7 Things

1. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

2. You guys, the Sabres are, like, my favorite. (Have you ever seen “Elf”?  For some reason tonight I kept thinking of that line, “I like smiling.  Smiling is my favorite.”  That’s how this game felt.)  This Sabres game was just so pleasant. I went with Heather B, and the game was never stressful or even particularly exciting, so we chatted happily, and it was just a nice time. I, for one, appreciate a nice mellow game from time to time.  I’m still getting adjusted to this new season of going to the games and then watching the Sabres….play well.  It’s weird, and wonderful.  Like I said, I just kind of let this game wash over me and I didn’t dwell much on the details, but the Sabres looked pretty good to me.

3. Marty Biron jumping Kaleta was pretty darn funny.

4. They played the baseball game on the jumbotron during the 2nd intermission at the arena tonight.  I thought that was a nice touch.  We happened to be watching when the Phillies knocked in their first run, and I was pleased that a healthy cheer went up in the crowd.  I do NOT understand Buffalonians who cheer for the Yankees.  The Yankees do not represent Buffalo in any way, shape, or form.  The Yankees are the opposite of Buffalo.  Cheering for the Yankees is totally lame.

5. Thomas Vanek scores goals when I complain about him.  It’s happened three times at the arena already this season.  As soon as I start calling him names, he starts scoring goals.  I like it when this happens.

6. About five minutes before the end of the game, I said to Heather, “You know what it’s time to start thinking about…?” and then I nodded at the scoreboard to indicate Crunchy’s looming shutout.  At the time, the score was 2-0, and we immediately started joking that if the Sabres scored again, it would allow Miller to relax enough to let in a softie.  And then, just like that, Goose scored! (Actually, it wasn’t “just like that”.  That goal required the longest goal review EVER.)  But Crunchy did NOT let in a softie, and so instead of a “Ryan Miller Shutout” he got a real shutout.  I’ve never seen him do that before.   I like it when he does that.

7. Please welcome the amazing, hilarious, and FABULOUS Jessica to the Sabres blogosphere.  Jessica is…well…she’s the best.  You’ll see.  Go to her blog.  You won’t be sorry.  Running with Sabres is TOP NOTCH.

8. 11:58 pm UPDATE: Hey, I just found a BONUS THING!  Roy-Z went 14 for 14 in the faceoff circle.

Seriously.  Dang.

5 Surprises of the New Season

1. The Sabres are good at hockey! Whaaaa?  Up is down, and black is white.

I’ve read and heard a LOT of discussion about whether fans are “buying in” to the new Sabres.  Everyone is asking themselves the hard questions.  Do I believe these guys are for real?  Or, having been burned (hard) in the past, am I skeptical?  Do I believe?

My answers: Yes, yes, who cares.

The Sabres have been weirdly good at hockey so far.  I use the word weird because…..dude, I did NOT see this coming, and at the same time I’m not even slightly surprised.   The changes that Darcy made this summer seemed so inconsequential in the face of what appeared to be major problems, but somehow everything feels different.  They’re playing hard, they seem defensively responsible, and the scoring is balanced.  (The one major difference between this year’s fast start and last year’s fast start is that last year Thomas Vanek basically singlehandedly scored all the goals in the month of October.  This year, everyone is chipping in. [Seriously, TV had TEN goals in October last year. Wowza.)

I’m in no rush to declare that I believe this team is “the real deal,” but I’m oddly proud of them. (Surely my fandom is playing some role in this hot start, right?  The Sabres have been reading this blog for years, and that’s why they’re suddenly good.  They’re taking my advice!  My advice has consistently been “stop sucking,” and they’re FINALLY taking it.)  All I know for sure is that I’m really enjoying watching the Sabres play hockey.  Hockey is awesome.  Good hockey is, like, megaSUPERawesome.

2. Goose is a FACEOFF WIZARD!

My Goose Appreciation sometimes clouds my judgment.  I actually think I’m a little harder on Paul Gaustad because of my affection for him.  I’ve over compensating.  Truthfully, I’m always a little surprised when he turns out to be good at hockey.  I’m like, “Goose’s job is to be all handsome and blinky and to occasionally attack various Devils….YOU MEAN HE’S NUMBER ONE IN FACEOFF PERCENTAGE TOO?!”  Be still my heart.  (About the “blinky” thing:  Something about the way Goose blinks amuses me.  Whenever I watch a Paul Gaustad interview I wish someone would edit in a sound effect every time he blinks.  Goose’s blinks should sound something like this.)

3. The Hurricanes totally suck!

I was looking at the standings this morning (What?- looking at the standings is fun when the Sabres are 8-1-1!) and I was shocked to see that the Hurricanes are the suckiest sucks in all of Suckville for some reason.  I doubt it will last, but it’s still funny.

4. Mike Grier seems nice.

I wasn’t a fan yet during Mike Grier’s first tour of duty as a Sabre.  All I really knew of him was the way he left the team, which in the retelling sounds kind of diva-ish.  I always imagined Mike Grier tossing his hair on the way out of town, as if to say, “Not only do I not love you anymore, I never loved you in the first place.  Buffalo.“  I know, I know.   His reputation is one of a hard working, grinder, leader-y type, but I think I half expected him to pout his way through the season.  He’s been such a pleasant surprise.  One of the funnest things so far this season has been watching his very charming and smiley goal celebrations with Tim Kennedy.  Mike Grier is exactly who this team needed.

5. Tim Kennedy is badass, but not in the way I expected him to be badass.

I thought Kennedy was going to be a slick, speedy, pint-sized goal scorer, a la Danny Briere, but instead he’s a feisty, sometimes punchy, seems-right-at-home-on-the-third-line, defensive minded, pint-sized grinder.  I will give Lindy Ruff full credit for this one.  Putting Kennedy on a line with Grier and Hecht was a very clever move.

3 Things

1. I didn’t see much of the game tonight because I was working, but it turned out to be one of those evenings where being at work enhanced the game experience.  I got word of Staffy’s last second heroics on stage during the applause at the end of the concert.  A handful of us scurried down to the break room to watch the final minutes of overtime and the shootout.  Those kinds of wins are fun in the break room.  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!  The Sabres are never going to lose again!

2. Tyler Myers with the shootout win.  Sweet, tall, oddly-foxy, wonderful Tyler Myers.  I hope he never leaves us.  And I hope he never start sucking.  I wish there was a way to extend his trial period so we could watch him try to win this job forever.  We need to enjoy this period of Tyler Myers’ babyhood while we can.  He’ll grow up in an instant.  (Look at me getting all sentimental!  I’m sure I’ll be calling him a slag-faced whore in no time.  Heh.)

3. Have any of you ever sanded your own hardwood floors?  (That question sounds weirdly dirty to me right now for some reason.)  I finally pulled up the (DISGUSTING) carpet in the living room and discovered that my floors….need some work.  I’m tempted to go for it.  How hard can it possibly be?

The Sabres Are NEVER Losing Again!

That game?  Was such a treat.  A 6-2 thumping of the Detroit Red Wings.  Nice.

Tonight was my first game in my new season ticket seats, and the Sabres could not have been more sassy for the occasion.  I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a game that was quite that enjoyable.  I feel refreshed, and rejuvenated, and happy as a clam.  Thank you, Sabres.

I’m totally exhausted, and I’m going to choose to go to bed happy tonight.  I’ll fret about Thomas Vanek tomorrow.

Sabres vs. Bruins: The Birth of ButtsNation

Pregame: So, here we are again.  The season ultimately boils down to a single meaningless game against Boston.  Didn’t T-Bone get a shutout against the Bruins in the last game of the season last year?  If Tellqvist gets a shutout that will be all the confirmation we need that this entire season was just a big joke on us.  My channel 700 is all effed up, so it looks like I’m watching this in extremely low, super sad definition.  BOOO.

After the 1st (4-0, Sabres): Oh, for the love of Lindy Ruff…….sigh.  When there is absolutely nothing on the line, the Sabres are really, really good. If that’s not the mark of a well coached team, I don’t know what is.  When there is absolutely nothing on the line, the Bruins are SHOCKINGLY bad.  I mean, I know they’re not icing their real team this afternoon, but sheesh.

After the 2nd: Loyal readers, I barely watched this period because I’ve had a REVELATION.  Something amazing has happened to me.  Please listen carefully because I am about to tell you something very, very important.  I’m in love…..with Chris Butler.  I’m not sure when it happened this season (it’s been such a whirlwind), all I know is that when Chris Butler scored, and RJ squawked, “I’ve been waiting all season to use this one- A HA!  The Butler did it!” my heart swelled with pride, not just the pride of a fan, but the pride of a devotee.   Butts is the cutest little peapod EVER.  (I believe it was Anne who first called Chris Butler, “Butts”, which is a nickname I fully endorse.)  I love Butler, and it’s a good thing that Goose is so confident about our relationship, otherwise he might be feeling a little threatened.

Today (in the grand tradition of PandoNation), ChrisButlerNation is born, and I am declaring myself its ruling high priestess.  I pledge to rule ButtsNation with fake benevolence and whimsical pettiness.

After the 3rd: Okay, this game technically has five and a half minutes left but it is SO BORING that even my newly discovered Chris Butler love and the knowledge that this is the last I will see of my beloved Sabres for five months cannot keep me interested.  The Sabres have looked good, which is nice.  Today they really are going out with dignity (assuming they don’t give up five goals in the next five minutes).  As for me, as usual, I’m out, 100% dignity free.

Bye, Sabres!

Oh wait…..one more goal!  Good boy, P-Doods!….wait, I mean good boy, Vanek.

Bye, Sabres!

Hooray!

There is a certain sense of preposterous glee in this situation.  I felt it last year, and I’m feeling it again lately.  I long ago gave up any expectation that the Sabres would make the postseason, and so now every day that we’re not eliminated feels like a funny little gift.

Ryan Miller gets a gold star for punching Ovechkin in the face (good for you, Crunchy), and the entire team gets a gold star for forcing the Caps to celebrate their division win with a home ice OT loss.  Heh.

We’re still in it, baby.  Sure, our chances are slim, but my good mood remains plump and totally squeezable.

Let’s Go Buff-a-lo!  (I have it on good authority that the Devils are done.  Go get ‘em, fellas.)

The Return of Hope

I believe my exact words yesterday were,

If the Sabres win tomorrow in regulation I MIGHT allow a smidgen of hope back into my heart (maybe).

As I’m sure you know, they did NOT win in regulation, but damned if that little tickle I feel deep in my chest isn’t a tiny smidgen of hope.

I was at work tonight, so I had my usual work-night view of the game (saw almost all of the 1st period, and a few minutes of the 3rd), but I have to admit, I’m loving this little end of the season surge.  Sure, it’s nearly hopeless, but it’s also nearly fun.  If these last seven games are the closest we’ll get to a playoff vibe, well, I recommend we take what we can get.

I can’t believe Toni Lydman was a hero while I was at work.

Sabres vs Leafs 3/27/09

Pregame

Mood: WOOOOOOOOOOO!!  You know what?  I’m pumped.  I have found the conversation surrounding the Sabres to be totally invigorating lately.  I know some people look at my attitude and think I’m being grouchy (I was accused of being a negative nelly today in Kevin’s comment thread), but I just do NOT feel grumpy about the Sabres.  At all.  Since I decided that they kind of suck I’ve felt the OPPOSITE of grumpy.  I like hockey again.  I find the conversation about what’s wrong with them to be incredibly compelling, but now it’s minus all the emotional turmoil.  I feel great about hockey, and I love the Sabres.
Favorite Sabre: CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!
Least Favorite Sabre: Hm….I’m going with Tim Connolly, just cuz.
Prediction: I honestly have NO idea.  Traditionally, the game after an emotional win is when the Sabres phone it in, but Crunchy’s return might give them a nice boost.  Oh, thank GOD Crunchy is back.
Facebook Quiz representing my hopes for this game: Which composer are you?

I am NOT Tchaikovsky.  Now HE was a negative nelly.

After the 1st (2-0, Sabres)

Mood: Entertained.  Please do not misunderstand (especially you, Hockey Gods), I’m not taking this lead as some kind of indication that we are going to win, but this game feels easy-breezy so far.
Favorite Sabre: CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!
Least Favorite Sabre: I dunno.  I wasn’t paying close enough attention to notice.
Summary of events: Cujo allowed 50% of the shots he saw into his net.  Crunchy allowed 0% in.  The numbers don’t lie, people.
Facebook quiz representing this game so far: Pick 5

My five favorite movies.

After the 2nd (4-1, Sabres)

Mood: Deeeeelighted.  Man, the Leafs are fun.
Favorite Sabre: CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!
Least Favorite Sabre: All of them.  If you CAN backcheck, forecheck, play hard, and look like you give a flying flibberty floo, WHY DON’T YOU DO IT ALL THE TIME?  Jerks.
Summary of events: CuJo was like, “Why, come right in and score at will, Sabres,” and the Sabres were all, “Don’t mind if we do, CuJo!”  Then Cujo was pulled and Pogge was all, “Not so fast, Sabres.”  Then the Sabres were all, “We’re so cute and fast, doncha think?” while the Leafs easily scored a shortie.  Then Crunchy was all, “Oh, now I remember why I hate you guys.”  Then Kate was like, “WOOOOOOOOOOOO! CRUNCHY! CRUNCHY! CRUNCHY!”
Facebook quiz representing this game so far: What color is your aura?

Facebook says my aura is red but I think I’m probably a little more pinkish.  That business about “will power” and “persistance” is total bullhonky. I, um, have no idea what this has to do with this hockey game.  This post is a stretch.  A true red aura-ed person would never write this post.

At the end (5-3, Sabres)

Mood: Basically pleased.  If the Sabres win tomorrow in regulation I MIGHT allow a smidgen of hope back into my heart (maybe), but I will be sad to see this, “Aw, fuck it, the Sabres just suck” phase go.  It’s been downright therapeutic for me.
Favorite Sabre: CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!  CRUNCHY!
Least Favorite Sabre: Dude, Toni Tone Tony Lydman.  Stop taking dumb penalties.   Just.  Stop.
Summary of events: The Sabres were all, “Hm.  Maaaaaybe we want to keep coach killing after all.  Let’s let these Leafs back into the game.”  Then Goose was all, “Eff that.  Let’s win.”  And then he did his adorable happy dance.
Snack you should eat as soon as possible representing this game: Wegmans brand Green Apple Sorbet

If you see this, you should eat it.

Everything is New Again

That game was wonderful.   Pure, cathartic joy.

Let’s Go Buff-a-lo!

Patrick Lalime is a Hero, Part II

They won!  I saw it with my own two eyes!