Published by hockeybuzz.com, 1-2-2018
Is there anything better than Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams having his moment in the sun?
The 12 yr. Bills vet had been a beacon of professionalism throughout Buffalo's long, 17-year playoff drought which finally ended on New Years Eve with a Buffalo win and a Cincinnati Bengals upset of the Baltimore Ravens. In a game the Bills had to win on the final day of the 2017 NFL season, Williams was given the ball on a first and goal at the one, scored his first career touchdown then proceeded to lead one of the best touchdown celebrations we've seen all season:
(video from Highlight Haven)
After the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins to finish the regular season 9-7, it was off to the locker room for some scoreboard watching and this reaction (plus some additional cheering from Bills fans) after Bengals scored the game-winning touchdown on a fourth and 12 with :44 seconds left in the fourth quarter:
We're two days removed from that glorious finish but it's still goosebumps-worthy video to watch.
*****
How do you top that?
The Buffalo Sabres had an opportunity to at least keep the celebration rolling with a New Year's Day outdoor clash against the NY Rangers in the 10th annual NHL Winter Classic, but unfortunately they came up just short in a 3-2 overtime loss.
Whether it was the 20 degree temperature at game-time, the gusty wind, a military flyover or the overall enormity of the lone NHL game of the day being played at Citi Field in The Big Apple before 41,000+ fans the Sabres found themselves in a hole. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period the Sabres clawed their way back with goals early in the second and third periods to take the game to overtime. But it ended when they allowed a powerplay goal to the Rangers in overtime.
Some notes on that game:
--We've heard plenty about the outdoor game losing it's luster, but for a fan whose team is actually playing, it doesn't. It was a helluva event and an extremely well played game that could've went either way.
--The Winter Classic sweaters designed by Adidas were outstanding for both the Sabres and the Rangers.
--"Doc" Emerick is considered to be one of the best announcers in the game. And rightfully so. His knowledge of the game and the players playing is top-notch and he can roll with the game as good as anybody. However, with all due respect to him, his play-by-play does not allow the game to breathe. Emerick is a wordsmith who's constant barrage of words and phrases describing nearly every name and nearly every moment. At times it comes off as if he's more interested in displaying his knowledge than calling the game. His calls are great for radio, but seemingly smothers the television audience.
--I was finally left with the impression that this group of Sabres players is finally looking like a team. Too bad it tool 38 1/2 games for it to be so. The holes are still there in the lineup, and they still have plenty to learn, but these players are finally developing some chemistry amongst themselves, which is great moving forward. Unfortunately, that might not last long as the next big NHL moment is the trade deadline and it's expected that some Sabres will be on the move.
--The "Ref-cam" was very cool in this game getting us as close to the action as possible. But where was it when Buffalo's Evander Kane got whacked in the face by an rough high stick? Kane tumbled to the ice and lay there while gathering his faculties. Oddly enough there was no gathering of officials which sometimes happens in the NHL. After he go up you could see blood pouring from the bridge of hid nose and when they showed a profile shot there was a huge lump forming. It was an egregious non-call and you have to wonder: did the ref not see it, or did they just bury the tape from the "Ref-cam?
--Rasmus Ristolainen has goals in consecutive games and has been looking strong in the process. He played 26:00 yesterday had a goal and an assist and was a plus-1. In a curious move, Ristolainen was on the ice for only one shift (:33) in overtime last night.
--That was one of a few head-scratchers from Sabres head coach Phil Housley with the big one being, why was fourth-line center Jacob Josefson on the ice in overtime? Not sure what Housley was thinking on that one, but Josefson wouldn't you want to play your best players as much as possible in the five-minute overtime session?
--Kyle Okposo assisted on both Buffalo goals yesterday and was hard on the puck all game. It looks as if he's recovered from his off-season health issues. He would have been a better pick than Josefson. Benoit Pouliot has the speed to play in overtime. He would have been better. For as much as the players get hammered for their poor start to the season, Housley's been making rookie mistakes all season long.
--Housley also had Marco Scandella on the ice with the Rangers on the powerplay in overtime. Ristolainen had plenty of time to rest and is the team's best defenseman. Why was he not on the ice?
--The powerplay looked better, but on the whole, it still isn't anywhere close to where it should be.
The Sabres have a back-to-back on the road at Minnesota on Thursday and Winnipeg on Friday.
*****
Western New York hockey fans can still see action as the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships are being held downtown.
The elimination games begin today and five Sabres prospects will be playing:
12pm--G, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Finland take on D, Vojtech Budik and the Czechs
6pm--Forwards Alexander Nylander and Marcus Davidson lead Team Sweden against Slovakia
8pm--C, Casey Mittelstadt and Team USA are up against Russia
Mittelstadt and the Americans got this weekend rolling with a tough come-from-behind win over Canada on Friday in the first outdoor game in WJC history. On a cold, blustery evening at New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills, Mittelstadt set up two US third period goals to tie the score at 3-3 with Team USA eventually winning in the shootout.
Mittelstadt has been the unquestioned star pf the event thus far while leading the tournament in scoring with nine points (4+5) in four games.
*****
That win on Friday was the first of four big wins for WNY sports fans over the weekend.
On Saturday the Sabres beat the Metropolitan Division leading New Jersey Devils in overtime on Ristolainen's first goal of the season and the surging Rochester Americans took over first place in the AHL's Eastern Conference with a 2-0 shutout win in Toronto against the Marlies. And, of course, the Bills finally ended their 17-year playoff drought on Sunday.
Showing posts with label 2018 Winter Classic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2018 Winter Classic. Show all posts
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Housley dancin' with those who helped carve out a four-game point-streak.
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 12-14-2017
Although a four-game points streak won't strike fear into the hearts of teams like...make that any team...it's a positive step for the Buffalo Sabres and head coach Phil Housley isn't about to change that formula. Reports from the rink have Housley sticking with the same lineup he used in Tuesday's win vs. Ottawa as Buffalo hits the ice tonight in Philadelphia for a tilt tonight against the Flyers.
The Sabres finished a three-game road-trip on Sunday and came away with four of a possible six points while going 1-0-2. Had they been able to hold on against the Chicago Blackhawks they could have added a point and conversely, had they not been able to pull off a third-period comeback in St. Louis to overcome a two-goal deficit, they could have lost that one in regulation and lost a point. Buffalo started out their trip with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The Sabres came home from their trip to face a reeling Ottawa Senators team that was 1-9-2 in their last 12 games, a streak of futility that coincided with their return to North America. Ottawa played in and won two games in Stockholm, Sweden vs. the Colorado Avalanche as part of the NHL's, Global Series. The Senator's stop in Buffalo was the final leg of a seven-game/15-day road trip and the Sabres lead 3-0 heading into the third period and hung on to win 3-2.
The lineup for that game will be the same as they face the Flyers:
Pouliot, Eichel, Pominville
Girgensons, O'Reilly, Okposo
Kane, Rodrigues, Reinhart
Nolan, Larsson, Wilson
Scandella-Ristolainen
McCabe-Bogosian
Gorges-Falk
Robin Lehner looks to be in net for the Sabres tonight. According to Sabres PR, Lehner is 2-0-2 while stopping 149 of 159 shots (.937 Sv%.)
The Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games vs. the Flyers, 3-6-1 on the road.
Buffalo has not had a point-streak longer than four games since 2012.
*****
The Sabres were a part of the first-ever Winter Classic outdoor game on January 1, 2008. Former team president Larry Quinn came up with the idea and over 71,000 hockey fans poured into what was then Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY to watch hockey get back to it's outdoor roots. Although it wasn't the first outdoor game in modern NHL history, snow fell lightly giving the stadium a snow-globe effect and the Pittsburgh Penguins went on to win the game 3-2 in a shootout over the Sabres.
The success of that game has made the Winter Classic an annual event and has spawned more annual outdoor games.
Buffalo is back in the annual event to mark the 10th anniversary of it's inception. Which they should be. And there's nothing wrong with holding it in The Big Apple either, as the Sabres will take on the NY Rangers at Citi Field, home of baseball's NY Mets. Having Buffalo playing on the road as the "home team" is rather ridiculous, but it should be a good matchup.
NHL cameras have been following both the Sabres and the Rangers as they film for a weekly series called The Road to the Winter Classic with the cameras rolling nearly two weeks ago. Unfortunately for the Sabres, they put up back-to-back clunkers in a home-and-home vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins when cameras started rolling. How much of that footage will make it in and how it will be used is yet to be determined and they may not use any of it unless the Sabres make a remarkable turnaround and get themselves on a roll heading into the Classic.
*in a Classic, old-school announcers voice*
"When the Buffalo Sabres lost back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins (show long faces of Sabres fans) and left KeyBank Center Ice to a chorus of boos (show fans booing,) not many thought they'd be able to summon the courage to bounce back from those infamous two games..."
After that inauspicious start, the Sabres seem to have come to life and have at least given the NHL cameras a couple of victories to work in as well as some highlights. It will be center-stage in The Big Apple and the last thing they want to do is embarrass themselves. The best way to assure they won't do that is to play their assses off come hell or highwater. Which is what they've been doing for the most part, the past four games.
The cameras have been rolling and the first installment of The Road to the Winter Classic aired last night.
It's showtime.
Although a four-game points streak won't strike fear into the hearts of teams like...make that any team...it's a positive step for the Buffalo Sabres and head coach Phil Housley isn't about to change that formula. Reports from the rink have Housley sticking with the same lineup he used in Tuesday's win vs. Ottawa as Buffalo hits the ice tonight in Philadelphia for a tilt tonight against the Flyers.
The Sabres finished a three-game road-trip on Sunday and came away with four of a possible six points while going 1-0-2. Had they been able to hold on against the Chicago Blackhawks they could have added a point and conversely, had they not been able to pull off a third-period comeback in St. Louis to overcome a two-goal deficit, they could have lost that one in regulation and lost a point. Buffalo started out their trip with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The Sabres came home from their trip to face a reeling Ottawa Senators team that was 1-9-2 in their last 12 games, a streak of futility that coincided with their return to North America. Ottawa played in and won two games in Stockholm, Sweden vs. the Colorado Avalanche as part of the NHL's, Global Series. The Senator's stop in Buffalo was the final leg of a seven-game/15-day road trip and the Sabres lead 3-0 heading into the third period and hung on to win 3-2.
The lineup for that game will be the same as they face the Flyers:
Pouliot, Eichel, Pominville
Girgensons, O'Reilly, Okposo
Kane, Rodrigues, Reinhart
Nolan, Larsson, Wilson
Scandella-Ristolainen
McCabe-Bogosian
Gorges-Falk
Robin Lehner looks to be in net for the Sabres tonight. According to Sabres PR, Lehner is 2-0-2 while stopping 149 of 159 shots (.937 Sv%.)
The Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games vs. the Flyers, 3-6-1 on the road.
Buffalo has not had a point-streak longer than four games since 2012.
*****
The Sabres were a part of the first-ever Winter Classic outdoor game on January 1, 2008. Former team president Larry Quinn came up with the idea and over 71,000 hockey fans poured into what was then Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY to watch hockey get back to it's outdoor roots. Although it wasn't the first outdoor game in modern NHL history, snow fell lightly giving the stadium a snow-globe effect and the Pittsburgh Penguins went on to win the game 3-2 in a shootout over the Sabres.
The success of that game has made the Winter Classic an annual event and has spawned more annual outdoor games.
Buffalo is back in the annual event to mark the 10th anniversary of it's inception. Which they should be. And there's nothing wrong with holding it in The Big Apple either, as the Sabres will take on the NY Rangers at Citi Field, home of baseball's NY Mets. Having Buffalo playing on the road as the "home team" is rather ridiculous, but it should be a good matchup.
NHL cameras have been following both the Sabres and the Rangers as they film for a weekly series called The Road to the Winter Classic with the cameras rolling nearly two weeks ago. Unfortunately for the Sabres, they put up back-to-back clunkers in a home-and-home vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins when cameras started rolling. How much of that footage will make it in and how it will be used is yet to be determined and they may not use any of it unless the Sabres make a remarkable turnaround and get themselves on a roll heading into the Classic.
*in a Classic, old-school announcers voice*
"When the Buffalo Sabres lost back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins (show long faces of Sabres fans) and left KeyBank Center Ice to a chorus of boos (show fans booing,) not many thought they'd be able to summon the courage to bounce back from those infamous two games..."
After that inauspicious start, the Sabres seem to have come to life and have at least given the NHL cameras a couple of victories to work in as well as some highlights. It will be center-stage in The Big Apple and the last thing they want to do is embarrass themselves. The best way to assure they won't do that is to play their assses off come hell or highwater. Which is what they've been doing for the most part, the past four games.
The cameras have been rolling and the first installment of The Road to the Winter Classic aired last night.
It's showtime.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Sabres/Rangers in Winter Classic. Botterill to Buffalo tomorrow? Plus...
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 5-10-2017
The Buffalo Sabres and NY Rangers in the 10th Anniversary NHL Winter Classic is awesome. Although it would have been even better if the Classic came back to Buffalo as the whole idea for it emanated from former Sabres president Larry Quinn, having it in the Big Apple makes for a prime-time show even if it's at Citi Field and not at Yankee Stadium, who hosted a Stadium Series game back in 2014.
Scheduling the Sabres to play in the 10th Anniversary of the NHL's preeminent outdoor event at this point in time seems to be more of an obligatory nod to Buffalo's hand in the creation of the event then a pick based upon showcasing the sport using two premier teams. The Sabres didn't exactly have the greatest of seasons in 2016-17, finishing 26th in the league, and are presently without a general manager and head coach. Buffalo has marketable players in Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly, but their supporting consists of hits and misses so far.
Meanwhile the Rangers are coming off of yet another post season of disappointment as they were just ousted by the Ottawa Senators last night on home ice. Despite the loss and the fact that they're aging from the blueline back, the Rangers are always in it and there's no reason to believe they won't be back in the mix next season.
However, it's on come January 1, 2018. For Sabres fans willing to take the jaunt, those with season tickets will have the option to buy tickets for the game as it's considered a home game by the NHL schedule-makers. Why it's a home game is certainly questionable as the "home" team will be travelling close to 400 miles while the "away" team could walk to City Field, but who are we to question the wisdom of the NHL. Right?
*****
Two other second round playoff matches will end this evening as the NHL has a Game-7 doubleheader on tap. The first one, has the Pittsburgh Penguins in Washington DC to take on the Capitals while the Edmonton Oilers will be in Anaheim to take on the Ducks in the night-cap.
And for the Sabres, this could/should mean the official end to their GM search.
Penguins associate GM Jason Botterill has long been rumored as the choice but the announcement has been delayed due to Pittsburgh being in the midst of a second-round playoff match. Botterill has been credited with helping put together two Stanley Cup winners in Pittsburgh while pulling off a high-wire act on the NHL's salary cap.
With the amount of work to be done, it would behoove the Sabres to get their new GM in as quick as possible. Botterill, if hired, has the upcoming expansion draft to prepare for, followed by the NHL Entry Draft and in less that eight weeks the start of free agency. He'll have 20 free agent contracts to decide upon as well as decisions on entry-level contract for previous draft picks. In addition, three principal players will be heading into the final years of their contract. Eichel and fellow second-overall pick Sam Reinhart will be finishing up their entry-level deals while Evander Kane will be in the final year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2012 with the Winnipeg Jets. All three were top-five producers in one category or another for Buffalo last season. Plus No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner is a restricted free agent as well.
And there's this little thing about bringing in a head coach as well.
Welcome to the world of running your own team.
Botterill may end up bringing in Rick Tocchet as the Buffalo's coach, which would lighten the load a little bit. He'll still need to do interviews with other head coaching candidates and there are some young hot commodities on the market but Botterill knows Tocchet from having worked with him in Pittsburgh for nearly three years.
Whether the Sabres go in the direction of the Buffalo Bills, who now have two former Carolina Panthers as GM and head coach, remains to be seen, but Botterill, or whomever ends up being GM for the Sabres will have a pretty hectic schedule this off-season.
*****
We know Rick Tocchet was a helluva player who could both score and wreak havoc. We also know that he's respected as an assistant coach. We also know that having a checkered past, has never stopped any pro team from bringing in the person they want. Tocchet seems like a no-nonsense guy with plenty of knowledge and experience who should get the respect of his players, at least at the start.
But can he coach?
On the other side of the spectrum we have two potential first time head coaches in Phil Housley and Jim Montgomery who certainly know how to coach, at least at the lower levels, as they've won championships. Housley lead the Team USA to the gold in the 2013 World Junior Championships while Montgomery's Denver Pioneer's won the 2017 NCAA National Championship. Both have proven to have extensive knowledge and solid experience on the coaching side of the equation.
But will either get enough respect from players to allow their coaching acumen to shine through?
That's the conundrum the Sabres are in right now. With the tumult the team just went through in 2016-17 the incoming coach will not only be putting his stamp on the X's and O's aspect of the team, he'll also be juggling a diverse set of ego's that clashed in Buffalo last season. Knowing how to handle everything from alpha-male Eichel, to a reserved Reinhart and all points in between is nothing to be taken lightly. Players aren't stupid. They can smell a phony or incompetent from a mile away.
I like the idea of Tocchet in that I believe he'll get the full respect of the locker room, which may be the most important aspect of the job right now, but his stint in Tampa as their head coach was meh, at best.
Montgomery had his Denver Pioneers playing fast, aggressive hockey that overwhelmed their opponents. His style would fit perfectly in today's NHL.
I also really like what Housley has done as an assistant in Nashville with his mobile Predators. With his Hall of Fame career as a player and how he's worked his way up the ranks, I am of the opinion that he should be the front-runner for the Buffalo head coaching job.
But first things first, an announcement tomorrow as to who the new Sabres general manager will be.
The Buffalo Sabres and NY Rangers in the 10th Anniversary NHL Winter Classic is awesome. Although it would have been even better if the Classic came back to Buffalo as the whole idea for it emanated from former Sabres president Larry Quinn, having it in the Big Apple makes for a prime-time show even if it's at Citi Field and not at Yankee Stadium, who hosted a Stadium Series game back in 2014.
Scheduling the Sabres to play in the 10th Anniversary of the NHL's preeminent outdoor event at this point in time seems to be more of an obligatory nod to Buffalo's hand in the creation of the event then a pick based upon showcasing the sport using two premier teams. The Sabres didn't exactly have the greatest of seasons in 2016-17, finishing 26th in the league, and are presently without a general manager and head coach. Buffalo has marketable players in Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly, but their supporting consists of hits and misses so far.
Meanwhile the Rangers are coming off of yet another post season of disappointment as they were just ousted by the Ottawa Senators last night on home ice. Despite the loss and the fact that they're aging from the blueline back, the Rangers are always in it and there's no reason to believe they won't be back in the mix next season.
However, it's on come January 1, 2018. For Sabres fans willing to take the jaunt, those with season tickets will have the option to buy tickets for the game as it's considered a home game by the NHL schedule-makers. Why it's a home game is certainly questionable as the "home" team will be travelling close to 400 miles while the "away" team could walk to City Field, but who are we to question the wisdom of the NHL. Right?
*****
Two other second round playoff matches will end this evening as the NHL has a Game-7 doubleheader on tap. The first one, has the Pittsburgh Penguins in Washington DC to take on the Capitals while the Edmonton Oilers will be in Anaheim to take on the Ducks in the night-cap.
And for the Sabres, this could/should mean the official end to their GM search.
Penguins associate GM Jason Botterill has long been rumored as the choice but the announcement has been delayed due to Pittsburgh being in the midst of a second-round playoff match. Botterill has been credited with helping put together two Stanley Cup winners in Pittsburgh while pulling off a high-wire act on the NHL's salary cap.
With the amount of work to be done, it would behoove the Sabres to get their new GM in as quick as possible. Botterill, if hired, has the upcoming expansion draft to prepare for, followed by the NHL Entry Draft and in less that eight weeks the start of free agency. He'll have 20 free agent contracts to decide upon as well as decisions on entry-level contract for previous draft picks. In addition, three principal players will be heading into the final years of their contract. Eichel and fellow second-overall pick Sam Reinhart will be finishing up their entry-level deals while Evander Kane will be in the final year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2012 with the Winnipeg Jets. All three were top-five producers in one category or another for Buffalo last season. Plus No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner is a restricted free agent as well.
And there's this little thing about bringing in a head coach as well.
Welcome to the world of running your own team.
Botterill may end up bringing in Rick Tocchet as the Buffalo's coach, which would lighten the load a little bit. He'll still need to do interviews with other head coaching candidates and there are some young hot commodities on the market but Botterill knows Tocchet from having worked with him in Pittsburgh for nearly three years.
Whether the Sabres go in the direction of the Buffalo Bills, who now have two former Carolina Panthers as GM and head coach, remains to be seen, but Botterill, or whomever ends up being GM for the Sabres will have a pretty hectic schedule this off-season.
*****
We know Rick Tocchet was a helluva player who could both score and wreak havoc. We also know that he's respected as an assistant coach. We also know that having a checkered past, has never stopped any pro team from bringing in the person they want. Tocchet seems like a no-nonsense guy with plenty of knowledge and experience who should get the respect of his players, at least at the start.
But can he coach?
On the other side of the spectrum we have two potential first time head coaches in Phil Housley and Jim Montgomery who certainly know how to coach, at least at the lower levels, as they've won championships. Housley lead the Team USA to the gold in the 2013 World Junior Championships while Montgomery's Denver Pioneer's won the 2017 NCAA National Championship. Both have proven to have extensive knowledge and solid experience on the coaching side of the equation.
But will either get enough respect from players to allow their coaching acumen to shine through?
That's the conundrum the Sabres are in right now. With the tumult the team just went through in 2016-17 the incoming coach will not only be putting his stamp on the X's and O's aspect of the team, he'll also be juggling a diverse set of ego's that clashed in Buffalo last season. Knowing how to handle everything from alpha-male Eichel, to a reserved Reinhart and all points in between is nothing to be taken lightly. Players aren't stupid. They can smell a phony or incompetent from a mile away.
I like the idea of Tocchet in that I believe he'll get the full respect of the locker room, which may be the most important aspect of the job right now, but his stint in Tampa as their head coach was meh, at best.
Montgomery had his Denver Pioneers playing fast, aggressive hockey that overwhelmed their opponents. His style would fit perfectly in today's NHL.
I also really like what Housley has done as an assistant in Nashville with his mobile Predators. With his Hall of Fame career as a player and how he's worked his way up the ranks, I am of the opinion that he should be the front-runner for the Buffalo head coaching job.
But first things first, an announcement tomorrow as to who the new Sabres general manager will be.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Visions of 2007 plus, looking ahead to 2018
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
The Buffalo Sabres are on a bit of a tear lately having won three of four games while scoring 17 goals in the process and for fans it's pretty awesome. With growing pains still on the horizon, it's not without mild trepidation, mind you, but with the Sabres having scored four or more goals in four consecutive games for the first time since November, 2007 fans have the right to be a bit giddy. Especially after the team tested historic post-Original Six lows for goals in the previous two seasons.
Most fans remember the "Ferrari Sabres" of the 2006-07 season when the team lead the league in goals scored (298) averaging a league-high 3.63 per game, a number no team has come close to matching since. It was the year when they could never be counted out no matter how many goals they might be down in a game. The '06/'07 Sabres had team-speed, snipers and players with a nose for the net and this team has similar traits.
It also should be remembered that the '06/7 Sabres fell short in the overall team-grit department. The previous season had a nice mix of speed, skill and grit but the salary cap caused the team to make some tough decisions and much of their sandpaper ended up walking. As it stands right now, the team we're watching emerge from two seasons as the doormat of the NHL is looking like a hybrid of those first two post-2004 lockout teams, which is a pretty exciting proposition.
And they're young too.
Which leads me to thinking where some of the players will be on New Year's Day, 2018.
The Buffalo Sabres are on a bit of a tear lately having won three of four games while scoring 17 goals in the process and for fans it's pretty awesome. With growing pains still on the horizon, it's not without mild trepidation, mind you, but with the Sabres having scored four or more goals in four consecutive games for the first time since November, 2007 fans have the right to be a bit giddy. Especially after the team tested historic post-Original Six lows for goals in the previous two seasons.
Most fans remember the "Ferrari Sabres" of the 2006-07 season when the team lead the league in goals scored (298) averaging a league-high 3.63 per game, a number no team has come close to matching since. It was the year when they could never be counted out no matter how many goals they might be down in a game. The '06/'07 Sabres had team-speed, snipers and players with a nose for the net and this team has similar traits.
It also should be remembered that the '06/7 Sabres fell short in the overall team-grit department. The previous season had a nice mix of speed, skill and grit but the salary cap caused the team to make some tough decisions and much of their sandpaper ended up walking. As it stands right now, the team we're watching emerge from two seasons as the doormat of the NHL is looking like a hybrid of those first two post-2004 lockout teams, which is a pretty exciting proposition.
And they're young too.
Which leads me to thinking where some of the players will be on New Year's Day, 2018.
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