When the third period clock strikes 6:00, or thereabouts, I make it a routine to pack up my lapper, grab my jacket, and head for the press box elevator. That’s how I roll. I like to get my stuff, get to the elevator, and get down to the media room. You see, the press box elevator gets filled up quickly on games nights with healthy scratches, broadcast team members, service employees, and media members all dashing down to the locker rooms at the same time. I’m glad that I took the advice of elevator operator, Bill, some six seasons ago, when he told me that its best to leave early to avoid the congestion and chaos. Who needs that drama?
So Saturday night, I bid adieu to my neighbors on press row, told them, I’d see them downstairs, and then I power skated to the elevator. Pommer had just scored his PPG with 7:07 remaining in regulation, and it looked and felt like the Sabres had the game in total control.
Said I to myself: “Coast is clear. Sabres have a one goal lead now. Momentum is on their side after a poor start. They will lock it down, and win this puppy by a puck”.
I made my exit, stage left.
Along the way to the elevator, I bumped into Tampa Lightning, AGM. Verbeek has ben a regular at Sabres games in recent years as he was a scout for the Detroit Red Wings for a few years. Then, his friend, Steve Yzerman, hired him to be his assistant GM, when Stevie Y. earned the GM job in Tampa.
Face to face with the original “Little Ball Of Hate”. I asked Pat how’s he’s been. He said good. He told me that he was heading home to Detroit after the game.
Just then, with 5:19 remaining in regulation, with the Sabres leading by one goal, Nathan Gerbe was charged with a tripping call. Verbeek motioned with his head as we waited for the elevator doors to open. “Not a good time to take a penalty”, he said of Gerbe’s minor infraction. Then, Gerbe, for whatever reason, channeled his inner Verbeek, and transformed into “The Little Ball Of hate, Version 2.0”. Gerbe, not happy with Devorski’s penalty call, proceeded to chirp the ref and laugh at the ref’s ruling. Gerbe would later say in the Buffalo room that he at no time dropped any profanity on the fer, just a barrage of laughter. The ref’s arm went up without hesitation, and Gerbe had earned himself a an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to accessorize his tripping call. Double dagger to the heart of the 18,690 inside the First Niagara Center.
I asked Verbeek as the penalty box doors closed on Gerbe:
“You are the original “Little Ball Of Hate“, Pat. What do you think of Nathan Gerbe?”
Verbeek, without hesitation blurted out, with a smirk:
“This kid, Gerbe, is a “Little Ball Of Hate, definitely. Not a lot of guys get to use my nickname, but Gerbe can. I’ve watched him play and he’s got the right mentality and the right comepete level”.
Verbeek told me the story of how his nickname was bestowed upon him. His former NY Rangers teammate, Glenn Healey, branded Verbeek with the now famous handle.
"Ray Ferraro was the "Big Ball Of Hate". I was the "little ball"", he said with a wry grin.
The elevator doors opened as the Panthers went to the power play.
Verbeek, Bill, and I took the nonstop ride to the ground level.
I bid Pat a good night and a safe trip home. He went left to the exit, whilel I went right to the media room.
With 3:58 remaining in the game, the Cats’ Tomas Fleischmann scored the equalizer. The crowd went hush. With 1:43 remaining, Garrison scored the eventual game winner.
Gerbe will learn from his faux pas. Next time he gets a minor penalty late in a one goal game, on home ice, he'll shut his mouth and sit down before he gets rung up for another unsportsmanlike penalty. He's a good kid. He made a mistake. Better that he does it in October than have it happen in a Playoff game.
Was it Gerbe's fault that the Sabres lost. No. He took a penalty in the commission of trying to defend a one goal lead, late in a game. His coach trusted him to play in the final five minutes of a one goal game. That speaks volumes of what Ruff thinks of Gerbe.
Where was Ville Leino for the final twenty minutes of that game?
Oh yeah. he was velcroed to the bench.
Do what Pat Verbeek would do in a difficult spot. Hold your head up, Nathan.
If looks could kill, many people would have been lying on the floor of Thomas Vanek's locker. The Sabres leading scorer was deservedly upset at the third period collapse his team vs. Florida. Another home game. Another third period lead. Another disappointing result. Another loss on home ice to a team that this Sabres squad should be running out of the building.
Vanek and Matt Ellis were Buffalo's best players in this gong show. The line of 26-72-29 were not great for large chunks of the game because they refused to get pucks deep. Adam and Pominville were gulity of carrying the puck through two defenders at the blue line,rather than getting pucks deep and establiching the forecheck. The Ellis-McCormick-Boyes line were Buffalo;s best forward unit on this night because they executed Lindy Ruff's game plan to a tee: they played north/south, not east/west like the other nine forwards did. More on that later.
When asked what is the next step to get his team's heads out of the 300 level and back where it belongs, in the game late in third period. Vanek tersely responded:
"We have to go back to work. We don't take anything good out of it (the Florida game). We sucked. We deserved to lose, and thats what we did. "
Jason Pominville was equally as perplexed and and angry after the loss. The captain admitted that he and his linemates did not have their mojo workin against Florida.
What exactly went wrong?
'Turnovers. Not getting pucks deep. They (the Cats) got pucks deep and they created chances by just throwing pucks at the net".
What could you have done differently.
"Moving around is what you have to do with so many teams collapsing. Only one of our lines did what they were supposed to do (22-8-37). Even our line (26-72-9) we didnt do a good enough job of creating things for ourselves. It was a tough game where we werent moving the way we needed to. This is a very tough one to accept".
When Buffalo has a 2-1 lead late in the third period of most games, turn outthe lights. The party's over. Not Saturday night.
The Sabres snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Whatever Gerbe chirped at the ref on the way to the box got him rung up with a damning double minor. He was assessed a trip and an unsportsmanlike penalty. Perhaps next time, Gerbe will shut up and sit down when he's told to. After the game, Gerbe told the media that he did not swear at the ref and that he simply questioned the ref aboutthe tripping penalty. Gerbe says that he laughed at the ref when he told the diminutive winger what his offense was. Gerbe continued laughing, when the ref alledgedly told him to knock it off and sit down. Sounds like Gerbe got what he deserved. No discipline.
If only the 11 forwards and 6 D worked their asses off like Matt Ellis did on Saturday night, this loss would have been a win, no questions asked.
Ellis was by far Buffalo's best player in an otherwise lethargic, listless game.
I told Ellis after the game that I thought he got screwed twice: his goal was a goal, and, he should have been one of the three starts of the game for maxing out his talents and working like a plow horse.
"Thank, man. I appreciate it."
I propped Ellis and his linemates, Boyes and Mccormick.
"I really think we read each other well. You know what you're going to get from me and Cody... now, Brad's starting to read off us and its really working. We keep reminding ourseklves to "keep it simple". its mine and cody';s job to dig the puck out and get it tothe front of the net where Brad's at his best. its agood little mix", Ellis told me.
Boyes can thank Ellis for pumping needed life into the formerly struggling winger's game. Looks like Boyes has finally found chemistry where it appeared none existed. 22-8-37 are as fundamentally sound and intense as the 36-28-42 line
Ellis' back check is superior. He bailed out Miller in the second period when he read an open net and he quickly threw his body into harm's way to prevent the Florida forward from scoring.
"Thats my job. Its a fine line between winning and losing, which means you've got to go that extra mile in order to prevent goals. Millsie does a helluva job for us and i was off his back side, protecting the area so I did what I could to get a stick on it"
Ellis told me that he felt a measure of gratification when Lindy Ruff benched Ville Leino in the third period and allowed Ellis to skate in his place.
'I know when i get the tap (from Lindy) to move up, with roysie and Staff, thats what he's looking for, for me to get the pucks in deep and for me to get some zone time, work the corners, and get the puck to those guys. Thats what i try to do. i don't try to change. I feel like when I move up in lines to play with the more skilled players I'm there for a reason: to keep my feet moving and tob to help them out, and dig pucks out for those guys. Its my job to get them the puck in places where they like it'.
Playing with Ellis has cured Boyes of all that ailed him. Now, he needs to adjust Ville Leino's head and heart.
What happened on the disallowed goal?
"I'm not sure. I felt the puck hit my skate.. I had their defenseman on my back and I was fighting for position. Boom, hit my heel. Wasn't intentional".
I told him the fans appreciate his work ethic and passion for fundamental hockey.
He appreciates the kinds words. His coach and teammates appreciate his blue collar work ethic.
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