You'll have to forgive me.
I didn't finish what I started last night.
I blogged the first period of the Sabres game.
Then, I mailed it in in the second and by the time the third period came around, I was out of it.
There will be other games.
I'll do better next time out.
Sound familiar?
My pause was for the cause. For dramatic affect.
What the Hell was the Sabres' problem last night? In the second and third period Friday night?
I can make excuses-- I don't like to-- but, I can.
The Sabres cannot.
They blew a glorious opportunity to close the show, a daily double of sorts, on The Eastern Conference banner and their Division title--- in a hostile Bell Centre, on the road.
They had a team on the ropes that was ripe for the picking, and they let them live to fight another day.
Sabres better watch it, or last night's sleep-induced coma may come back to bite them in the ass, in the form of a first round matchup with Le Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge.
I'll be candid:
If I hadn't have seen for my own eyes, and heard with my own ears at The Pepsi Centre on Tuesday morning, Lindy Ruff's empassioned pleas, for his team to stop killinhg itself against opponents by turning pucks over and playing like a House Mite time in its own end, then, maybe I'd be apt to cut the Sabres some slack this morning.
Lindy was hot on the chip this week, and he had every reason to be.
His team looked disinterested last weekend for 5 of 6 periods against the Leafs.
Lindy corrected their bad habits with two awe-inspiring workouts on Monday and Tuesday.
They slayed the Big Bad Devils with an impressive effort against the Devils at home on Wednesday night.
They came out like a house on fire, for the first twenty minutes against The Islander Friday night.
So what the Hell happened in the second and third Friday night?
What happened to them in the second and third on Saturday night?
You can't lay this one at the feet of Ryan Miller. He had the night off.
I point the finger of blame at the Sabres' D corps for laying down last night.
Kalinin, Teppo, Spacek, Campbell, Tallinder, and Lydman looked lost at times.
The Sabres D are making horrendous decisions that lead to huge mistake in their own end.
Their gap control has been a joke the past two game.
They are not denying time and space. They are not blocking shots, and they are not paying the price physically.
Hey , Teppo-- feel free to knock the rookie Latendresse on his ass when you have him at the blue line, and he's coming with steam.
Koivu ate a sndwich and change the TV with the remote control as he took Teppo to the hole-- from the blueline--- on his goal.
What the Hell was that ?!!
Put a shoulder into Koivu's chest and separate him from the puck.
Where is Jay McKee when you need him most?
You all know my feeling about a thick, young, rugged Dman. This team lacks that guy who will knock the wind out of opposing players. The Sabres needed that guy at the deadline and did not get him.
Did you happen to see Sheldon Souray throwing his body around last night? Boullion?
The Sabres were outhit, 20-9 last night.
Mike Johnson led the Habs with 4 hits of his own. Buffalo's leading hitter was Jason Pominville with 2. Toni and Hank didn't register one hit. Spacek, Campbell, Tree, and Teppo had one apiece.
Not good enough, boys. Its April.
Where's the textbook hockey ?!!
Toni, you had Kovalev and Koivu in your cross hairs for most of the night, and you were a beat or two slow to make the play.
Soupy looked like a pastry chef last night-- Turnovers for everyone.
Tighten you gap.
Pay attention to all details for the full 60.
Toni and Hank were a -2 apiece.
Teppo -1.
Next stop: Pittsburgh.
Did you happen to catch their thrid period comeback in Tornto last night?
They were down 4-1 in the third and they kept coming at The Leafs.
You think Michel Terrien, Gary Roberts, and the Pens want the Sabres celebrating a banner-clinch on Igloo ice?
The Playoffs begin April 11th.
Its time to close the exhibition season and time to open the real season.
No more excuses.
FOCUS. FINISH.
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