Sabres 0 – Rangers 4 (en) Here along the Lake fans anticipated a fresh beginning and a regular season geared towards finally making the playoffs.
Buffalo outshot New York and killed off all three Rangers power plays as newcomer (G) Lyon earned a .906% save percentage, and home fans can treat themselves to two sandwiches named after Tage Thompson at the KeyBank Center concession stands.
Tomorrow the Sabres are in Boston for their first road game of the regular season before a three-game homestand.
Panthers 7 – Lightning 0 Florida scored (8 goals, one was taken away) seven goals, six came on the power play and their number one goaltender earned a shutout, you might think that an offense ladened highlight video might be what everyone would be watching, but nope.
In reality the display was more akin to Paul Newman’s 1977 movie “Slap Shot”, each team earned well over 100 PIMs with Tampa Bay topping out with 182 penalty minutes and the Lightning did not even bother to take a shot on goal during the third period.
Watching the thuggery unfold on the ice, I was amazed that there were not more than the 322 PIMs whistled during this game as I witnessed out right two-on-ones, slow moving non-reacting officials to the on-ice violence, just like I did as a teenage in the 1970s.
One might think this a one-off and that it is only the last preseason game with some players desperately trying to make an impact and possible roster spot, but then again…if you look at Tampa Bay’s roster you see a different reason as an explanation for such an overabundance of on-ice violence.
For example, Tampa Bay Lightning (RW) Scott Sabourin who only played 12 NHL games since the 2020/21 season, last night he played one shift for 19 seconds and earned a five minute “match penalty” after a blatant hit to the face/head of a Florida player after a clean hit on the same player just two minutes into the first period.
Another example, Tampa Bay Lightning (D) Roman Schmidt 6″ 5″ 225lbs 22 years old that has never played in the NHL played three shifts last night for all of 2:06 minutes during the first seven minutes of the first period and earned 15 minutes in penalties which included a game misconduct.
Last example, Tampa Bay Lightning (D) Charle-Edouard D’Astous, has played 23 AHL games during the past five seasons, last night he earned 14 penalty minutes and a game misconduct just under three minutes into the second period.
Thankfully preseason is over and tomorrow they begin playing for real, no more donnybrooks or foul play, just explosive offense, solid defensive play, and great goaltending with competent and even handed officiating.
Sabres 4 – Penguins 5 (OT) (G) Lyon allowed two goals on 13 SOG over the first two periods of play for an .846 save percentage then was relieved by (G) Georgiev for the third period, who let in three goals in 20 minutes and nine seconds for a dismal .824 save percentage and the early overtime loss.
We are not going to make the playoffs this season with these two goaltenders; the obvious solution is (G) Levi who is sitting on the nest in Rochester.
And after contributing to the Americans playing in the Calder Cup Finals last season, I would have thought (G) Levi would have been given more than two periods of preseason play.
The first goal last night against the Sabres should not have counted, blatant contact initiated by the Pittsburgh player, the announcers also said as much, as the Penguin player leaned into the Sabres defenseman to create contact before colliding with (G) Lyon into the net along with the puck.
The referees called it the opposite stating that Buffalo’s player initiated the contact that led to the collision, and it took quite a few minutes before the announcement of a “good goal” and PPG’s goal horn sounded for the home fans.
And that wraps up this season’s training camp and preseason contests as the Buffalo Sabres ready themselves for their upcoming 2025/26 NHL regular season beginning at home versus the Rangers Thursday night 7pm the 9th of October.
The NHL will begin their regular season after today’s 11 final preseason contests on October 7th with three games that includes the defending two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Here along the Lake ESPN FHL begins Tuesday and I have already completed three moves, both goalies were dropped to make room for more productive point producing players and dropping one skater to make room for a player that can contribute on Tuesday.
Observing my weekly matchup opponent to open the season, “Mike’s Magnificent Team” has two players that are “O” out with injury, he could place one of these players on “IR” injured reserve without losing him and select a player that can produce.
The other injured skater can be placed on the bench or if one of two skaters will be out with injury for any length of time a decision has to be made if they are worth hanging on to, better to drop and gain a productive point producer then waste a roster spot in hopes the player will return quickly.
A regular feature will be the daily ESPN FHL update with observations and recommendations as well as using my team as an example throughout the season.
Each ESPN FHL season bears out one concrete fact, the team managers that do not make any waiver wire transactions all season to improve their team ultimately end up one of the bottom four teams in the league.
Sabres 3 – Penguins 5 (en) Buffalo’s “starting” goaltender Ukko Pekka Luukkonen played the first period and reinjured his groin, swiss cheese Georgiev came in relief and posted a .769 save percentage by allowing three goals on just 14 SOG from a preseason Pittsburgh team.
Swiss Cheese
No one but Ruff sees (G) Georgiev as a needed netminder, I can only hope that Buffalo’s heir apparent for backstopping the Sabres (G) Devon Levi will be called up from Rochester sooner than later or we can watch another playoff-less season unfold.
I am endeavoring to be patient with Ruff and his influence with GM Adams on who should be Buffalo’s starting and backup goaltenders and who should actually be playing in net down in Rochester, but it is wearing thin.
Newcomer (C) Norris scores his second goal from a sweet pass from (C) Thompson
One more preseason game as the boys travel south to play the Penguins tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.
Buffalo Winter 