Buffalo Boy's Blog

If there is a team that is destined for dead last this year it may very well be the NY Islanders. After watching the Sabres tear them up it was obvious its going to be a long season on the Island. The Sabres handed them a 7-1 defeat yesterday afternoon and the Islanders deserved every goal that was scored against them. The Leafs can't possibly finish last in the East unless the Islanders either fold mid-season or move to the Western Conference.

Their best offensive players include Mike Comrie, Doug Weight and Bill Guerin. Not exactly high caliber players there anymore, Rick Dipietro was injured and he may be their best player and honestly I think he is an overrated goalie. On Defense, Brendan Witt, not exactly big names anywhere in that lineup. The Islanders have a long season.

As for Buffalo, it was one of those games where it may have done more damage than a game like that did good. Jochen Hecht was injured which leaves them pretty shorthanded at center going into a big match up with the Rangers. I say big because they have to prove they can play with the Rangers. Last year they lost all four meetings and with the Rangers being 5-0 already they are clearly the team to beat in the East.

Wednesday will be a big test and it will be interesting to see if they call anyone up to play from Portland on Wednesday perhaps Nathan Gerbe or Mark Mancari. I would like to see what Gerbe has in a regular season game.