Category: Hockey History 1917-2023

Buffalo’s (C) Norris Returns

Sabres 5 – Jets 1 It did not take Buffalo long to take control of this game as they scored twice in 15 seconds on their first two SOG during the first three minutes of the first period for a quick 2-0 lead with Sabres returning (C) Norris assisting on the first goal.

Buffalo’s special teams excelled with a goal on the power play and killing off Winnipeg’s man advantages, (G) Luukkonen played exceptionally well in net for the Sabres, Buffalo finished off a perfect first period scoring three times on 14 shots chasing Winnipeg’s starting goaltender.

Even when the Jets were able to score during the second period the Sabres came right back 83 seconds later and scored again as (RW) Tuch took a difficult angled shot that bounced off of Winnipeg’s rookie backup (G) Milic that gave Buffalo its three-goal lead back.

Excitement started early in the third period as (C) Norris scored his second goal of the evening just 41 seconds into the period, only a minute or so later 6′ 7″ defenseman for the Jets elbowed 5′ 10″ (LW) Benson’s head into the glass for a penalty that was addressed later in the period as there was roughing and three 10 minute misconducts handed out with six minutes remaining in the game.

Buffalo wins convincingly at home and now begins a six-game road trip Wednesday night and then to Winnipeg Friday night for the rematch.

Division & League Lead

Here along the Lake I was behind last week’s opponent until Saturday night when I was able to pull ahead and ended up with the higher score by the completion of Sunday night’s games.

Still maintaining the League lead, this week I am matched with Magnificent Mike’s Team the only loss I have absorbed this season was in the initial weekly matchup to this opponent.

I was the only team manager thus far to utilize the waiver wire today, so I had to make some adjustments to ensure I have a near equal number of players for tonight’s games.

The two players I dropped are now underachieving, not to say I will not endeavor to bring them back onto my roster, (LW) Barbashev is doing well enough, but I would rather have (RW) Stone who seems to be trending upwards since his return, and adding (D) Gudas and dropping (C) Cirelli (whom I like) seems prudent for tonight’s games.

Remember, no matter how brilliant of a team manager and strategist you are, if the actual NHL players do not perform…you don’t win.

Buffalo Victorious in Minnesota

Sabres 3 – Wild 2 (SO) The Wild wore their North Stars tribute uniforms and ironically, the Sabres did not score a goal themselves until the shootout, the first Sabres goal came from a rebound that deflected off a Minnesota player and into the net, the second Sabres goal credited to Buffalo was after a Minnesota player swatted the puck with his glove into his own net.

Buffalo remains the NHL elite penalty killers stopping the Wild on three attempts, and Sabres rookie (G) Ellis won his fourth game out of six starts assisted by his teammates allowing Minnesota with the 3rd Best record in the Western Conference just 3 SOG during the third period earning the Sabres a tie, then Buffalo scored three times in four shootout rounds for the win.

The first Norwegian hockey player to participate in an NHL game happened once in 1958, recently Minnesota Wild’s (RW) Mats Zuccarello with his assist last night became the first player from Norway to earn 700 points in the NHL.

The Buffalo Sabres host the Winnipeg Jets this Monday night at 7:30 pm before embarking on a six-game road trip that begins in Philadelphia and ends in Seattle.

Ruff crushed by former team

Sabres 0 – Devils 5 The Sabres looked good yesterday, except for goaltending, Buffalo launched 42 SOG as well as forcing New Jersey to absorb 20 blocks, the Sabres number one standing as the NHL’s premier penalty killers remains intact as they stopped the Devils on the power play, and (C) Thompson successfully participated in a revenge fight versus (RW) Noesen who had hit Tage with a cheap high hit in their last game.

The Buffalo Sabres are in the great state of Minnesota to take on the third best team in the Western Conference who are riding a seven-game winning streak, the Wild are absolutely rolling, and the Sabres will have to give it everything they have to bounce back with a win tonight at 8 pm.

In my senior year of high school the day before Halloween, this episode aired, I wish to thank the Canadian company Crosscut Films out of Saskatchewan for their time and efforts restoring this clip to one of the clearest versions I have seen over the previous holidays.

Tired from too much turkey or not, the Buffalo Sabres are hosting the New Jersey Devils tomorrow afternoon at four o’clock.