I sat here trying to figure out the best way to describe this game and a few things came to mind...boring, disappointing and even...worse than the Bills Game.  Eventually Lindy Ruff helped me figure it out, it was FRUSTRATING!  I wasn't really surprised at how the first period played out but never did I expect the second to be even worse.  It wasn't until the third period that a goal was scored and that was on a bouncing puck in the Sabres zone.  Jason Arnott was able to get his stick on the bouncing puck and beat Sabres Goalie Ryan Miller.  J.P. Dumont scored the only other goal of the game, unfortunately it is 2008 and not 2006 so J.P. plays for the other team.

The game was as boring a hockey game as you could find and in fact the Sabres managed only eight scoring chances.  I would love to review the tape to find those eight chances because I didn't see them.  The Predators didn't play a great game but they did an outstanding job of keeping the Sabres to the outside and not allowing them any good scoring chances.  It wasn't until they trailed 2-0 that Buffalo turned up the heat on Predators Goalie Pekka Rinne who recorded his first NHL shutout.

After the comeback win on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins I was raving about how well the Sabres played in the third period against a team that normally thrives in the third period.  In the last two games it has been the complete opposite.  On Saturday in Montreal the Sabres were outshot 10-8 but had only three shots until they made one final push in the closing minutes.  Tonight it was a 0-0 game heading into the third and the Preds scored twice and were out shooting Buffalo 10-1 until Buffalo made a final push. 

The Sabres will take a couple of days off before heading on a three game road trip that begins on Thursday in Florida.  It will be the Sabres first trip to Florida this season and first game against the Panthers.

Harry Neale Quote of the Game

If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a huge fan of Harry Neale and his one-liners.  After every game that is televised by MSG I try to find a quote from Harry that makes me laugh out loud and post it here for your enjoyment.

Harry Neale in reference to Predators forward Jordan Tootoo skating feet first into Ryan Miller...

"Without a doubt this is a non-approved natural approach to a vasectomy"

Roll Call

Don't be afraid to come and join us in the Game Thread for every Buffalo Sabres game this season.  It's always the same people here but we invite you to join us as well and become a part of what we hope to become the best Buffalo Sabres Community on the web.

Thanks to Joan O. Lion Alum and qdloser for joining us in the thread tonight.