Lightning (W) 4-1
Panthers (W) 3-2
Sharks (L) 2-1 OT
Last Tuesday in what may have been our best performance of the year, the Sabres totally dominated the Lightning in a 4-1 win. That was followed up by another stout defensive performance against the Panthers to hold on to a 3-2 win after a furious 3rd period rally in which Chad Johnson literally used his head, not by standing on it, but blocking a shot that hit him right in the mask and then diving across the crease to keep a shot out; unbelievable! He looked like he was on fire out there and I love this goaltending we are getting. If we can keep up this level of goaltending we are a legitimate playoff team, I don’t think anyone can question that now with the way these guys are playing. We still need Bogosian and Kane back, but think about what we will look like when those guys return!! I saw this week that Bogosian has started skating again and I believe he is day to day. So we can expect his return I would say next week.
On Saturday night the San Jose sharks came into town and we gave them a good run. They scored early and we were playing from behind for the majority of the game. I was at Goodbar watching it with friends and the father and sons next to me were getting a little antsy about us not scoring and I told them “We will get one here, I can feel it,” and about 3 minutes later Oh Oh Oh O’reilly, our future captain, gathered the puck at the blue line, skated down to the circle, and BLASTED a slapper into the top shelf where momma hides the cookies. WHAT A GOAL! That is simply leadership, and the way you do it. He is awesome. He’s a two-way center who leads by example and I am ECSTATIC to have him. Tim Murray, great move.
I felt like with the way we played this past week, we are starting to see a real team, a real band of brothers who fight and scrape for each other and really want to win. This is something that I don’t think that I have seen out of the Sabres’ franchise since I’ve been here. Admittedly, that has not been that long, I am a transplant, but this team is playing so well together and our young talent is clearly out there. Every time Magic Hands has the puck you can feel that something great is going to happen. He is a legit STAR and we all should feel so proud that we have the next American hockey hero on our team. Get ready Canada, the Eich is coming for you in the world championships.
Go Sabres, Go Bills, Go Buffalo!
Philip Wilkins is a Baltimore Orioles fan, Buffalo transplant. Grew up in Connecticut but born in Maryland. Graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder – Go Buffs! Lived in San Francisco after college. Moved to Buffalo in 2009 after spending a half-year abroad in Australia and New Zealand. Life-long Baseball, Hockey, and Football fan. Sabres fan since NHL ’94 for Sega Genesis came out with the Sabres’ top line of Alexander Mogilny, Pat LaFontaine and Dale Howerchuck with Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Smehlik on D and Domink Hasek in net – best lineup in the game!
“I believe that the Sabres were robbed in ’99 when Hull’s skate was in the crease. Now Buffalo is home and I am looking for a Cup and a Super Bowl in short order. We have the talent and the coaching and the ownership – what is stopping us?”
Go Bills, Go Sabres, Go Bisons!