Sabres stumble before Classic

The Buffalo Sabres stumbled their way through their final game before the Winter Classic.  In one of the most boring games of the season the Sabres were shutout by former Sabre Ty Conklin.  Neither team was all that impressive but an early second period goal was all the Penguins needed to beat the Sabres.  Sidney Crosby knocked Jochen Hecht off the puck and fed a pass to Colby Armstrong who slipped it into an open net.  The Penguins added an empty net goal to win 2-0.

I'm sure both teams are hoping for a better showing on Tuesday when they meet at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the Winter Classic.  The Sabres out shot the Pens 26-25 but neither team amounted much of an offensive threat.  The Sabres best opportunity came in the second period when Clarke MacArthur fed a pass in front to Adam Mair but Mair failed to put it by Conklin who made a pad save.  Thomas Vanek had an opportunity in the third but Ty Conklin made his best save of the night with the glove.

I have been defending Maxim Afinogenov all season but last night he was downright awful.  Afinogenov made a lot bad passes across ice thta were intercepted by Pittsburgh.  Afinogenov seemed to be coming out of his slump with a couple of goals in recent games but he definitely regressed on Saturday.  The entire line of Roy-Vanek-Afinogenov seems to be struggling because they can not put together any offensive threat.  It will be important going into the new year that these guys start playing better if Buffalo hopes to be a threat in the playoffs.

Stay tuned for much more as the Winter Classic is just two days a way.  I would love to hear what your plan are for the game...Are you going, are you watching on TV or are you going to the House Party?  Tell us in the comments what you will be doing for the game.