Daily Links for Tuesday, January 3

by Andy Boron on Jan 3, 2012 6:03 AM EST in Daily Links

It's back to school/work for many of us today, and it's back to work for the Buffalo Sabres as well against a depleted, tired Oilers team.

After big win at Chicago, Oilers head to Buffalo - NHL.com
Edmonton enters Buffalo looking to build on some rare momentum after a 4-3 victory against the Western-leading Chicago Blackhawks. However, they'll likely be without rookie center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opening period and did not return.

MYERS & ENNIS CLOSE TO RETURNING - Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres took the ice for the first time in 2012 this morning and are looking to get a few regular contributors back into the lineup soon.

Sabres understand need to be better - The Buffalo News
Expectations -- and the team's payroll -- were sky-high at the start of the season, but the Sabres are failing to come close to them for one of the first times in Ruff's tenure.

Poor production makes Kassian a spectator - The Buffalo News
One point in 10 games. You can wrestle all you want with the hows and whys of Zack Kassian getting scratched Saturday night, but that's the bottom-line reason the former first-round draft pick didn't play against the Ottawa Senators and probably will be in the press box tonight against Edmonton.

Heroics of Lundqvist, Rupp lift Rangers to Classic win - NHL.com
Henrik Lundqvist stopped Danny Briere's penalty shot with 19 seconds left, Mike Rupp tallied two goals, Brad Richards scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the New York Rangers rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

2012 Winter Classic: Philadelphia Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky not quite up to the challenge - ESPN
The story in Philadelphia always seems to always revolve around the goalies, and the Winter Classic was no different.

Lundqvist vs. Briere penalty shot: Classic’s made-for-TV moment - Puck Daddy
John Tortorella was a happy coach after his New York Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. Well, save for the officiating in the third period.

ANIMATED: Mike Rupp Celebrates Winter Classic Goal With Jaromir Jagr Salute - SBNation.com
When Mike Rupp scored a goal late in the second period to cut the Philadelphia Flyers lead to 2-1, his goal celebration was the literal example of adding insult to injury.

Five issues for 2012 - THN
Looking ahead to the New Year, Ken Campbell writes about the CBA, the Coyotes, award winners and more.

Team Canada readies for world junior rematch with Russia - The Globe and Mail
OHL coach has more at stake in Tuesday's big game than most. His son plays for Canada, top player on his team is with Russia.

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Comments

Kass shouldn't sit for the Sabres

Either play him for Buffalo or return him to Rochester. He needs ice time.

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Jan 3, 2012 8:31 AM EST reply actions

I concur.

by Binthet on Jan 3, 2012 9:02 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Especially with the Sabres limited cap space

by Monotonousblob on Jan 3, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

I've missed 2 games so far

and with tonight being the first after the TWC/MSG split I feel sad. It really sucks, and I am just pretty down about it.

There is also anger, but I’m not sure what bothers me the most. Is it that greed on both sides kept a deal from being reached? Is it that even though TWC doesn’t have MSG anymore my bill won’t be going down? Is it that they put the freaking NBAtv channel in MSG’s place? Is it the alleged 5 billion TWC spent on Lakers rights in LA or is it the unreasonable demands by MSG for packaging channels along with their base MSG and MSG+?

One of them, all of them, some more than others? It makes me angry, but then I think about the end result; I will not be watching the Sabres at my house on a cold winter’s night… And I get sad.

by VFN FTW on Jan 3, 2012 9:43 AM EST reply actions

Yep, it is definitely a bummer.

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Jan 3, 2012 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Both are at fault...

MSG for the shotgun wedding of FUSE with TWC, and TWC not giving us refunds. The NBA and NHL (so I hear) networks are not adequate replacements (but are better than nothing).

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Jan 3, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

NHLN is a good supplement for hockey fans, but in no way a replacement for a Sabres fan. I’ve had it for a little while and I’ve been really happy with it.

by VFN FTW on Jan 3, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

NHLN has NHL on the Fly, which is to hockey what Sportscenter is to the NBA.

by Binthet on Jan 3, 2012 11:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

My impressions on Saturday's game

As others have probably said – Roy and Stafford need to have something change. They just looked kind of generally clueless. Roy was partially channeling 2008 Maxim Afinogenov – a lot of dipsy doodle until he got checked and gave up the puck. Both he and Stafford had some flashes of brilliance. After one of the giveaways I mentioned, Roy had a very impressive backcheck where he got the puck back and basically fixed his mistake. Stafford used some creativity and passing to get through the defense but once he got near the goal, he looked like he had no idea how to finish. With Stafford it seemed more like bad luck than bad decisions necessarily.
I thought Boyes, Gragnani and Hecht quietly had very good games. Some time in the pressbox seemed to have done Gragnani some good, as he cut down on the giveaways and generally made better decisions for the puck. And I know I’m in the minority, but I’d like a longer term deal with Boyes, but not in excess of something like 3 million.
Kaleta and Vanek looked like the players who most gave a damn. Kaleta played probably one of his better games of the season – agitating, forechecking hard, but in a very controlled manner. Vanek got a breakaway as the first period was ending but time ran out. He slammed his stick hard. Very pissed.
Ellis, McCormick and Gerbe all worked hard too but frankly looked like they just lacked skill. Gerbe would get pushed off the puck if he had a scoring chance and he did a good job of forechecking, but he usually couldn’t get the puck back.

by Philaster on Jan 3, 2012 10:23 AM EST reply actions