While I'm Up at 7 am

Typing that title just made me realized I missed Boy Meets World...which is on at 7 am. Dammit.

Moving on.

I know I've been neglecting this blog, but in all fairness, I've been neglecting school work, actual school, cleaning my apartment, and my cat. Thankfully, only one of those can actually bite my ankles. I had a post saved from the Philly pre-season game, but posting that now would even be out of whack, even if I were Versus or Sabres.com.

First of all, when did we go into a losing streak? Mike Harrington has a post saying that it's our first losing streak of the year. A losing streak is losing three and more games (I base this on nothing, or a little about how our losing streaks are 8-10 games a year), so tonight will make that call.

I feel like saying ' but it's the New Jersey Devils' can go both in a good and bad way (like Tampa Bay, Shelby).

I have this irking that Patty is going to play, and so does Shelby. Again, based on nothing than our never dying hope for that man. It doesn't fit into the pattern of the two times a year Patty does get to play, but it's worth a hope. Maybe if not, this weekend (fat chance).

I'm excited or Hank to be back tonight, and I'm sure not many people are. From the looks of it, he's been doing very well with the Devils, which is all you can hope for when a player you adore leaves. He'll probably score on us.

Shelby and I, due to her undying kindness, are going to the game tonight (we also went to the home opener, but other than our excessive screaming, body slamming of Rangers fans, and Jordan Leopold, who wants to remember THAT). Our Rivet jerseys will finally be debuted in the regular season (unless Patty plays, HA!) after being worn for the Toronto pre-season game...I think. Or maybe we didn't...I dunno, either way, big night tonight!

When...er...if we lose tonight, THEN it's a losing streak. Maybe, I dunno.

I still haven't been able to form an opinion on this Pominville thing. I was at work when it happened, and only got brief updates from Shelby from my phone that was NOT hiding in my drawer (my manager seemed puzzled that I knew the updates of the game, but didn't ask questions). I suppose not seeing it first hand took away from my shock of it, because I knew almost right away that he was, for the most part, alright. By the time I had gotten home, he had a concussion and was alive.

I cannot recall the last time a Sabre was taken off in a stretcher, not even that ugly Danny Briere hit back in 2006 (I think). Not even Zednik, though that was a much uglier situation than this. It was a dirty hit, that's for sure, but until someone dies, it's going to keep happening.

I'm not going to lie, as soon as I found out he was okay, I thought maybe a little time off for the guy would be...uh...good. And for some reason people think that Saturday, at the end of the agonizing two game suspension, will be some sort of blood shedding event. I know it's Chicago, but we are better than them.

Also, random thought of the day, today (well, last night) marks the four year anniversary of the October storm. And when I look out my window, I see the same thing I saw 4 years ago...grass.

Awww, Shucks.

You know when the Sabres are just stinky enough that you become numb to it? You lose, and you don't care because, after awhile, you just expect it?

That's where I'm at. 

But, what can you do? Except sit and wait for the million dollar men to ' work the system' as Jason Pominville would say. 

Ah well. 

We hear ya, Ovie. 

p.s- I think Ryan did good tonight. Stop the presses. 

I Really Think I Hate This Team

A few things since I'm already pissed off:

- I woke up this morning to a text from Shelby saying there is ' speculation' the Sabres are going to ' upgrade' whoever backs up Ryan. First off, I think our starter needs an upgrade, but lets not go there now.

Fine, trade Patty. I honestly cannot give two shits about this team right now. Get Marty back, get a more ' stable' back up, and then watch when the team still blows it in front of him. Ignore that Lindy said it wasn't Patty's fault, ignore that Hank said they let him down. What do they know, right? Egotistical fans are the ones to trust. 

Though I must say Kevin and his blog shed some light on an already crappy day. I can always count on him: 

I hope the fans that have criticized Patrick Lalime paid close attention to his performance in Ottawa because he was excellent. The only shot that he saw that went in was the second Daniel Alfredsson goal. He made some downright great saves to keep his team in the game and others to keep it close late.  Any player on the team would second my assessment and hopefully you saw Henrik Tallinder’s post-game comments on how they let Lalime down.  

- When I got home on Sunday night, a friend who lives near me told me that someone (I'm sure I'd know details if I wasn't asleep leaning against my apartment door when he told me this) said fans would not be happy until Roberto was backing up Ryan. 

Yeah, and I won't be happy until Heatley is on our top line. Let the dreams go, people. 

- I love how Patty, who- along with Drew and Patches- were the only decent players on Saturday night is suddenly the one in trouble because of that game (it being his second start of the year, afterall). Not Roy for missing the net 754 times, not Pominville for the 37 giveaways (I don't care if he scored, Patrick Kaleta scored and he's not suppose to do that) but PATTY, for seeing one of the 5 goals that went by him. 

-  Toni Lydman in the background of Pominville's interview from yesterday is rather amusing. After just sitting there laughing, he takes off his skate and slowly runs his fingers on the blade, as though to say ' lets see Hamilton open his mouth again.'

- Leave Thomas Vanek alone. Seriously, his seven goals are not satisfying enough by Ryans save percentage that's higher than my GPA and Derek and Jason picking their asses every shift is just fine? Ugh. 

And now, I waited for the ' OMGZ NOOO I LOVES RYANS!' comments...

- sits back- 

Things That Bug Me...and Pre-Game I Suppose.

For the record, my post this morning was my 52nd post (on blogspot). If anything, it will excite Shelby.

- It was Shelby who informed me that indeed, Patty Cakes is injured. He hurt his groin while saving the Islanders game from being a complete disaster, and will join Tonis club in the press box for groin related injuries.

As much as I want Toni back, it would be nice for Patty to have company in the pressbox. But, it's not even noon, who knows. I was soooooooooo sure it was Ryan who was hurt.

Damn.

- Articles that say Patty is inconsistent, and Lindy cannot rely on him.

Wow, really? People are telling us not to freak out over the playoffs, but this can slide in as a top problem? He played 1.5 games, not even! I have stated my place on the Atlanta game, and CLEARLY he wasn't the bad goalie on Saturday night! He saved that game from becoming even more of a headache.

Martys not coming back this year, folks. Get over it, move on, and leave Patty the eff alone! You're gonna be thanking him when bad shit happens later on in the season and we need him.

- The Olympics!

While slaving over a computer for hours tracking election results last night at Channel 2, I saw a commercial that said the Olympics were in 100 days- which means its 99 days right now. There are no rosters, let alone talking about which goalie is starting for Team USA!

Is Ryan going? Probably. Is he going to start? Who knows. I've had so many people tell me that because he was shafted with the last olympics, they'll let him start. That's not how it works. I doubt the committee is concerned with how a 25 year old goalie had a bad thumb 4 years ago. Lets not start buying the jerseys jst yet, folks.

Random side note, someone at work told me olympic players leave two weeks prior to the break beginning. Does anyone know for sure if thats true? If so, I can name two people going to every single game in that time period.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Olympics. I love that its in Canada, I love that Team Canada is going to be awesome...but lets all take a deep breath.

- Someone let Jason Pominville reproduce.

I promised myself I wouldn't put much about this in my post. But you would think in nine months someone would have found out about this? I imagine a lot of fan girls are passed out on the floor right now. I still cannot wrap my head around the thought of him being in charge of a little life, but what can you do with boys these days.

But Jayden and Jason? I don't know...



My friend Connor and I got last minute ish tickets to the game tonight. It was so cheap. I hope at least one French Canadian goalie will be there....

My friend Connor and I are goin g

Ryan Miller, You Two Timer!

   I'm just saying....

p.s- who wants to bet Pominvilles baby was conceived the night of the last Catwalk For Charity? Anyone? Anyone?

Freedom to Love the Swedish Defenseman...or Americanized Communism?

Yesterday, while at Channel 2, one of the anchors and I were sitting in the news van at police headquarters waiting to go in. Once I caught on that he was a huge hockey buff, we started talking about the Sabres, of course. 

It went into talking about the Atlanta game, because really at this point the Florida game only brings on " dear god that was amazing." Somehow, without immediately professing my love for him, I mentioned how Patty was not at fault for that game. 

And he agreed, for a change. No one agrees with me, except for Shelby....who either really believes that it wasn't Patty's fault, or just fears of saying otherwise to me. But we went on about how Patty, who is no longer starting goalie material (and I fully admit that, but he was one hell of a starter) is an excellent back up and should be treated as such. Adam Mair didn't play well in his first game of the season, but no one is jumping on his case (they're probably afraid to). 

And for the first time in I can't tell you how long, he agreed with me about MAX! Not that he had no right to be booed because he was forced out of this city, or that it was spectacular that his first goal was against us (his second was last night, for those who care)....but that he was never a ' problem' for this team, but rather this team was a problem for him. He had such talent that didn't necessarily blend with this team, but rather than putting an effort to make things work, they just gave up on him. Suddenly, HE was the problem. 

Not only was I stoked that I found someone that can see that Patty and Max are not as problematic or as terrible as so many people claim, but it got me thinking that maybe I'm so excited to get to talk about these things, because I can never have a pleasant conversation related to these subjects. 

I cannot tell you how many friendships I've lost over stupid hockey things, or how many fights it has started. It's pathetic, trust me, I know it is, especially at my age. A vast majority of my friends I have met because of the Sabres, and a lot of times I'll keep my mouth shut on certain hockey related things to avoid a fight. Not to say that they don't, I'm sure there are plenty of times they have done the same. 

However, I rarely feel comfortable speaking honestly about what I do and don't like about that team, because I'm either going to get insulted, shut down, degraded, yelled at...etc. Especially since I don't fit in with so many cookie cutter routines of this team. 

I hate Pominville.

 Not personally, he's a nice guy. But, I think playing wise he is draining this team and isn't what he use to be. Don't give me that ' oh he had a bad season' crap because Max had a bad season and he was chased out of the city. 

I love Hank. 

This is probably more for his adorableness rather than playing. I know he's had a bad stretch of time, but in seven short games we have learned that he is not going to let that trend continue. A number of people I know do adore him, but he gets ' spanked' a lot, as Bucky would say. 

I think Miller is overrated (and he's not alone)

I know I can't be alone in this, but I never hear it from others (except yesterday in the news van). I don't think his overrating is anything he is personally doing, because he probably wouldn't allow it. But, he is. I do think he is a moderately talented goalie, and is fine on this team, but lets stop bowing down to him. It's really starting to wear off. 

Back up goalies get no lovin'. 

It started when Marty became the back up goalie, then went to everyone forgetting who TBO was, now we're at Patty Cake. It cannot be put in more simple terms...you can be a great goalie- even if its a back up goalie- but if you're benched for long stretches of time, you're not going to come out shining on the other end. Patty didn't play fantastic his first game, I know. But he hadn't played since the end of September...and I won't even go into our defense that night. When he had to be starter last season, he had a shaky start, but then did great. I almost feel like he's our whipping boy....most of his games will likely be when Ryan blows it. Then, when we lose that game, Patty will get blame over Ryan, when he was trying to dig the game out of the hole. 

And didn't TBO shut out almost every time he played two seasons ago?

The Sabres are such a charity case. 

I'm sure this pisses off a lot of people, too, more than the other rants. We trade players like Al and Marty and Danny and what have you. And for what? Useless draft picks, players that leave weeks later....CRAP basically. Danny and Marty can be argued, I'm sure, even though they still bug me. Players are not judged properly around here, that's for sure. Two players can perform the same way, and only one is going to get attention, whether it be negative or positive, for it. 

Unfortunately, the outlook on this team will probably never change. Miller will still be God, Pominville will still be the greatest thing since sliced bread, and Tyler Myers will still get interviewed every times he performs the magic that is converting oxygen to carbon dioxide.