Stunner from the standings
Here's a pie-in-the-sky thought heading into tonight's game with the Canadiens. Dare to dream it.
We're all obsessing about the Sabres finishing eighth in the East. But if they beat Montreal tonight, they would be just five points behind falling-apart Ottawa for the Northeast Division lead. Five points! And the division winner, remember, is going to be a No. 1 or 2 seed in the playoffs. Oh, how all those shootout losses are causing trouble for Buffalo in the standings.
Thursday was a bad night for the Sabres, however, as Boston, Philadelphia, the Rangers and Islanders all won. There are a lot of teams to pass and to hold off in this race. You just have to keep winning.
By the way, are you laughing at the collapse of the Senators as much as I am? They started 15-2-0 and are 21-21-6 since. You knew Brian Murray was watching John Paddock and thinking he could do a better job himself. But that coaching change didn't do much last night in Philly.
---Mike Harrington
SmithnWesson, DudleyDoRight, whatever you want us to call you...don't you ever get tired of being the annoying guy incessantly posting on blogs/newspaper websites? Actually, I think I know the answer to that: you relish it.
Posted by: Chad | February 29, 2008 at 09:59 PM
wow 4-1, the game is hilarious
Posted by: frank | February 29, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Montreal vs Buffalo......
Big huge game (they all are/ they all can't be). I see this game not being as easy as the last, obviously. But our edge has to be in the net. Miller needs to be better than the rookie on the other side.
The dream result would be to blow the kid out. Imagine the heat in Montreal (for bothe the goalie and the GM) if the kid craps the bed tonight. Montreal has got to be the toughest place to play as a goaltender. Good luck to him.
So then tonight takes on even more importance. Either you send a good looking Rookie 'tender further up the chain of his development or you cut him down a bit. Get your Sabres out boys and start chopping.
Note: Play Stafford at the very least. Montreal has no match for Peters. Do not waste the bench space for him.
Posted by: Bster | February 29, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Before we all start acting like giddy little school girls, or run around the lockers snapping towels at each other's rearends, we are 8 points out of 14th place in the conference as well.
As impressive as Bernier was the other night, if someone was tuning into watch Andrew Peters for the first time, they would have said "Wow, look at that big power forward who has a feel for the front of the net! He scored a goal and fought one of the toughest guys in the league!"
While I would like to anticipate more physical games like the other night, how long do we really expect Peters, Kaletta and MacArthur to stay in the lineup with Max,Stafford and Hecht waiting in the wings? This team has a history of playing passive, especially the defense, which wasn't really humming the other night during the lovefest.
I suddenly feel like the city was snapped back to December 2006 with the way fans are talking and acting. I'm all for success, and believe me, the impression the Sabres did the other night of a Ted Nolan led club was great, but if the Sabres were a stock traded on the floor of the exchange, I would be shorting every share I could find to giddy fans and writers alike, and buy up Montreal, Ottawa and Pittsburgh while they sort out some issues.
Posted by: Tom | February 29, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Im just waiting for guys like Conklin and Biron(much as I love the man) to go into the tank. I am really surprized Ottawa got beat in Philly last night. The East is anybody's, but I think the Sabres can win but will have to beat the Rangers and Devils to do it. Im not scared of Boston or Montreal. Pretenders. Playing over their heads. The big problem the Sabres have had all season is the damn shootouts. Last year we were among the best, and this year Kotalik is the only one that comes through. Think twice before bashing Kotalik some of you. He carried us at times this year. He is very underated just like Paille. We need Maxim. And we need him to play smart.
Posted by: Rick Baker | February 29, 2008 at 02:45 PM
The standings are not so stunning. I've been watching this develop for weeks. Since the 18th game of the year, way back in November, the Sabres have been 25-14-8. So having a chance to win the division is not surprising. The entire east has been inconsistent all year. As inconsistent as the Sabres have been all year, most of the other teams have been as well. Any team can come out of the east.
Posted by: RileyMartin | February 29, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Oh yes....I am laughing!
Posted by: Dominic S | February 29, 2008 at 02:26 PM