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Nobody circles the wagons like the citizens of Pegulaville.
Like the U.S. Postal Service, the Buffalo Sabres lug the mail through rain, sleet, heat, and winter storms.
While a wild, windy lake effect snow making machine was dumping between 5 to 6.5 feet of snow on South Buffalo and the southern Erie, Chattauqua, and Cattaraugus counties, the Sabres were melting the ice inside the barn with their sizzling 4-1 win over the slumbering San Jose Sharks.
The Sabres appear to have corrected their collision course with the NHL basement guard rails by finally finding the back of the enemy net. Buffalo scored a 6-2 win over Toronto on Saturday night and they scored 4 more goals on Tuesday night. Their 10 goals in the past two games is impressive in that two weeks ago Ted Nolan’s team would need 7-8 games to score 10 goals.
Times have changed in Buffalo because the Sabres are getting scoring from all four lines in recent games rather than waiting on Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons to carry the offense.
Thanks, NBCSN
The win gives Buffalo their second win in a row on home ice for the first time this season. Stick taps all around for the 6,200 loyal, passionate, fans who braved the treacherous weather and made the trek to watch their Sabres harpoon the Sharks.
Mired in a season long scoring slump, Sabres captain Brian Gionta lit the lamp twice and added an assist to lead the Buffalo to their impressive 4-1 win. The two goals are the Gionta’s first as a Buffalo Sabre.
The win was Buffalo’s eighth straight against the Sharks. They are now 16-0-1 against the Sharks in their last 17 games.
Jhonas Enroth made 19 saves on the 20 shots that he faced after he was pressed into emergency duty after Michal Neuvirth was injured late in the first period.
Check out this Hasek-like save with his back turned to the shooter!
It appeared to me that Neuvirth was smashed into during a goal mouth collision with his back checking teammate Tyler Ennis and Shark’s forward Justin Braun. The puck found its way into the Buffalo net on the collision, however, it was disallowed by the referees. Neuvirth made 10 saves before he departed to the Buffalo room to seek treatment for his injury.
Ted Nolan turned to his goalie coach Arturs Irbe in between the first and second periods. Irbe played back up to Enroth in the final 40 minutes.
Happy Independence Day, Latvia!
Irbe, the former NHLer, was ready, willing and able to play of called upon.
Trailing 3-1 late in the third period, the Sharks appeared to cut Buffalo’s lead to 3-2. At the 4:44 mark of regulation play, Patrick Marleau took a shot that appeared to cross the goal line befoire Sabres forward Matt Moulson slapped it out of harm’s way with his stick. After the play was reviewed by the eyes in the sky in Toronto, the goal call on the ice was reversed because the puck was ruled to have not crossed Enroth’s cross line.
Gionta’s empty netter gave the Sabres the three goal bulge and the win.
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The NHL GMs met in Toronto on Tuesday.
The NHL trade market is setting up as we speak like lake effect snow bands.
Scouts who were expected to be in the house watching Sabres-Sharks:
2 Winnipeg, 2 Detroit, 2 Vancouver, 2 Philly, Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, NY Rangers, Florida, Columbus, Ottawa, Edmonton, Chicago, Colorado.
Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart continue to attract outside attention by contending teams.
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The show must go on.
Despite the brutal, massive snowstorm that is ravaging Erie county and and Western New York, tonight’s Buffalo Sabres game against the San Jose Sharks, taking place at 7:30 p.m. at First Niagara Center, will be played as scheduled.
The Sabres have announced the following:
Due to the inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions in some areas of Western New York, the Sabres organization is urging anyone planning to attend tonight’s game to obey all local traffic advisories and driving bans. Those who decide it is safe to travel to tonight’s game are encouraged to use caution and allow for extra driving time to the arena. Fans are also reminded that the game will be televised on NBCSN and the radio broadcast available on WGR 550.
Fans who are unable to attend tonight’s game will be able to exchange their unused tickets from tonight’s game for tickets to a future Sabres game (list of games below). Tickets and location will be based on availability.
Tickets can be exchanged on Sabres.com or visiting the box office at First Niagara Center.
The following games are available as part of the ticket exchange:
Wed., Nov. 26 (7 p.m.) vs. Winnipeg (Silver)
Tues., Dec. 2 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Tampa Bay (Value)
Tues., Dec. 9 (7:30 p.m.) vs. Los Angeles (Bronze)
Thurs., Dec. 11 (7 p.m.) vs. Calgary (Value)
Thurs., Jan. 15 (7 p.m.) vs. Minnesota (Bronze)
Thurs., Feb. 5 (7 p.m.) vs. St. Louis (Bronze)
Tues., Feb. 10 (7 p.m.) vs. Ottawa (Value)
Sun., Feb. 22 (6 p.m.) vs. Nashville (Value)
Thurs., Feb. 26 (7 p.m.) vs. Vancouver (Bronze)
Mon., March 16 (7 p.m.) vs. Washington (Bronze)
Thurs., March 26 (7 p.m.) vs. Arizona (Value)
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