Buffalo Boy's Blog

The best team in the West strolled into Buffalo yesterday with everything that could possibly be going against a solid Sabres performance having happened previous to the game. The plane crash the night before, the recent mini two game slide, Thomas Vanek out for three to four weeks, Paul Gaustad out, and it was Friday the 13th. The only thing going for Buffalo was that the Sharks were playing their third game in four nights and Ryan Miller is probably the best goalie in the NHL in overtime and beyond this year.

So, after a first period that saw the Sabres open up a 3-0 can of whoop ass on the Sharks and play inspired hockey for the grieving fans of Buffalo, the Sharks clawed their way back in but with 3.9 seconds left Captain Craig came up and laid into a shot from the point that was tipped increased the population of Pominville by one more.

It was quite possibly one of those wins that brings a team closer together and lifts them up a little for the playoff push. It was also a game that may find them playing a little more confidently without Vanek. Either way they gave the crowd in attendance a performance to help them forget about the losses of the previous night.

No, sports doesn't mean as much after a tragedy like the previous night, but it sure does help to provide us all with a distraction if only for three hours. We haven't had a game like that since probably the Senators game with the hit on Chris Drury. That game got this team playing together again after a rash of injuries as well.

Captain Craig has finally, after a luke warm first half of the season, come on strong and is developing a great rapport with fans. He says and does all the right things to back up his words. He may not be a Chris Drury, but hes pretty darn close.

 After last nights game I think we can look at this community and say once and for all if we had to choose between the Sabres and Bills, I take the Sabres. If that tragedy happens and the Sabres are no longer here, what do we have going on around here to help us take our minds off that incident. Nothing but cold, dark and snow for another two months.

We are a hockey town first and a football town a distant second.

The win leaves us solidly in 8th place, tied with Florida, one point back of Philly and two points back of the Rangers and the falling Habs. More importantly it leaves us five points up on Carolina who resides in 9th and comes in here next game. We could put them seven points out of 8th with a win Sunday.

You'll notice that I have gone back to the green logo. Spring is approaching and St. Patty's Day is the next big holiday so I will go with the green logo for the rest of the season.