nathan gerbe leading the way for the sabres

"I don't wanna get scored against, so I think that's the desperation more. It's not so much the gettin' the goal, it's not gettin' scored against. You wanna do everything you can..."

--nathan gerbe post-game on his empty net goal to seal the 2-0 road win at montreal

how do you forget about blowing a two-goal lead with less than three minutes to play, then losing 20 seconds into overtime at home the game before?...go into montreal, play a near perfect road game against a division rival, and seal the tight game with an empty netter...

nathan gerbe's dogged determination sealed it last night...the sabres just concluded three games in four nights and gerbe has goals in all three...the sabres snared five of a possible six points, with the only blemish being the aforementioned blown lead vs. nashville...

all the talk today is about gerbe...and it should be...desperation, grit, tenacity, sandpaper, drive, finish...all combined to produce goals in three consecutive games, four of the last five...he's been playing a complete game too, as witnessed by the confidence that lindy ruff had in gerbe by putting him on the ice with a one goal lead in a crucial game...the result?...all encompassed in the aforementioned quote by gerbe and his reward--an empty net goal--for his hard work and determination...

if you want more gerbe, click here...there's a video of his game-winning assist on brad boyes overtime winner vs. boston...his team-record, two goals in five seconds vs. the islanders (as well as his demeanor and quote)...

in addition, there's nate's last stand? where he's at the precipice of falling from the nhl club either to the bench or to portland, after a horrendous first two months of the season...

addendum

the sabres held an optional practice today...one of the players on the ice--nathan gerbe