of four this week, and are coming off a listless effort in Friday night's 3-0 skunk job to the Blues.
Grab a Mimosa or a Bloody Mary, and settle in for some fun.
The Sabres and Caps are skating right now. Miller and Varlamov led their teams onto the ice. There's your starting golaies.
Paul Byron, Rob Niedermayer, and Chris Butler are all on the ice right now. Nieds will play today. Does Byron sit?
Interesting that Captain Rivet is not on the ice.
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There are scouts from the following teams here right now:
Atlanta, Tampa, Vancouver, Anaheim, San Jose, Chicago, Columbus, Florida, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Nashville, Colorado, Rangers, Ottawa, St. Louis, Dallas, Carolina, Edmonton, and Philly.
Scouts are in their seats with pens in hand, observing line combos, and more importantly to grade players from both teams. They can learn a ton about a player by the way he warms up. scouts watch body language and they know what nuances to look for in a player. " Is he loose? is he sloppy? is he focused? Is he ready to play?"
Many of these scouts, if not all of them were in tronna last night. It makes perfect sense to jump down the Queen's Way for this important matinee.
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1st Period:
Lindy immediately deploys the 2-1-2 to ice boom the neutral zone. Boudreau does likewise.
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Both goalies sharp early. Miller and Varlamov with good rebound control early on.
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Kaleta tracks then smacks Boyd Gordon with a heavy body check in the neutral zone. Thats the type of play PK has to bring every shift,
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Myers just missed a lazer one timer from the left point by centimetres.
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First stoppage in play comes at 5:48 of the period. Slow flow thus far. Both teams cognizant and respectful of one another's speed and skill. Its a feeling pout process.
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@ 6:23, outgoing minority owners, Larry Quinn and Dan DiPofi, get a nice ovation from the selllout crowd as they were recognized on the JumboTron for their commitment to keeping the Sabres in Buffalo. Classy gesture of the Buffalo fans to offer their heartfelt appreciation.
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Sabres applying nice low to high to low pressure on Varlamov. Caps will take penalties trying to clear 26 out of crease
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Monty's crafty slap-pass off the unyts.org sign on the end boards nearly beats Varly. Hannan cleared it like a live hand grenade.
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Hecht sits two or less for elbow. Stupid penalty! Momentum killer. Dumb penalty!
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Ovechin toys with Connolly and blows right around him at the blue line. Move your ass 19!
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Miller is Buffalo's best penalty killer right now.
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Sabres get to intermission unscathed. They took 2 x-checks, one elbow, and one boarding penalty. Gotta stay outta the bin, eh?
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The trade value of Connolly and Hecht increasing with each successful penalty kill
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Perrault draws ticky tack penalty on Morrisonn for x-check @ 18:06
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Where are all the jackasses now who wanted to trade Miller after the Islander loss???!!
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Weber, Connolly and Morrisonn step up to stone wall the Caps attack! Miller is sick!
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Miller absolutely ROBS Backstrom with a 5 bell save on the backdoor rebound from Ovechkin's shot!
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Semin should get an Oscar for that sterling acting job.
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Gordon is cut over left eye; Goose takes another penalty. 5 on 3 caps.
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Myers HAMMERS Gordon.. Big man gets boarding call for that??!!
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Miller was Buffalo's best PKer. Successful kill.
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2nd Period:
Sabres were all over washington in the first period as they applied constanty pressure to Varly and his D by getting pucks deep and cycling.
Then, they took four ill-advised penalties against a potent Washington PP.
They escaped the fray unscathed. Will start the second period shorthanded.
STAY OUTTA THE BIN, eh?
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Sabres kill Morrisonn's penalty.
Take charge and do a good job of getting pux deep.
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1-0 Caps
@ 6:09, Perrault throws a harmless puck at the end wall and it knuckles out to the slot. He grabs it and handcuffs tyhe surprised Miller.
Greasy goal.
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I told you that the Caps would be getting the next penalty.
Brooks Laich interferes with Miller, and the de;layed penalty gives Buffalo their fiorst PP attempt.
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1-1
Vanek and Connolly find Pommer for his 14th--- a bullet, glove high from the slot. Varly could only see the vapour trail.
Note: The scouts that I am sitting with are giving Connolly high grades thus far for his PP, PK, and 5 on 5 play.
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3rd Period:
Buffalo stay out of the sin bin and they are rewarded for their efforts.
Pommer's PPG was a direct result of Lindy rolling all four lines and getting all of his troops involved in the fight.
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Sabres need to keep their discipline in the third period.
Miller has demonstrated the ability to make the big save and to swallow up all rebounds.
Gotta keep the foot on the gas pedal.
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This is a winnable game for the Sabres. They need both points in regulation.
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Are losing on shot clock, 34-18.
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Sabres come out firing... no golas yet.
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Laich takes penalty and caps kill it.
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2-1 Caps@ 9:15, Morrisonn sits two or less....
Ovechkin gains the Buffalo line, skates through three Sabres... fires shot... Miller makes right pad kick save.. rebound finds Perrault who bangs it home from the faceoff circle.
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