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Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens [Game Thread]

Diebytheblade_tiny by D.O. on

Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres


 

Sabres_game_image_medium    Habs_game_logo_medium


 Game #1

Buffalo Sabres (0-0-0, 0PTS) vs. Montreal Canadiens (0-0-0, 0PTS)

7:30 PM EST, HSBC Arena

TV: MSG-B (Buffalo),

Radio: WGR 550 (Buffalo), XM 208 (National)

Listen Here

 

In yesterday's post I talked about it being a long six months for the players and a feeling they don't want again next year.  It's been just as long for us fans.  Sure we have had the Bills to help us through the painful off-season but tonight it begins for real.  You have read all the previews and now it's about you the fan.  Make sure to stop by during the game and chat with other Sabres fans.

It's Hockey Time!!!

Don't forget to sign up for the SPG Game

Buffalo Sabres

Players to Watch

  • Derek Roy (78GP, 32G-49-81P, 6 power play goals, 3 short-handed goals)
  • Jason Pominville (82GP, 27G-53A-80P)
  • Thomas Vanek (82GP, 36G-28A-64P, 19 power play goals, 9 game-winning goals)
  • Ales Kotalik (79GP, 23G-20A-43P, 12 power play goals)
  • Jaro Spacek (60GP, 9G-23A-32P, 7 power play goals)
  • Daniel Paille (77GP, 19G-16A-35P, 3 short-handed goals)

Notes

  • Lost last years home opener 6-4 to the NY Islanders
  • Fourth in the league in goals scored last season with 251
  • finished in 10th place last season, missing the playoffs
  • named Craig Rivet Captain, first time the Sabres have had only one captain since Stu Barnes wore the "C" from 2001-2003
  • finished Pre-Season 2-4-1

Montreal Canadiens

Players to Watch

  • Alex Kovalev (82GP, 35G-49A-84P, 17 power play goals)
  • Tomas Plekanec (81GP, 29G-40A-69P, 12 power play goals)
  • Andrei Kostitsyn (78GP, 26G-27A-53P, 12 power play goals)
  • Christopher Higgins (82GP, 27G-25A-52P, 12 power play goals)
  • Andrei Markov (82GP, 16G-42A-58P, 10 power play goals)
  • Carey Price (41GP, 2.56 GAA, .920 sv%)

Notes

  • second in the league in goals scored last season with 257
  • led the league with 90 power play goals last season converting 24.1%
  • Finished last season in 1st place in the Eastern Conference
  • led the league with 130 goals scored on the road

 

07-08 Meetings

Season Series: 3-4-1

Buffalo Outshot: 1-2-1

Montreal Outshot: 1-0-0

Even shots: 1-2-0

Buffalo PP: 7-32 - 21.88%

Montreal PP: 8-28 - 28.57%

Date O/S Vis Home W/ Goalie W/T Goal Vis PP Home PP
Oct 20 Buf 2 Mon 4 C.Huet R. Hamrlik 1-6 2-6
Nov 5 Buf 0 Mon 2 C. Huet T. Plekanec 0-2 0-2
Nov 16 Mon 1 Buf 4 R. Miller D. Paille 0-2 0-1
Nov 23 Mon 2 Buf 4 R. Miller T. Vanek 1-6 2-3
Nov 24 Buf 3 Mon 0 J. Thibault J. Spacek 1-4 0-3
Feb 29 Mon 6 Buf 2 C. Price T. Plekanec 3-3 2-6
Mar 28 O Mon 4 Buf 3 C. Price C. Higgins 1-2 0-5
Apr 3 Buf 1 Mon 3 C. Price B. Smolinski 1-5 1-4

0 recs | Comment 93 comments

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Comments

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I can’t believe the season is finally here.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:30 PM EDT   0 recs

Connolly a scratch already.

I don’t care how well he performs this year, this has to be his last year, right?

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:31 PM EDT   0 recs

Friggin Connolly

Thank God it’s the last year with him. So much talent going to waste.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Is Lydman gong to come on the ice?

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 PM EDT   0 recs

There we go.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

I was thinking the same thing

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I like Mair and all

But how much do you expect out of a line with Mair at Center? If I was Kotalik and Afinogenov…I would be pissed.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 PM EDT   0 recs

No Gaustad, no TC. One of those young guys better develop soon.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

OOOO

I’m so excited!!

by HO on Oct 10, 2008 7:40 PM EDT   0 recs

FYI guys – NHL Gamecenter on NHL.com has a free preview this weekend. It’s pretty cool. Real-time stats and you can watch up to four games at a time,.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2008 7:41 PM EDT   0 recs

I seen that Frank

But I’m still not paying for it

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh yeah, I’m with ya. Just nice to give it a look and see what it’s all about. Personally it’s all hype to me because the Carolina game has an infinite echo on it right now…

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2008 7:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Also, free preview for NHL Center Ice.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:41 PM EDT   0 recs

yeah, I buy that every year. This is just something new that has my attention.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2008 7:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

My first yell of the year, I’m sure the neighbors are happy.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:44 PM EDT   0 recs

LOL

Miller makes his first save

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

My neighbor is clinically deaf :-)

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2008 7:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Woops…

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT   0 recs

So . . . .

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT   0 recs

ugghhhhh

oh no

by HO on Oct 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT   0 recs

Dammit

Miller on his knees again for that one…what the hell was he doing all alone in front

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT   0 recs

Bad bounce.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Niiiiice Key Lime!

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:51 PM EDT   0 recs

How many times have we seen Vanek do that?

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 7:57 PM EDT   0 recs

Derek Roy

Takes dumb penalty…although a really weak call

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:02 PM EDT   0 recs

Is there really not going to be a power play clock all game?

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Not liking that at all

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Penalties

A ton of penalties in this game

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Weak call

They are calling everything in this game

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree. Kind of ticky tack. All in all, a pretty good first period, though.

by Brian Galliford on Oct 10, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Pretty Good

could have been very good if they would have put the puck behind Price at least one more time.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Opportunities

A couple of great opportunities and nothing…we need to get a couple behind Price…rattle the kid a bit. I’m not really sure you can rattle him but hey, have to try.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:09 PM EDT   0 recs

No call?

How do they not call that hold

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:13 PM EDT   0 recs

Nice effort from the Mair-Kotalik-Max line.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Yeah...I liked that

I was ready to eat my words from earlier but they still didn’t put the puck into the net.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Roy

made two terrible plays in that sequence. First the give away and second he allowed the forward behind him.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Sabres better through one

I certainly thought the Sabres were the better team but the score is still 1-1. I’m not sure how Lang was left all alone but once again Miller laying on the ice when the goal was scored.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:22 PM EDT   0 recs

I’m really happy they brought Teppo back. Seems like a decent dude, of course the sad background melody certainly helps his case.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:29 PM EDT   0 recs

Max

SOB…I thought that was a goal for sure

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:37 PM EDT   0 recs

Me too, but lots of risk there too.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Definitely agree

That’s a disaster waiting to happen

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

We can’t keep giving them power play opportunities…they will make us pay for it.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Damn

I thought Paille was going to have one there…nice save by Paille

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Haven’t seen the stats, but seems like Peters has been on the ice a bit more than normal.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:46 PM EDT   0 recs

I stand corrected. It just seems longer because I don’t want to see him on the ice at all.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That is a lot for him

he normally doesn’t play that much.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow

that was close!

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 8:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Phew, Thanks Toni.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 8:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Didn't need that

It wasn’t even a hold though

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Not as good

I didn’t like the way they played that period

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:07 PM EDT   0 recs

Well 20 minutes left

20 minutes to get this game in the bag…they need to play like they did in the first period.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Power Play

Two-man advantage

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:31 PM EDT   0 recs

oh maybe not

could be a four minute

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:31 PM EDT   0 recs

Game 1 and I’m already biting my nails.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 9:45 PM EDT   0 recs

yes

it was

by qdloser on Oct 10, 2008 9:45 PM EDT   0 recs

way too many chances for the habs

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:52 PM EDT   0 recs

need

a goal here

by qdloser on Oct 10, 2008 9:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Roy having a pretty up and down game tonight.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 9:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Not one of his best games tonight

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 9:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Just a bit too out of control.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 9:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Got a point

It’s not enough…we have been the better team, we need two

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 10, 2008 10:00 PM EDT   0 recs

WHAT A SAVE

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 10:06 PM EDT   0 recs

Big face-off here.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Oct 10, 2008 10:08 PM EDT   0 recs