Sabres 9 – Blackhawks 3 Buffalo’s offense came alive Friday night as (RW) Tuch earned four assists, (RW) Doan scored twice, special teams scored on the power play, and the defense contributed greatly as three different defensemen scored to aid the offense as well as keeping Chicago’s SOG to a minimum.
(D) Byram scores his 4th of the year on the power play
After an eight-game absence, Sabres (LW) Zucker scored and earned two assists during his first game back, and young phenom (C) Beddard (2 assists) was prevented from scoring a goal when (G) Luukkonen stoned the Chicago player on a breakaway.
Sabres UPL with ridiculous save on Blackhawks (C) Beddard
Tomorrow afternoon at one o’clock the Carolina Hurricanes who currently are sitting atop of the Eastern Conference and with the second-best record in the NHL visit Buffalo for the Sabres last game during this four-game homestand.
Here along the Lake From the very beginning of training camp I questioned HC Ruff’s decision to bring on a career 30-year-old AHL player whose only NHL experience was 25 NHL games (0 goals 0 assists 77 PIMs) for New Jersey under head coach Ruff right before the Devils kicked their underperforming coach to the curb before their season was over.
This player was brought to Buffalo in order to bring “toughness” to the Sabres, head coach Ruff kept the narrative that he wanted Buffalo to be less “soft” appearing to other teams, on paper it sounded great, a 6′ 4″ 230 pounds left wing that will not let us get pushed around, well the Sabres have placed (LW) Geertsen on waivers after contributing 0 goals, 0 assists, 12 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in five games.
We have four goaltenders in our system thanks to head coach Ruff, (G) UPL, (G) Ellis, and (G) Lyon are decent (inconsistent) netminders but is it now possible to bring (G) Levi up from AHL banishment or are we required to wait for our head coach to be put on waivers as well, I wonder rhetorically.
Sabres 2 – Flames 6 Buffalo remains the number one penalty killing team in the NHL as they did not allow a Calgary goal on the Flames only power play, the Sabres defense provided last night’s offense as Sabres (D) Samuelsson scored the Sabres first goal and earned an assist on Buffalo’s second goal by (C) Thompson’s which tied the game at two apiece entering the disastrous third period.
Buffalo completes their three-game homestand this Friday night at 7 pm versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sabres rookie (C) Ostlund getting underneath Oilers (D) Nurse & Hyman scores on the power play
Sabres 5 – Oilers 1 (en) Buffalo rookie (C) Ostlund produced his first multi-point game scoring during the power play and even strength, Captain (D) Dahlin dished out two assists, and rookie (G) Ellis was spectacular in net stopping 32 of 33 SOG for a .970% save percentage earning his third win in his first four games, while special teams killed a penalty and scored to contribute to the victory.
Next up during this three-game homestand are the Calgary Flames who visit tomorrow night at 7:30 pm affording Buffalo an opportunity to extend their current efforts to three consecutive wins.
I did not earn the highest total for the week but won my weekly matchup, additionally, I have moved into sole possession of my Division and the League lead, momentarily, with only six weekly matchups played there is plenty of time for playoff seedings to be earned and lost between now and March 15th the end of the FHL regular season.
I have snatched up (RW) Hyman who made his return Saturday and contributed immediately, so with a fresh batch of seven waiver wire moves the first thing I did this morning after noticing Edmonton’s winger was back, was make room for him on my roster.
I have seven players for tonight’s six game NHL schedule which includes four in the Sabres vs Oilers contest, PSA remember to move players from the bench to the active roster and as obvious as this reads people can become busy and not get to this task before the games start, in a FHL there are few things that can be as frustrating to a team manager than watching a player on the bench earn monster points.
INTERESTING GAME FROM LAST NIGHT
Canucks 6 – Lightning 2(en) Tampa Bay took the 1-0 lead late in the first period where the Lightning outshot Vancouver 13-1 and did not score until their 13th shot with 35 seconds remaining in the period, and nearly five minutes into the second period Tampa Bay scored again for the dreaded, “Two Goal Lead”, (eventually the Lightning had one goal taken back for a high stick) which they lost mightily as the Canucks also scored in the second period earning Vancouver a 1-2 deficit going into the third period.
After taking one SOG in the first period the Canucks fired 11 SOG in the third period and it was glorious for Vancouver as the Canucks scored five times in 13 minutes including the empty net when Tampa Bay was down by three with three minutes remaining in the game to crush the Lightning for a convincing road victory.
Buffalo Winter 