Looking ahead is a rarity
Hockey is no different than most sports. Everyone has that one-game-at-a-time mentality. If you dare to ask about a game in the future, prepare for daggers to be shot your way.
But things have been different around the Sabres the last few days. The players are getting peppered with questions about Tuesday's outdoor game in the Ralph. At practice, after the morning skate, even after Wednesday's game against Ottawa. More and more out-of-town reporters have come to Buffalo. There will certainly be plenty of chatter about it tonight in New Jersey and things will really heat up Saturday in Pittsburgh.
It makes for an odd distraction that even coach Lindy Ruff addressed Thursday.
"From my end, it's just been focus on the game we're going to play," Ruff said. "In between games, you have to deal with some issues, travel plans, how you get players there and wives there, what time, are they going to get lost on the way, not lost?
"But it's not that big of a deal. I'm looking forward to it. If you have decent weather, it's going to be a great event. To answer questions between games, I'm OK with that. When it's game day, we focus on one thing."
---Mike Harrington
