Sabres Wild Preview

Its a battle of unbeatens! Kinda, its a battle of teams who haven't lost in regulation or overtime, but in the Shootout, the Sabres have a loss. Back in the day that would be called a tie. And it would be a actual meeting of unbeatens. So if we look back in time, yes these teams wouldn't have a loss. But anyway. Its a important matchup to see where the Sabres stand against a good team in the Western Conference. To be honest I have zero clue about the Wild. But the left looking logo, makes the picture great. It looks like the Buffalo Ghost will take on the Wolf? in a fight.

The Sabres are banged up losing Craig Rivet for a couple weeks, to a knee surgery, which goes in the better now then later file, adds to the mounting injury woes for the Sabres. Which so far haven't hampered them too much. But eventually it will catch up to them. And the Rivet injury could be the tipping point. Nathan Paetsch was adequate 2 years ago, but last year was very shaky, which led to Sekera and Weber seeing lots of ice time and showing they have what it takes to play in the NHL. And there is no doubt Paetsch plays like last year, Mike Weber will be in against Colorado. But enough of the Blue and Gold, lets get WILD!!!!

The Wild are leading the Northwest Division with 8 points, being 4-0-0, outscoring their opponents 15 to 7. which is similar to the Sabres 22 to 10 goal differential. Many think because of Lemaire the Wild, are defense first, lock down, boring. But I don't think thats the case. I think they are team first, and thats why a guy like Gaborik is complaining. He wants to be the man, when the course of strategy says, its the name on the front, not on the back. Thats why when you look at the roster you go, who? The leading scorer is Saku's little brother, Mikko Koivu, who has 9 points (8 assists) And the leading goal scorer is Antti miettinen with 5. Andrew Brunette has 5 points and Kim Johnnson has 4 points. Really its a bunch of guys playing hockey and playing the system. Its exactly what Lindy Ruff wants for the Sabres, but I think the Sabres have more offensive talent. The real lynchpin on the Wild is Nik Backstrom who is having a solid start to the season. With a 1.71 Gaa and a .942 sv %. He is the only goaltender who has played so far for the Wild.

This should be an interesting game I think. The Wild haven't played since Saturday, where they had a 3 game Southeast trip, against the Mighty Thrashers, Panthers and Lightning. So they could be nice and rested up, but also the Gaborik stuff might be a distraction. Its all over the blogs and with a team like the Sabres coming in, trying to have a nice little North/western trip. They probably want to play better then they did against Atlanta and Boston. So I would look for a strong opening for the Sabres tonight. Its really one of those games I have zero clue how it could go. The Wild could come out rested and run all over the Sabres, or the Sabres take it a over rested team.

I guess we'll see tonight. Hey maybe a Peters Boogard Fight tonight!!!! That would go well.

Sabres Bruins Preview

Ugh the Bruins. Its too early for the Bruins. Thank god they only have to play them 5 more times. No one plays a more boring brand of hockey then the Boston Bruins. Hey if you want to get fans back in Boston, make them play a fun style of game. Not sit back and wait for turnovers type of hockey.

Well they come into HSBC Arena off a shootout loss, one of a 30 for the Bruins this year, so they will probably be tired. They are 2-1-2 on the year already. Thats a pretty good indication of what the Bruins will be this year. They won't be great, but they won't be bad, they have enough talent and decent goaltending, but they won't be one of the elite teams in the league. They can be beat any night. They do have two 5 goal scorers already, in Kessel and Savard, but their lineup is pretty average after that. Michael Ryder isn't someone your scared of, neither is Krejci or Bergeron. Its a hard working lineup, thats led by Chara on the Blueline and a bunch of other grinders like Wideman, Aaron Ward and Brad Stuart. Tim Thomas is pretty good and having a decent year, but Manny Fernandez might get a go tonight, and he isn't having the best year with a 3.02 GAA and a .878 sv %. Thats Thibault numbers right there. But I'm not spending time on the Bruins because I hate them. So lets talk about the Sabres.

Well the Sabres are off to a fast start. They aren't relaying on scoring to bail them out, but defense. I think the Atlanta game showed if they are lazy, they will get scored on. Thats why I look to tonight for the Sabres to return to form. Their team GAA is 1.36 thats Detroit like. I think people realize that the Detroit style of game is what will be successful in the NHL. Tight defense with some offensive power. The Sabres have the offensive power, led by Vanek, Pominville and Kotalik. This is when their forwards are banged up, imagine when they can roll four lines with some scoring touch.

The Sabres can't start slow again, they have to come out strong and play smart. If they want to be the team they want to be. I'm sure Lindy has told them what they have to do. They can just look to last year and see he's right. They played wild and loose and had success, because they had so much offensive power to dig themselves out. But eventually that catches up to you. Now they have a good amount of talent, but they have to play two way hockey to win. There is a reason Vanek is doing what he's doing, he wants it. No one can stop him when he's motivated. He can be a 50 goal scorer and be one of the elites in the league. Soon that contract will look like a deal.

Hey he's been in the league as long as Sidney Crosby.

Goals

Crosby 100 in 220 games

Vanek 111 in 250 games

(and yes I know Crosby has 109 more assists then Vanek)

But that shows hes one of the elite goal scorers in the league, not in Ovechkin terrority. But Vanek wasn't the best player on his team. Now he's the best player on the Sabres. He wasn't given the ice time early on. Its time for Sabre fans to realize how good of a player the Sabres have on their hands, and for a very long time.

Tonight, I hope the beat the bruins by 5 goals. Probably more like 3 to 1. Boston is really going to play tight tonight.

Sabres Islanders Preview

A Columbus day affair between the Sabres and Islanders, well this sure won't be well watched around the country. Buffalo fans will watch, since half the population works for the government and they don't have to work today. But really no team excites me less, then the Islanders. They should move the team and get it over with, or just dispand it, and spread the players around. The only way to get out from the terrible Dipietro contract. But this one is on the schedule and the Sabres hopefully don't take the day off.

Islanders

Well the Islanders are a weird mix of players, ancient relics like Bill Guerin and Doug Weight. A guy who could become a superstar in Kyle Okposo. Then a bunch of role players like Mike Comrie, Bruno Gervais and Andy Hilbert. You look at the lineup and no one scares you. Now with the recent Rick Dipietro news where he might have to get more surgery on his knee. Chris Campoli, Mike Sillinger and Andy Sutton are on the IR. And Radek Martinek is hurt. They are already banged up and key players are hurt. Leaving Joey McDonald to save the bacon. Which in two games he has. But New Jersey and St Louis aren't what we call offensive juggernauts.

This won't be a pushover, the Islanders I'm sure will come out and play hard. Have a goalie no one has a book on. And with the new coach, each player is trying to show he's the man. Its also hard to do in depth analysis of a team thats played two games against one thats only played one game.

The Sabres

Coming out of the Montreal game, the team has to be feeling good. Well except Tim Connolly who I have given up on, now. Come on a cracked vertebrae? Does he have the weakest skeletal system in the NHL? What a bunch of crap, to use a phrase my girlfriend uses. Lucky for the Sabres they have the Islanders who I wouldn't call high scoring, and I feel will open it up a tad more today, since they aren't playing a good offensive team. I know Roy wants to play around so does Max. This could be a high scoring affair, or the Sabres could play it close and get their defense down.

I personally don't know what the Sabres are anymore. The high flying team of the past seems dead to me, and are turning into a lockdown team, that will take advantage of turnovers and win games 2-1, 3-2. The days of 7-6 are over with and Lindy Ruff I think has the team where he wants it.

Outlook.

I think the Sabres will win, but its too early to tell who the 2008-09 Sabres really are. But its nice to have a little afternoon hockey.

Bills Jags Preview

Well here we are week 2, and its a road matchup against the always tough Jaguars, that are pretty good, but never Super Bowl good, because they don't have that QB to really push them to the final step. Its the defense that is the back bone of the Jaguars, and the Titans had some success against the Jags in week 1 with 300 total yards almost half of that on the ground. So there is some hope for the Bills run game. The pass game only got going when Kerry Collins got in the game for the 'injured" Vince Young. In fact went 2 for 2 for 65 yards. The secondary isn't what I call lockdown. Its all lead by John Henderson and Mike Peterson. They aren't a defense you take lightly.

The Bills aren't the same team that headed into Jacksonville last November, I missed this game since I was in Philadelphia, so I have no idea what happened. But Losman isn't starting, Anthony Thomas isn't your running back and the whole defense is much better. Stroud, Mitchell, Pozluszny, Simpson and a more experience and ready defense.

Really for me the story is the Offensive line. The Jags line is banged up and Jason Peters is back to solidify the Bills O line, that only allowed one sack to a good pass rush team in Seattle. If the Jags patched up line is somewhat decent, it could get the run game going and give Garrard time to throw it around. But if the Jags line is porous, look to see the Bills punish Garrard, like they did Hasselbeck. This may set up runs, but I think the Bills are ready for that. With the Bills line, its not if they can pass protect, but can they get the run game going? Last week they weren't great with the run, good, but not great. Whoever has the better O line, wins the game.

This is a very winnable game for the Bills. Its also a gut check. Because it will be close. The Jags defense is too good, to be run over by the growing Bills Offense. But the Bills defense is much better. They played like a confident unit last week. Even in garbage time, when Seattle was driving. They didn't let them score. I doubt that means anything to anyone else. But that is a pride issue. The defense didn't want the 'Hawks to have anymore points. That is a mindset that has to go through the entire team.

I really don't know who will win. But it will be a tight game that will probably come down to the final minutes. This should be the game of the week.

Eastern Conference First Round Preview

1) Montreal vs 8) Boston

Well Montreal goes from just missing the playoffs to placing first in the conference. Montreal is a very steady team, with balanced scoring and a steady defense, though have given up 222 goals on the season. That might play a role later in the playoffs, but with the offensively challenged Bruins, will not matter. The only real question is how Carey Price is going to hold up to playoff pressure in Montreal. But he has been in pressure packed situations his entire career, so this is what he wants. This is a mercy killing

Habs in 4.




2) Pittsburgh vs 7) Ottawa

The Senators lucked out it wasn't a 90 game schedule, because they might have missed the playoffs. The Senators were world beaters to start the season. But soon their shaky goaltending and one line, proved their undoing. They run into a young, up coming Penguins team. Key number 247. Thats how many goals Pittsburgh scored, and how many goals Ottawa gave up on the year. I don't see this lasting long, it will be an opposite of last years first round result

Pittsburgh in 5.

3) Washington vs 6) Philadelphia

Mmm, interesting matchup. One would say hey the Caps have been on fire. And they'll continue their hot streak. But they are going against a team, that does have playoff experience. Though the goaltending matchup is even in my book. I think the Caps are the hot pick, and aren't that high on the Flyers. The flyers have been battling injuries of late and Danny Briere might actually feel its time to show up. I was thinking of picking the Flyers as my upset, but I did a little digging and they are 2-2 vs the Capitals this year. And have gotten much better vs the Atlantic as the year went on. So its close, but fun.

Capitals in 7.




4) Devils vs 5) Rangers

Well its the series that I'll avoid. Two low scoring teams, who like to collapse, facing off in a media capital? Yeah no thanks. Plus all the Chris "clutch" Drury stuff along with it. Ugh. Well the Devils aren't what they use to be in the playoffs. Since Scott Stevens retired. The Rangers are a wily bunch who have good young talent, mixed with experienced forwards. The playoffs are why the Rangers went after Drury and Gomez. So I'll go along with big blue.

Rangers in 6.

So there you have it the first round predictions, we'll have Montreal, Pittsburgh, Washington and the Rangers moving along. Lets see how I do.