Month: March 2025

Referee #11 Kelly Sutherland falls & blocks puck

Maple Leafs 2 – Avalanche 1 A minute and a half into the third period of a 1-1 game Toronto earns a “too many men on the ice” penalty affording Colorado to score again on the power play.

As a Toronto penalty killer attempts to clear the puck down the ice, Referee #11 Sutherland (possible distant cousin of Donald) literally tripped himself near the center red line, fell and blocked the clearing attempt allowing for a Maple Leafs player to regain puck possession.

NHL rule book rules only cover players whose actions impede puck movement not officials, a solution would be to allow officials who inadvertently stop puck movement whistle the play dead to ensure an equitable outcome.

A clear advantage allowed that resulted in a goal that would not have happened if not for the official falling and blocking the puck, and since there were no other goals scored this particular score was significantly important to the outcome of the game and playoff standings.

Around the League

Wild 4 – Kraken 0 Seattle launched 34 SOG but could not put one past Minnesota Goaltender Gustavsson (not grumpy old men) as the Wild solidify their hold on the number one wild card in the Western Conference and the Kraken fall even further from realistically challenging for a wild card seeding.

14 NHL Games on Tap Tonight

Including Buffalo visiting Utah that sported a team that was one of Buffalo’s farm clubs from the early 1970s now Utah has an NHL franchise, too cool.

Last Week’s Answer: FDR, POTUS Roosevelt’s administration created the Public Works Administration that initiated civic projects (Memorial Auditorium, Hoover Dam, etc.), one of the “New Deal” programs during the 1930s to help lift the United States of America out of the “Great Depression”.

What 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympian Gold Medalist defenseman was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with the 11th overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft?

A) Mike Ramsey

B) Paul Reinhart

C) Jay Wells

D) Mark Hardy

Buffalo St. Patrick’s Day Revelers Rejoiced

Sabres 3 – Bruins 2 (OT) The Sabres spoiled the holiday for the Irish hockey fans in Massachusetts as Buffalo effectively pushed Boston further out of reach for the final wild card seeding in the Eastern Conference.

With Center Norris and RW Peterka out of the lineup, Center Krebs received top six duties, and he took advantage by scoring the game’s first goal while on the power play.

Buffalo took nearly twice as many SOG as Boston and both team’s goaltenders made some highlight reel saves, with Sabres Goaltender Luukkonen aggressively atop his crease stopping a RW Pasternak break away.

Around the League:

Maple Leafs 6 – Flames 2 Just my opinion but I think the NHL should as an event, have Toronto host a St. Patrick’s Day game/tournament each year sporting those awesome green and white ST PATS sweaters, with any participating teams wearing their best green themed sweaters.

Tampa Bay Lightning shutout the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0

Devils hold off the Blue Jackets 2-1

Wild score an empty net goal in a 3-1 win over the Kings

ESPN FHL Playoff Round #1

It has been a highly contested regular fantasy hockey season in our league with five teams competing all year to earn one of four available playoff seedings with Buffalo Winter clinching the No. 1 seed.

As in the NHL so goes the FHL, similarly the playoffs are a whole new season with each team entered having the ability to win, advance and earn the championship.

Buffalo is in Beantown tonight to play spoiler to the Bruins where no doubt most every Boston Irish hockey fan will be in attendance, watching, or listening to this St. Patrick’s Day divisional matchup because the Bruins are literally in a seven-team struggle for the two Eastern Conference wild card seedings.

Buffalo Beats Down Nevada

Sabres 4 – Knights 3 (SO) Here along the Lake Buffalo fans had to endure former Sabres Olofsson and Eichel scoring, falling behind, having one of their young stars during the second period getting checked so hard his helmet flew off and did not return to finish the game.

When Jackie Vegas scored the third goal giving the Knights a 3-2 lead with minutes remaining in the game you would have thought he won the Cup again the way he celebrated which highlights his deep animosity towards our city, team, and fan base.

While the Sabres had UPL on the bench for the extra attacker, Neveda gained control of the puck and could have shot the puck towards the open net and won the game 4-2, but nooooo, the petty Knights player instead of the sure win thought it best to pass the puck to Jackie Vegas so that he could score again to really hurt Buffalo fans.

Happily, the Knights poorly intended pass failed, Buffalo regained possession and with approximately a baker’s dozen worth of seconds remaining and an extra attacker, Captain Dahlin sends the game into overtime with the Sabres’ third goal.

Overtime was tense and exciting with Buffalo getting the only SOG during the entire five minutes of play which led to a shootout where former Sabres LW sniper Olofsson scored first.

Buffalo’s RW Quinn scored for Buffalo followed by RW Tuch scoring the game winning goal as UPL made the ultimate save on Nevada for the win splitting the two-game season series 1-1, sending Jackie Vegas home with his tail in between his skates.