Month: February 2025

Sabres overwhelm Blueshirts

Sabres 8 – Rangers 2 Suppress, slay, smash, shatter, any one of these adverbs describe what Buffalo did to New York last night here along the Lake.

After missing 23 games LW Greenway makes an impressive 2 SOG, 6 hits, 1 assist outing in his return, D Dahlin, C McLeod, and C Thompson all scored twice, and G Luukkonen posted a .929% save percentage.

In the three game regular season series between Buffalo and New York the Sabres outscored the Rangers 16-6 while winning twice to take the series 2-1 with a convincing victory last night.

When D Dahlin scored his first of two goals he passed Gold Medal Olympian/Sabres defenseman Mike Ramsey for second place in all-time defenseman scoring (74, 75) for Buffalo.

The Rangers are in the hunt for a wild card but did not seem too enthusiastic in their play last night, whereas the Sabres climbed within four games of breaking even on the season and making up the ground lost by their 13-game winless streak.

Injury Report: Last night Sabres color commentator/announcer/RW Rob Ray while between the benches took a hard shot puck to the face requiring stitches. Lindy teased him a couple of times asking him if he needed to go to the room, Rob laughed and remained until the period ended, received medical attention and was back out to finish the game.

Exciting Overtime Victory

Boston, Massachusetts Here along the Lake there was no exhilaration from winning, nor were there any tears, this was a game that could have gone either way, of course I would have appreciated it more if our team came out on top.

Hockey fans attending or watching elsewhere were treated to some of the best hockey games and finish to an international tournament that was provided by most of the top NHL talent.

This game had some heart-stopping moments for our Northern Cousins as team USA had brilliant chances, one came shorthanded on the only penalty whistled in the game, a breakaway, point blank chances in OT, but Goaltender Binnington was outstanding.

Goaltender Hellebuyck was also playing strong as Canada was crowding the net so much so, that at one point the ESPN announcer quipped that it appeared to be a Canadian team photo.

It was Connor McDavid scoring in overtime for the Canadians victory, left alone near the stick side faceoff circle’s hashmarks to end an enjoyable tournament earning Canada bragging rights.

The United States of America versus Canada

Boston, Massachusetts Both countries have put on their patriotic best as both NYC and Toronto light up their skyline with team colors on both the Empire State Building and the CN Tower.

To be honest I will not feel less American if Canada wins this tournament, I can relate though how much I have enjoyed this tournament watching most of the top talent of the NHL compete, and I mean compete.

Nothing is 100% but most international tournaments for example the World Cup of Hockey did not highlight any donnybrooks, I understand it can get players and fans blood pulsing through their veins but hopefully the players settle this on the ice and not the back alley.

Goaltending is key in tonight’s game; we have already witnessed how low-scoring and tight these contests can become, hopefully all the players are well rested and healed up for this evening’s festivities.

Perdiction: USA 5 – CAN 2

Still in the running for a prize

Last trivia question answer: Dodo

This week’s trivia question:

Which Buffalo Sabres Head Coach was given the nickname, Captain Video?

A) Ralph Krueger

B) John Muckler

C) Roger Neilson

D) Ted Sator

Answer and standings update next Tuesday!

Sweden’s sweet success

Sweden 2 – United States of America 1 Even without Awesome Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk the Americans came out and scored 35 seconds into the contest for the early 1-0 lead.

You can forgive fans for making the supposition that team USA was about to steamroll the winless Swedes, but there were six power plays and not one powerplay goal in this low scoring affair.

Officiating went with all things being equal, as the referees whistled two penalties each period, one for each team.

Technically this game meant “nothing” in regard to this tournament, except that it did, Sweden’s pride was on the line and there are players endeavoring to get noticed for the upcoming winter olympics.

And it was not as if the Americans were not playing their best although without the Tkachuk brothers (Brady injured early) and Auston Matthews there seemed to be a different…focus to the team.

Thursday is going to be an exciting finish to this 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament, whichever team fans cheered for they cannot say this tournament was just an all-star fluff, no checking, play for fun style of hockey.