Category: Hockey History 1917-2023

Buffalo Sabres versus New York Rangers

Not since Mr. Barrasso arrived from the Massachusetts high school system into the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres have I been this excited about a goaltender playing his first game in the NHL for the Sabres.

It would seem unfair to put high expectations on an incoming rookie goaltender and to envisage Mr. Levi as the heir apparent in net becoming the final piece for this corps of young talented and highly skilled players to cement them into their playoff destiny.

It is not unfair at all, the Sabres and their fans require Mr. Levi to be more than capable, more than solid in net, more than what we have become acclimated to from the last half a dozen netminders who have played valiantly but ultimately came up short.

Listening to this young man speaking articulately and intelligently about goaltending coupled with his infectious anticipation and excitement for tonight’s debut I cannot help but become more enthused and no matter the outcome versus the Rangers, Mr. Levi, “our goaltender”  is here.

The Buffalo Pro H2H Points League FHL Championship begins tonight with anticipation of the League’s Leader from the East Division Downton Flyers continuing their domination and securing this season’s Championship.

The West Division champion and third overall in the League Buffalo Winter endeavors to skate through the top two teams with one down and the challenge of winning versus the best team in the League to win their third ESPN FHL Championship.

How did they get to the Finals?

Downton Flyers had lost only three times during the regular season to division rivals Team Fitzgerald (2X) and Team Alex serving the third loss to the eventual League Champion.

In the FHL Semi-Finals a surprising development with Team Beaulieu beating out Doughty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap for the final playoff seeding for the privilege to play the League’s best team in Downton Flyers to start the playoffs.

After the first seven days of the 13-day semi-finals, Team Beaulieu had built a shockingly 30-point lead over the best team in the League and was set up to pull off one of FHL’s biggest upsets when over the next four days the lead evaporated.

Downton Flyers are the number one team for a reason and they fought back and eventually took an over 20-point lead to beat Team Beaulieu to advance to the FHL Finals.

Buffalo Winter opened the season with a loss and played 500 percent Hockey until Thanksgiving where winning the next 11 out of 12 weekly matchups to take over the division lead but only winning one of the last three weekly matchups to earn a playoff seeding.

Buffalo Winter matched against the second-highest playoff seed in Team Alex was another surprise as the favorite Team Alex fell behind ironically as quickly and nearly as far as Downton Flyers had to Team Beaulieu.

Team Alex’s Team Manager played his team well and one or two goals or assists one way or another was all that separated this strong team from advancing as they dropped the matchup by only 5.9 points.

The NHL has six games scheduled tonight as ESPN FHL Finals begin the playoffs with a positive outlook for both combatants as each Division Champion advanced to the finals with comparable offensive statistics with Downton Flyers having the edge in goaltending.

NCAA DIV I MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Here along the Lake a private Jesuit college, Canisius College founded in 1870 has won the Atlantic Hockey Conference Championship downtown over Holy Cross winning the Jack Riley Trophy to represent the Atlantic Hockey Conference in the NCAA Tournament Regionals March 23-28 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Canisius first began Division I Men’s Ice Hockey in 1997-98 joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and made it to the Finals by upsetting the top-seeded team in the semi-finals, Canisius left the MAAC to join the Atlantic Hockey Conference in 2003-04 for the Conference’s inaugural season.

In 2012-13 Canisius won their first Conference championship and first trip to the NCAA Tournament, now after earning their second AHC title and getting into the NCAA Tournament their biggest challenge awaits them in the number one seeded team in the Nation, Minnesota.

The Canisius Golden Griffins (20-18-3) can shock the College Hockey world by upsetting the Minnesota Golden Gophers (26-9-1) in the opening round at Scheels Arena this Thursday, March 23^rd with the opening faceoff scheduled for nine o’clock.

Number one:    Last night’s .720 save percentage on 25 shots is unacceptable.

Number two:    Recently having 10 goals scored against.

Number three:  Continuously blaming the team for leaving the goalie out to dry.

Number four:    Endeavoring to develop backup goaltenders into starters.

Number five through seven:   Mr. Levi is here.

To be a goaltender in the NHL is a thankless double-edged sword that can ruin you emotionally as well as physically.

The personalities that have guarded the nets over the past Century in the NHL are wide and varied as they have been entertaining and even a bit odd.

From stuck-up to friendly, from puking to eating popcorn before a game, the superstitions and routines are brought more sharply into focus with goaltenders than the ones practiced by defensemen and forwards.

HC Granato has his team playing well that has grown into three to seven games over 500 percent in the standings a huge improvement over recent seasons and with the slim glimmer of a wild card playoff seeding teasing Buffalo, patience is still required.

Buffalo has watched Mr. Barrasso leave and win Cups, watched Mr. Hasek leave and win Cups, watched St Louis “take” Mr. Miller, watched Mr. Lehner leave and do well, watching Mr. Ullmark after leaving marching to the Cup with his new team.

Will Mr. Levi be Buffalo’s answer in net?

 It is possible with HC Granato, Mr. Anderson, a solid young corps that want to be here along the Lake, a good team learning and growing into a playoff contender, almost the perfect opportunity for this young goaltender to be part of this team.

The season is not over and it will take a herculean effort to overcome and go forward positively from this recent home game, fortunately, we have the team and personnel to do it.

Mr. Dahlin blocked three shots to increase his total to a team-leading 111 and Mr. Lyubushkin blocked four shots last night as Buffalo adds another important point in the race for a wild card seeding.

Late in the third period as Mr. Lyubushkin is taking a shot his stick snapped in half just as Mr. Ovechkin was reaching in/ semi-slashing him and the official called a slashing infraction on Washington much to the dismay of most Capitals players and their fans.

Predictably the officials, approximately one minute later tag Buffalo with a “roughing” call on Mr. Tuch, and Mr. Wilson in front of the net snaps the tying goal in with 68 seconds remaining in the game.

Tough break and in overtime the official “saw” a Sabres player trip a Capitals player but in reality, Mr. Oshie stepped on Mr. Cozens’s stick slowing down Buffalo and creating the opportunity for a shootout.

A slow and weird-looking attempt by Washington on their first shot in overtime eludes Mr. Luukkonen and Mr. Oshie scores on their second shot while Buffalo is blanked on two attempts to end the game and collect a much-needed point.