Buffalo Halts Munchen

Sabres Slice through Exhibition

Sabres 5 – Munchen 0  They were supposed to be a top professional opponent, they did have 11 “imports” creating a sort of collection of top German talent for an all-star “team”, alas it did not work offensively for the hosts.

Much ado about the additional 15 feet of ice surface in European rinks, it did seem as if Buffalo was working an OT 3 on 3 because of the open ice to skate in, it is a beautifully designed arena with its practice rink underground at the SAP Garden.

Red Bull Munchen helmets looked exactly like the can the product comes in, too funny, but it is our European cousins who slap advertisements all over their hockey sweaters and face off circles, but after watching for a few minutes they are not much of a distraction. (Some NHL teams have a gaudy advert affixed to their sweaters)

Buffalo’s Goaltending duo Luukkonen and Levi splitting duties shutout what SOG did make it to them which were few and far in between, Red Bull’s goaltending was solid and at times excellent during the Sabres barrage of SOG.

A hard deflection changing with a 90 degree angle created the first score then Tage Thompson for Buffalo’s second goal was a clear high stick that would not have counted in the NHL, but there was no review or coaches challenge available.

One NHL and one German Referee with no clear hierarchy over who has the last say on what was happening on the ice, but it was a fast paced flowing game that although had penalties whistled, there was not frequent stoppages of play throughout the contest.

That is it, two preseason games and one exhibition contest, now the Buffalo Sabres have until next Friday, October 4th and 5th for the regular season’s first two games versus New Jersey in Czechia, while the “preseason Sabres” finish the preseason schedule by visiting Columbus before hosting Detroit.