A new stop in Jersey
NEWARK, N.J. -- As you get set to watch tonight's Sabres-Devils game, you might want to keep your eyes on some of the little things the Sabres were paying pretty close attention to at their morning skate.
The Prudential Center has been open for less than two months and it's Buffalo's first time here. So Lindy Ruff himself was firing pucks around the glass this morning to test which way they would come out. His verdict to Ryan Miller -- stay in the net tonight.
"I got one that bounced right off the glass into our goal, especially at the end where the [zamboni] gates open up," Ruff said. "I've already talked to Ryan that we don't need to risk anything by going out if dump-ins get high on the glass."
The glass here is seamless on the sides but there are seams behind the nets and that can cause some crazy bounces. The ice seemed good this morning but there was a Seton Hall basketball game here last night and it could deteriorate quickly. Players around the league have rated the ice merely OK so far and ex-Sabre Dainius Zubrus, now with the Devils, told me this morning it can get mediocre pretty quickly on the days after events.
The arena itself is beautiful outside and in, a huge upgrade from the Meadowlands. One key highlight is a giant video screen on the Mulberry Street facade. Inside, there's still a surprising amount of construction dust around and the musty smell of drying concrete. Work continues in some areas, including the Devils' practice rink.
Hope some work is done on the neighborhood too. Sheeesh. Right across the street from the Devils team shop is some abandoned buildings with windows blown out. Across the street from the service entrance is some abondoned tenaments. Not postcard material.
This page on the arena's Web site has a cool slideshow of images inside and out. Worth your time.
Go to this page and scroll down a little to see a time-lapse of the arena's construction and a virtual-reality tour on opening night in October, courtesy of the Newark Star-Ledger. Pretty cool too.
---Mike Harrington
