Its the beginnig of the busiest hockey day of the season in Western New York and Southern Ontario.
The sting is still at the surface. The young and rebellious Sabres were forty minutes away from a first round victory over the Flyers. Ptere Laviolete had given Buffalo a huge advantage by starting third string goalie, Michael Leighton, instead of Brian Boucher. Buffalo hopped out to a two goal lead that they could not hold onto, twice in the same game. Boucher was summoned from the bullpen to clean up Leighton's mess. He did just that. Ville Leino would score the winner in OT.
That was yesterday. Today life goes on. Clean sheet of ice. More desperation than ever before.
The Sabres will have an optional skate at 11:15 at HSBC Arena.
The sun rose in the East this morning and it will set in the West later today. Everything is okay right now in Pegulaville. Game 6 was a temporary set-back for the Sabres. Now, its time to pull on the Wolverine Dura Shocks boots and get back to work in the trenches.
Had you told me in October, when the Sabres were experiencing massive growing pains and confusion, that the Sabres would be forcing Philly to Game 7 of the first round of the Playoffs, I'd have signed my name on the bottomline. How about you?
Here are the questions that I'm looking to have answered:
1a). Derek Roy is ready to go. Will he be used 5 on 5, PP, and PK, or, will he be used sparingly?
1b). What is the extent of Tim Connolly's injury? Is it long term? What of Jason Pominville's leg injury?
2). The Mike Richards stab in the back to Connolly. Still think its a suspension-worthy act of aggression?
3). Is Jochen Hecht ready to return to the lineup?
4). Where in the world is Brad Boyes? Might a move back to his natural right wing wall help to get his offensive mojo working?
5). Will Lindy keep his present D corps in tact, or, will there be changes? Is Reggie Sekera available for Game 7 to replace Chris Butler? If so, does Lindy make a change?
Nobody has asked for my two cents on the Richards hit, however, I'll offer it up any way.
I think that anytime an opponent whacks another player between the numbers, on the back of the sweater, its a careless, cowardly, and very dangerous act.
I think that the Richards penalty deserves a one game suspension. Watch the video for all the reasons why.
Connolly has the right to receive a breakout pass from his teammate, behind his own net.
I've been hearing a lot about how some feel that Connolly did not do anything to protect himself in the situation, thus he suffered an injury due to his own negligence.
Thats horse pucky.
Connolly was operating in space as he's coached to do. His feet were moving towards the glass. The contact was made by Richards in the 36 inch area on the ice referred to as the "danger zone"-- the three for gap between the player and the rock hard walls and glass. Beginning in Squirt house hockey, players are taught the perils of hitting opposing players in the "danger zone". Players have options when presented situations like that which Richards was presented with on the Connolly hit. Driving the opponent head long into the boards and glass from behind is not an acceptable hockey option.
You'll see that Richards had tracked Connolly from the halfwall down. Richards saw Connolly the entire time. Connolly did not see Richards. One would have to have eyeballs on the back of one's head to see Richards coming. The play happened just below where I was sitting and I, along with the18,690 fans in the seats, and boths teams on both benches, could see the ass-end car crash beginning to materialize before impact was made. In my opinion, this hit could have been, and should have been avoided. Thats my opinion. Connolly did not see it coming, and for that reason alone, Richards should have recognized the context of the moment and altered his path to the puck carrier. Richards could have, and should have angled Connolly to the wall with his feet and his body. Richards could have effective ended the play by riding Connolly off the puck by angling him to the wall. He could have taken away Connolly's time and space by angling him, rather than ramming him face first into the glass. The entire collision could have been avoided.
Richards knows full well what the subtle nuances of the game are.
Its no coincidence that Richards singled out Connolly. He has been a force for Philly to reckon with in the faceoff circle and on Buffalo's PK in this series. If you can't beat him, knock him out of the series, right?
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