The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us once again!
This year is going to be a good one. There are plenty of great teams in the field of 16, and each one could make a run for the Cup. The following picks are based partially on statistics, partially on my heart, and mostly on my gut. They don’t represent extensive research or analysis—just the observations and feelings of a life-long hockey fan.
You’re probably going to think I’m crazy. That’s okay. That’s what the 2011 NHL Playoffs are all about. So without further ado:
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 1: #1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers
Result: #8 New York Rangers in six.
I had a lot of trouble (and I mean A LOT of trouble) picking this series. My gut tells me to go Rangers, but my head tells me that it will be the Caps. In the end, I have to listen to my emotions and say New York, but I could see this series going either way. For the Caps to win, they’ll need a balanced attack and a strong performance from their young goalies. For the Rangers to win, their young defense needs to hold up against the talented Caps forwards and Marian Gaborik must play like the superstar they pay him to be. But because of the Rangers team-first system, solid defense, and Henrik Lundqvist, I think the Rangers will steal this series from the Caps.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 2: #2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres
Result: #7 Buffalo Sabres in six.
The Flyers enter the playoffs on a 7-7-6 run in their last 20 games, hardly the record of a team ready to dominate a first round series. The Sabres, on the other hand, enter the playoffs with a 13-4-3 record over the past 20 games, including an 8-1-1 in their last 10. Those 13 wins include victories over fellow playoff participants New York, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Boston. Philly has been as cold as they come lately, and with no guarantees on Chris Pronger’s return and a rookie goalie in net (Russian Bobrovsky), it could be a tough series for the Broadstreet Bullies. The Sabres are on fire, and while they may not sweep Philly, they will come away with a first round win.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 3: #3 Boston Bruins vs. #6 Montreal Canadiens
Result: #3 Boston Bruins in five.
The rivalry associated with this match-up is epic. You can go back through the history books and find amazing game after amazing game. This series will provide at least four more games for the history books. It’s going to be an intense series, if only because of the Zdeno Chara-Max Pacioretty incident from earlier this season. Boston has been playing great hockey lately (including a 7-0 win over the Canadiens just a few weeks ago), while Montreal has been merely pedestrian. Throw in a Vezina front-runner in Tim Thomas, and you’ve got a Boston team that should handle Montreal with ease.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 4: #4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning
Result: #5 Tampa Bay Lightning in seven.
This will be one of the most tightly contested first round series. Both teams are evenly matched, especially with the Penguins missing some firepower on offense. Tampa Bay packs plenty of punch on ‘O’ themselves, and goalie Mike Smith has been playing great hockey since his recall from the AHL. This one is going to go down to the wire, and I think the Lightning will come out victorious.
Western Conference Quarterfinals 1: #1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks
Result: #1 Vancouver Canucks in six.
It’s tough to argue against Vancouver having been the best team in the NHL this season, as they’ve dominated a very tough conference all season long. Chicago might be the defending champions, but they’re not the same team who hoisted the Cup last June. Though they haven’t exactly played poorly this season, they just barely snuck into the playoffs in a very competitive Western Conference. No disrespect to the Blackhawks, but Vancouver will control this series. Granted, Vancouver has a long history of playoff struggles, but this looks like a team ready to shake the monkey off its back.
Western Conference Quarterfinals 2: #2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Los Angeles Kings
Result: #2 San Jose Sharks in five.
A few weeks ago, I would have been tempted to pick an upset and go with the Kings here. But after losing Anze Kopitar on March 26th for the remainder of the year, I don’t think they have enough firepower to fend off the Sharks, especially with Justin Williams out as well. Jonathan Quick will provide solid goaltending for LA, but San Jose’s offense should be able to dominate the first round. Add in the Sharks’ decent goaltending and defense, and you’ve got a quick playoff exit for the up-and-coming Kings. This just isn’t their year, but look for LA to be a playoff team for years to come.
Western Conference Quarterfinals 3: #3 Detroit Red Wings vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes
Result:#6 Phoenix Coyotes in six.
Here’s an upset I can really get behind. Detroit hasn’t been the most consistent team throughout the season, and they have rarely dominated their competition. They score a whole lot of goals, but their goaltending and defense, two keys to postseason success, have both been lackluster. Phoenix, on the other hand, has gotten solid goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov and relatively steady defense. Their biggest flaw is the penalty kill, but if they can stay out of the box, they’re one of the best 5-on-5 teams in the League. Combined with a smart system and a balanced offensive attack, Phoenix should surprise the Central Division winners.
Western Conference Quarterfinals 4: #4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Nashville Predators
Result: #4 Anaheim Ducks in six.
Much like the 4 vs. 5 battle in the Eastern Conference, the Ducks/Preds series will be a good one. Anaheim boasts Maurice Richard Trophy-winner Corey Perry and linemates Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf, while Nashville answers with one of the top Vezina candidates in Pekka Rinne and arguably the best defensive pairing in the entire NHL in Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The contrasting styles will be interesting to see—Anaheim’s high flying offense against Nashville’s conservative, defensive-minded approach. Anaheim’s biggest question is who will be between the pipes, as both Ray Emery and Jonas Hiller are battling health problems. Dan Ellis has looked good in relief, but is he ready to carry the load? The goalie situation is a big one for the Ducks, but I think Anaheim will still find a way to get past the Preds.
Recap:
#8 New York Rangers over #1 Washington Capitals
#7 Buffalo Sabres over #2 Philadelphia Flyers
#3 Boston Bruins over #6 Montreal Canadiens
#5 Tampa Bay Lightning over #4 Pittsburgh Penguins
#1 Vancouver Canucks over #8 Chicago Blackhawks
#2 San Jose Sharks over #7 Los Angeles Kings
#6 Phoenix Coyotes over #3 Detroit Red Wings
#4 Anaheim Ducks over #5 Nashville Predators
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals 1: #3 Boston Bruins vs. #8 New York Rangers
Result: #8 New York Rangers in six.
Call me a homer, but if I somehow get the first round correct and the Rangers play Boston in the second round, I think New York will be advancing to their first Conference Final in over a decade. Both teams play a similar style, but the difference will once again come from Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Boston just before the season ended, and though now-injured forward Ryan Callahan was a big part of that comeback, the Rangers will be firing on all cylinders after a big upset of the Capitals. I think that will translate to success against Boston.
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals 2: #5 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres
Result: #7 Buffalo Sabres in five.
Everybody must think I’m insane by now, but if there’s one thing the NHL playoffs have taught us, it’s to expect the unexpected. The Lightning feature some impressive offensive depth, but I think this is as far as their scoring will carry them. Buffalo will be rolling after a series win over Philly, and a balanced offensive attack and solid goaltending from 2009 Vezina winner Ryan Miller will be enough to down the Lightning in rapid fashion.
Western Conference Semi-Finals 1: #1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes
Result: #1 Vancouver Canucks in five.
Maybe I seem a bit more sane now. Yes, like a lot people, I have Vancouver winning their semi-final matchup against whomever it may be. Despite Phoenix’s big upset over Detroit, I think Vancouver can shake the playoff curse and advance to the Conference Finals. They are a much deeper team than in past years, featuring gritty, blue collar players who will help round out a talented Vancouver squad.
Western Conference Semi-Finals 2: #2 San Jose Sharks vs. #4 Anaheim Ducks
Result: #2 San Jose Sharks in seven.
This would be an awesome battle of two California teams. They match up pretty well on paper, and I see this one being a tough battle all the way down to game seven. It will be a great offensive show, but San Jose definitely has the edge because of their defense and goaltending. The experience of Antti Niemi will be huge for the Sharks and, in the end, Anaheim won’t be able to keep up with San Jose.
Recap
#8 New York Rangers over #3 Boston Bruins
#7 Buffalo Sabres over #5 Tampa Bay Lightning
#1 Vancouver Canucks over #6 Phoenix Coyotes
#2 San Jose Sharks over #4 Anaheim Ducks
Eastern Conference Championship: #7 Buffalo Sabres vs. #8 New York Rangers
Result: #7 Buffalo Sabres in six.
Back to the insanity. The 7-seed versus the 8-seed. When did I become Eric Lindros (bad concussion joke…)? But I see this playoff series as a legitimate possibility. And I see the Sabres continuing an improbable run. I hate to pick against my Rangers, but at this point, I think Lundqvist will be feeling the effects of a long, long season. Buffalo has been a tough opponent for the Rangers all year long, and this series will be no different. The Sabres will advance to the Cup finals in this one.
Western Conference Championship: #1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #2 San Jose Sharks
Result: #2 San Jose Sharks in six.
Well, here comes that bad playoff luck for Vancouver. On paper, the Canucks are definitely the better team but San Jose is no pushover, and they’ll give Vancouver all they can handle. The Sharks are a legitimate Cup contender, and they’ll knock off the Canucks here to advance to the Final. How awesome would it have been to see a New York-Vancouver final, a repeat of the 1994 Stanley Cup final?
Recap
#7 Buffalo Sabres over #8 New York Rangers
#2 San Jose Sharks over #1 Vancouver Canucks
Stanley Cup Championship: Buffalo Sabres vs. San Jose Sharks
Result: Buffalo Sabres in seven.
And here’s one that nobody saw coming. The Buffalo Sabres are your 2011 Stanley Cup Champions. Am I insane? Yeah, probably a little bit. But could this happen? Of course it could. Hockey has been all about parity since the lockout, and a Sabres victory would just provide more of the same. The Sabres have a great goaltender in Ryan Miller, a deep, balanced offense, and a steady defense. They play hard with a consistent team effort, and that’s exactly the kind of team you look for to make a deep run. San Jose will put up a great fight, but look for the Sabres to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup in June.
Recap
Eastern Conference Champion: Buffalo Sabres
Western Conference Champion: San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup Champion: Buffalo Sabres
So there you have it. Dustin Glasner’s predictions for the 2011 NHL Playoffs. Call me crazy. Call me insane. But that’s the best part about the NHL—anything can happen! Regardless of whether I’m right, kind of right, or completely, flat-out wrong, this is going to be a great postseason for hockey.
Enjoy the playoffs! May your team score many goals, your goalie make many saves, and your captain lift the Cup when it’s all said and done.
Article by the Penalty Flag Sports Blog and Dustin Glasner (Featured NHL Journalist)
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Following a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Dec. 27, the Buffalo Sabres held a players-only meeting to discuss the direction of the team. They were 14-18-4, defending Vezina trophy winner Ryan Miller was struggling after a late October injury and the website Sports Club Stats, which tracks a team’s chances of making the playoffs, gave the Sabres a miniscule 3.42 percent chance of making the postseason.
Other than the players in the locker room that night, nobody knows what was said behind those closed doors but whatever it was, it turned the season around. The Sabres went on to capture nine of the next 10 points and began their ascent from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into the thick of the playoff race.
With improved play from Miller as well as Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek along with the emergence of the little guys, Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe, the Sabres went 13-4-2 over their next 19 games.
Just as things seemed to be flowing promisingly down the river to the playoffs, the Sabres hit another skid. After three consecutive regulation losses to Toronto, St. Louis and Washington, the Sabres once again looked like playoff outsiders.
The team got the final boost they needed on Feb. 22 when Pennsylvania billionaire Terry Pegula officially took over the team from Tom Golisano.
“From this point forward, the Buffalo Sabres’ reason for existence will be to win the Stanley Cup,” Pegula said in his opening press conference.
The Sabres’ record from that day forward was 16-4-4, which was good enough for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They will begin the pursuit for the Stanley Cup against the second-seeded Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
Outside of some ESPN writers, the Sabres aren’t being given much of a chance by NHL experts. Most predictions, including those here at Bleacher Report, have Buffalo bowing out in five or six games with Miller being the only reason they survive that long.
Not so fast.
Since Dec. 28, the Sabres have averaged 3.27 goals per game while improving their goal differential by 26 from -10 to +16. Over that same stretch, the Flyers have averaged 3.04 goals per game while improving their goal differential by just 10.
As for defensive stats, since the day after the players-only meeting, the Sabres are allowing 2.69 goals per game while the Flyers are allowing 2.83.
Some may argue that the entire season of statistics favor the Flyers, but what is a better representation of the two teams entering the playoffs, the first three months or the last three months?
Another overlooked factor heading into this series is the health of Miller. I’m not talking about the upper-body injury he suffered against Toronto that forced him to miss four games (Jhonas Enroth filled in admirably).
Instead, I’m talking the amount of rest he has received. In prior seasons, Miller had admittedly been gassed by playoff time because the lack of a backup goalie forced him to play almost exclusively in the weeks leading up to the start of the postseason.
The injury he suffered against the Maple Leafs may turn into a blessing in disguise. By the time the playoffs start on Thursday, Miller won’t have played a full game in 16 days. He did, however, get in about 30 minutes of game action in the final two games and showed no signs of rust.
A healthy and well-rested Miller gives the Sabres not only a good chance to win the Philadelphia series, but a chance to make a deep run.
The Sabres also have great depth heading into the playoffs, which will be key if they do advance past the first round. Injuries have decimated recent Stanley Cup runs but with veterans like Mike Grier and Rob Niedermayer battling for spots in the game-day lineup, the Sabres should have no problem filling holes that may arise. Derek Roy is angling toward a possible round two return and, if healthy, he would provide a nice boost to the offense.
The only Achilles heel that I see for Buffalo is on defense. In recent weeks the Sabres defense has allowed countless odd-man rushes with boneheaded mistakes in the neutral zone. They will need to reduce those errors or the Flyers’ talented forwards will eat them alive. Miller will be able to clean up some of the mistakes, but he will need some help if the Sabres plan on upsetting the Flyers.
Don’t let the seed fool you. Since the calender turned to 2011, the Sabres have been among the best teams in the NHL, and they have a chance to do something special for a city that could use it.
Prediction: Sabres in six, and the run won’t end there for Buffalo.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Thursday, 7:30 PM can’t come fast enough as fellow zelePUCKin writer Matt O’Brien pointed out to me this morning.
First games are huge in playoff series. Winning Game 1 doesn’t mean a free pass to the next round, and losing Game 1 is not insurmountable, but starting off with a win really does a lot for team confidence.
The Flyers‘ Game 1 this year is more important than their Game 1 against New Jersey last year. The Flyers entered last year riding the high of their season-ending shootout over NYR. Oh and the whole underdog thing.
This year they are coming in after losing the conference lead and barely holding on to the division title.
Their last few games highlighted the last month or two of passionless play, and the skeptics have surfaced.
They cannot falter in their series opener. The home crowd will turn quickly, as they are tired of the lackluster performances, and a seed of doubt may creep into the locker room.
As of now the Flyers have a clean slate. The postseason tends to do that. But come out slow and drop Game 1, and they are right back where they were before the clean slate.
Link to Flyers v. Sabres Series Thread in zeleFORUMS
http://zelepuckin.46.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20&p=61#p61
original article @ www.zelepuckin.blogspot.com
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Is it just me or does it seem like Terry Pegula has been the owner of the Buffalo Sabres for much longer than one and a half months?
The reason it seems that way is because it has been nothing but positive since Mr. Pegula has taken over the Sabres; I personally barely even remember Tom Golisano.
However, let’s compare Pegula and Golisano just one more time.
Former Buffalo Sabres’ defenseman Brian Campbell asked for a five year, 25 million dollar deal to stay in Buffalo. When you look at what Campbell makes now in Chicago that would have been an absolute steal for the Sabres.
It still wasn’t cheap enough for Tom Golisano’s deep pockets though.
I know that Campbell’s play has slipped somewhat since he left Buffalo, but there is no doubt he would have continued to flourish for the Sabres. The slick skating defenseman would have made Buffalo’s power play a lethal one this season.
Now, let’s shift our focus to current Sabres’ owner Terry Pegula. From the first time I read about Pegula, he seemed like the real deal and since taking over the Sabres, he has proved that he most certainly is.
Tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will faceoff against the Philadelphia Flyers in their final home game of the season. However, the party will start long before puck drop.
More than 80 Buffalo Sabres’ alumni will be present for this evening’s Fan Appreciation Night. Players ranging from hall of famers to guys that only laced up the skates for a few shifts will be at HSBC Arena.
That is an unheard of amount of alumni that will be one the ice all at once. The reason it is all going to happen is because Terry Pegula made it his mission from day one to reach out to the Sabres’ alumni and mend the broken relationship that had been caused by former regimes.
Not only did Pegula reach out to contact every former Sabre, but he is also paying for their airfare and hotel rooms.
That’s the difference between Terry Pegula and Tom Golisano: Terry Pegula just simply gets it.
There will be an abundance of happy emotions and memories running through fan’s hearts and minds tonight. However, this current edition of the Buffalo Sabres can really make everyone’s night.
The Buffalo Sabres enter tonight’s clash against the Philadelphia Flyer’s needing just one point to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight season. The turnaround the Sabres have experienced this season has been nothing short of remarkable.
After losing leading scorer Derek Roy and getting embarrassed by the Calgary Flames in late December, the Sabres decided it was time to have a team-only meeting.
Buffalo had a record of 14-18-4 after the loss in Calgary. They now own an impressive record of 41-29-10.
The Buffalo Sabres’ 32 points since February 22 are the most of any NHL club. If the Sabres clinch tonight, they will be without question the hottest team heading into the postseason.
Terry Pegula has created this amazing alumni sundae. Now, all this group of Buffalo Sabres needs to do is put the cherry on top.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Thomas Vanek did what Thomas Vanek does. He stood in front of the net, took the punishment and scored. Repeatedly. He stole the puck at center ice with less than a minute remaining and fired it into the empty net to seal the game. He stood on the ice as the hats rained down and smiled. Winning was something he could get used to.
Actually, winning is something the Buffalo Sabres have been extremely used to in 2011. They have amassed 58 points since January 1, the most of any team in the Eastern Conference in that span. Even without reigning Vezina trophy winner Ryan Miller for an entire week, the team went 3-0-1 with upstart goaltender Jhonas Enroth in net.
They beat one of this year’s Vezina candidates in Henrik Lunqvist, 1-0. They took Carolina’s playoff hopes to the brink of extinction with a Sunday victory in Raleigh.
Talk about getting hot at the right time. The last time the Sabres lost in regulation was last Tuesday against Toronto. The time before that? March 15th. That’s not just hot. That’s Duff’s Nuclear Wings hot.
The Sabres have two games left to clinch a spot, and only need Carolina to lose in overtime or regulation once to do so. When Miller is healthy, they will have two high-caliber goaltenders to turn to for the playoff grind. They are getting contributions from all four lines, from Vanek on down to Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis (who, by the way, is a top-five rookie scorer this season).
I’m not saying that Buffalo will make it through all 16 wins required to hoist Lord Stanley’s chalice this year. What I am saying is that they ought to make a lot of noise come the tournament.
Now do I believe? Yes, Mr. Jeanneret. These guys are good. Scary good.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
There’s a Jhonas Enroth video sweeping across the sports world today, just hours after the Sabres backup goalie made what could might be the save of the year in Sunday’s clash with the Carolina Hurricanes.
With a 1-0 lead early in the second period, the Sabres were playing in the defensive zone. Carolina defenseman Joni Pitkanen launched a howitzer of a shot that zipped off Enroth’s helmet.
The force of the hit caused Enroth’s helmet to jar loose from his face, and he signalled to the ref to stop play (when a goalkeeper has a helmet issue, the referee can stop play so he can fix it).
However, the ref missed the signal, allowing play to continue while the Sabres keeper fiddled with his mask. Finally, in desperation, Enroth pulled it from his face, lunging right in time to make the save.
Enroth’s save might be the first maskless stop made by a goalkeeper since 1974, when Andy Brown retired from the league as the last helmetless goalie.
It was an impressive stop, even with a helmet on, but the fact that less than a second before making the toe save, Enroth was still fiddling with his mask just adds to the feat.
Buffalo has been playing without superstar goalie Ryan Miller for their last three games, but the 22-year-old Enroth has filled in incredibly well.
The Sabres are in the midst of a fight for their playoff lives, and a loss on Sunday would have been devastating to their hopes of sneaking in as the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed.
As it turned out, his save proved to be the difference in the game, as the Sabres went on to win 2-1 in overtime, giving them a massive boost in their playoff push.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
While Tuesday’s heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes left many Buffalo Sabres fans feeling blue, there should still be joy in the City of Light. Why you may ask? The answer is simple—your future is so bright, ya gotta wear shades. Yes, yes, I know the past has not been too bright and celebrating your 40th year in the NHL and still not having a Stanley Cup to your credit is a dark cloud over that celebration.
While some may want to blame goaltender Ryan Miller for last night’s loss, you may really want to look at the other end of the ice for the true culprit, Carolina goaltender Cam Ward. By the end of the night Ward had racked up 40 saves and, as one die-hard Sabres fan, RockerTommyB, tweeted last night, “Cam Ward is our kryptonite.”
Brandon Sutter scored Carolina’s lone goal with just 42 seconds left in the first period giving the Canes a mental edge going into the locker room at the first intermission that Cam Ward apparently took to heart. With a lot of traffic in front of Miller, Sutter got lucky with a rebound off of Miller and backhanded it into the net with Miller lost in the commotion on the opposite side of the net.
Miller, usually a calm, cool and collected kind of guy, was obviously upset by the goal late in the first as he came off the ice. He is, traditionally, the last man off the ice and as he went off the ice he slammed his stick on the boards, clearly in frustration. While the Sabres battled along the boards and hung in there and fought hard in the neutral zone, none of their 40 shots got past the brick wall that was Cam Ward.
Yet, to the Sabre faithful, while the bitter taste from this game may still be in your mouth, you must take a cleansing breath and look to the future.
The winds of change are in the air in Buffalo, with a new owner whose passion and deep love for the game is certainly contagious. It is evident in the chat rooms, blog comments and even sports broadcasts. Some have even speculated that this excitement has already begun to trickle down to the players.
The Sabres culture is moving in a positive direction with a new owner who has clearly stated that he isn’t afraid to make a sincere financial investment in the team. How’s that for some changing winds?
If you have about 40 minutes, I highly recommend this interview between new owner, Terry Pegula, and a collection of Buffalo news reporters as part of an editorial board meeting on February 24th. If you are a Sabres’ fan and don’t have a man crush on Mr. Pegula yet, you will after listening to this awesome interview. He referred to what he is presently doing with the team, the fans and the organization as “culture change.”
While Buffalo is buzzing with reports that the Sabres new owner may also be positioning himself to buy the Buffalo Bills, I don’t think that will happen.
He was quoted in the interview above, after being asked if he was also interested in the Bills, “Nope, nope. I got too much going right here, right now, to get this running the way we want it running and to inject the attitude we want into the organization to think about, worry about, football.”
While some Buffalo reporters are claiming inside information and unnamed sources, Mr. Pegula doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would knowingly contradict himself in the press within a three week period. Knowing the history of the previous owner with the fan base, it would be more of a detriment to the vision that he has for the Sabres if he were suddenly seen as deceptive.
Many would argue that you have one of the best goaltenders in the league. The simple fact that he was chosen as the goalie for the silver medalist 2010 US Olympic team, along with his Vezina trophy last year should leave the argument of Ryan Miller’s value to the team pretty much closed.
You have a solid goaltender who, I believe, will bring you far—possibly even farther than anyone would have suspected. Miller is certainly a goaltender who thrives on the adrenaline rush and rises to the occasion when asked. He will regularly exceed expectations. He is just that kind of player and that kind of individual.
Adding to Miller is a roster whose average age hovers around 25, what Twitter’s BSN360 refers to as “character guys,” in forwards Michael Grier and Rob Niedermayer and goaltender Patrick Lalime. The junior prospects are also a bright spot, in particular Buffalo native left winger Marcus Foligno, who is the son of former Sabre captain Mike Foligno (1981-1991).
So, Sabre fans, with Mr. Pegula and Mr. Miller et al on your side, spring is in the air and your future is bright…go get yourself some cool shades—you’re going to need them.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Many Sabres fans, including myself, were a bit premature after Buffalo moved into seventh place last week. I was already thinking about who the Sabres should play in the first round. Well, after a 1-0 loss to Carolina, Buffalo is the team that everyone is looking to beat.
It’s not over until it’s over. New Jersey knows a little something about that this season. Former Sabre Henrik Tallinder and the revitalized Devils are looking to make one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, and I have jumped on the bandwagon. I’ve always felt that teams like New Jersey and Detroit have always been good, always making the playoffs. That’s because they have.
As much as I normally dislike the Devils, this year is different. After being in last place for the first half of the season, New Jersey has gained my respect. If there is one team that I do not want the Sabres to face down this final stretch, it’s the Devils.
The Devils are just six points behind Buffalo. They still play the Sabres one more time and they have a game in hand. It will be no easy task fending them off. They even have a chance to catch the Rangers in seventh. New Jersey trails New York by eight points, but still have two games in hand and a meeting against them in the second to last game of the season.
Obviously, I want the Sabres to make the playoffs, but I believe that New Jersey will take the seventh or eighth spot in the East. I feel sorry for whoever has to face New Jersey in the first round (if they make it) because they will put up one heck of a fight.
New Jersey started the season with a 10-29-2 record, falling 27 points back of the eighth place spot. Since January 9th, the Devils have been on fire, going 23-3-2 and moving to just six points back!
No team has ever made the playoffs after a deficit of at least 12 points. New Jersey is looking to shatter that record.
The Devils also just went through a span of 17 games without allowing a first period goal, a big reason in why they were able to win so many games. That streak was snapped when they fell behind 2-0 to the Islanders in the first period on Tuesday. But, the Devils came storming back with four unanswered goals to win that game, too.
The last couple of weeks, many Buffalo fans were content because the Sabres had game in hand over most teams. Well, guess what. Those games in hand are gone. Don’t count on the Sabres just cruising through the final stretch.
The Sabres still have games against every team in the Eastern Conference, with the exception of the Islanders, Boston, Pittsburgh and Ottawa. Not one of the remaining games will be an easy win, but not many are in the NHL anymore.
Remember that the Sabres did not get off to a good start this season, either. It wasn’t as bad as New Jersey, but Buffalo were 10 games back at one point. The Sabres started off 15-18-3, including a 3-7-2 record in October.
It goes to show you that games early in the season are just as important as the ones toward the end. New Jersey defeated Buffalo 1-0 in October. The Sabres went on to win the next two against the Devils, and those games turned out to be huge.
There are still four teams that could move into the playoffs by the end of the season, and as a Sabres fan, I’m extremely nervous.
Carolina, Toronto and New Jersey are all in the chase. Even Atlanta are just six points out. The Thrashers have fallen dramatically though, going 7-14-6 since January 7th. Going 2-7-2 in February didn’t help their cause.
Overall, I believe that New Jersey will take the seventh spot and the Sabres will take eighth. The Rangers are going to drop off. Carolina and Toronto don’t want it enough as the other teams.
I know Buffalo just lost to the Hurricanes, but it was a solid effort. I think the whole road trip and the passing of Rick Martin, finally caught up to them. I think now is a great time for three days off.
With the presence of Terry Pegula, I think the Sabres are determined to do well this season. They, along with New Jersey, would be fully capable of pulling off a first-round upset if they make the playoffs.
That brings me to my next piece: ‘Playoff Momentum’ which will be posted tomorrow.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
The news of Richard Martin’s death did not impact the hockey community like it would if it were one of the well-known legends of hockey like Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau or Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky.
Rick Martin still had an impact.
Martin had the advantage and equal disadvantage of playing for the expansion Buffalo Sabres rather than being drafted by an established team like the Montreal Canadians—the team he grew up watching.
He did benefit by being able to play in the NHL and make an immediate impact. He was at a disadvantage because he did not get a chance to win the Stanley Cup and reinforce his superstar talent for those who select Hall of Fame inductees.
Few nowadays remember that “Rico,” as he was nicknamed, grew up in Quebec and played for Thetford Mines and the Montreal Junior Canadians, where he starred with future Buffalo line-mate Gilbert Perreault and NHL alumni Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle, Andre DuPont, Jocelyn Guevremont, Ian Turnbull and Rick Kehoe.
The Junior Canadians had a stockpile of young, French Canadian talent and, playing in the Montreal Forum, they actually outdrew the NHL’s Montreal Canadians.
Martin and his future line-mate, Perreault, were young stars and extremely popular in Quebec.
Still, fewer knew that Martin, and Hall of Famers Perreault, Marcel Dionne and Guy Lafleur, relished playing against each other as children in the Quebec peewee tournament each year.
Make no mistake—Rick Martin was a rare hockey talent who could play in today’s NHL and probably score more goals than he did in his prime as a Buffalo Sabres’ top draft choice.
As hard as it is to believe, he could score with Stamkos, Ovechkin and Crosby if he played today.
That claim could not be made of every star NHL performer from a different time.
For those who have never seen Martin play—you really missed a treat.
His slap shot rivaled the hardest and most lethal in the game.
His wrist shot was so accurate, he would regularly challenge players to a game of “hit the post,” and he could do it eight out of 10 times, consistently. Martin could also skate and was capable of carrying the puck and playing roughly when necessary.
He made a perfect line-mate for Perreault and Robert and helped create the legendary French Connection—one of the best forward lines in NHL history.
The thing that made Rick Martin unique, though, was his temperament.
He was highly competitive and, although it was hardly ever mentioned, he was nearly unstoppable from the blue line in.
Rick Martin was addicted to the high of scoring goals and never came down from it.
They said the same thing about another French Canadian sniper, Maurice Richard, who was described as having eyes like burning coals when he was skating in from the blue line.
A great guy off the ice, Martin was capable of holding grudges on it, and woe to his foes if he did. His sense of humor and wisecracks often needled the other team to distraction and sometimes caused longstanding grudges with opposing players.
His scorching blasts often put a period on what he was trying to get across and won the Sabres many contests.
Martin never forgave forward Ryan Walter and goalie Mike Palmateer for upending him on a breakaway and causing a knee injury that shortened his sparkling career. If not injured, Martin by all estimates would have scored at least 500 goals in his career.
Martin also made a few coaches more than a little angry. His wisecracks and practical jokes—like cutting the hockey sticks of fellow players so they would break at just the right (or wrong) time—caused some heated locker room diatribes from head coaches.
Martin was not very fond of Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman for trading him to the LA Kings.
I personally had the opportunity to meet Rick Martin several years ago in Florida, where he was taking part in a hockey legends game against the retired New York Islanders Stanley Cup team.
Martin was down to earth and spent a lot of time answering questions and pontificating on the game he loved.
On the Buffalo Sabres not winning the Stanley Cup Martin said, “We were only one or two players away. We needed another defenseman and a playoff goalie.”
When I asked him who his favorite player was, he said, without hesitation, ”Bobby Hull.”
He also said his biggest thrill was meeting the Golden Jet at an All-Star game and being invited to sit with him and talk about the do’s and dont’s of the NHL.
Rick Martin was a superb host and a guy who decided to put down roots near Buffalo, where he and his wife worked together on Globalquest, a computer business that they ran together.
Like his childhood idol Hull, Martin always took time to shake hands and take pictures with adoring fans well after his playing days were over.
There is no doubt that Martin will be greatly missed by his family and those who admired him for his work on and off the ice.
God bless you, Rick. There will not be another like you. You touched the hearts of hockey fans everywhere and we will not forget you.
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We have officially entered the stretch run of the 2010-2011 NHL regular season. This is the time for teams that are already in contention to tweak what they have to their needs, and for teams on the outside to do whatever they can to get in.
Improvements must be made in order for all teams to go on viable runs for the Stanley Cup.
This slideshow will examine the needs of 10 teams in each the Eastern and Western Conference.
Although it is quite difficult to predict which teams battling for a playoff position will qualify, I tried to make a fair assessment to the best of my abilities.
My apology to fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild and Atlanta Thrashers.
