The Buffalo Sabres are set to get an important piece of the puzzle back in the lineup on Friday night.  Sure there are plenty of Tim Connolly injury jokes that could be inserted here now but this comes at the perfect time for the Sabres. 

I would venture to say that Tim Connolly is the Sabres best player when he is in the lineup.  There is no denying that he brings a whole new dynamic to the team and most importantly two good scoring lines.  We all know that this team had three scoring lines when they won the Presidents Trophy, that will not happen again but this team hasn't even had two scoring lines recently.

Somehow this team has won three games in a row with makeshift lines that  were put together by Lindy Ruff in order to prove a point.  Well Lindy, your point was made now give your team the best chance to win every night.  The plan worked only because Matt Ellis had a week better than any he has had in his life.

The current line combinations without Connolly looked something like this...

Not exactly setting the world on fire with these line combinations.  Seriously, is any team scared when they have to face the Sabres?  The infusion of Tim Connolly in the lineup will change these line combinations considerably.  

If I was the coach the lines would look something like this...

If the Sabres put a lineup like the one above on the ice it will give them two legitimate scoring lines and possibly a checking line.  It still doesn't compare to the highlight reel offense they had a couple of seasons ago but Connolly brings a whole new dimension for this team.  

As you can see on the above stat line...Connolly has played only six games this season and has seven points.  That is the type of play that this team needed but the big question is how long will it last.  I would love to see Timmy stay in the lineup all season but I would say there is like a 20% chance of that actually happening.

Before we even talk about the game let's get the biting incident out of the way.  Yep  I said biting incident.  If you don't know what I'm talking about you should be able to find something relatively quick by searching Ruutu bites Peters ( I just did a search and it pulls up numerous stories and videos).  It was one of the strangest things I have ever seen in a hockey game in my life.  I really wasn't sure how to react when it happened, should I laugh or be completely disturbed by such behavior?  The answer is to be disturbed.  What is going through someones head when they decide to bite another person?  On second thought, it was pretty funny too...hahaha!

Believe it or not they also played a hockey game and the Sabres were victoriuos by a score of 3-2.  It was the third consecutive win for the team and their fourth in their last five games...so I should be happy right?  Answer... No I am not happy.  The Sabres struck early on a goal by sharp shooter (sarcasm) Matt Ellis.  It was the third goal in two games for Ellis who now has four on the season.  Buffalo led the game 2-0 after playing a really good first period.

Derek Roy put the Sabres up 3-0 on an ugly goal that actually was kicked in by a Sens player on accident.  At that point the Sabres must have thought the game was over because Ottawa took over the game.  Their first goal was scored from behind the net by Jason Spezza, a goal that Ryan Miller should never allow.  It took just over 30 seconds for Spezza to net another and pull the Sens within one at 3-2.

If not for some solid goaltending by Ryan Miller the Sabres would have easily blown a three goal lead tonight.  The Sens outshot Buffalo 11-4 in the third period and the Sabres fourth shot was an empty net goal by Thomas Vanek.

Blowing leads is reminiscent of last years team that failed to make the playoffs.  The difference is Ryan Miller.  Although I still criticize him at times, he has been much better this season than last.

The Senators have struggled all season and that is the main reason the Sabres got away with two points in thsi game.  They played sloppy all night and actually had 16 giveaways through two periods.  I don't know the final numbers but the third period may have doubled that total.  You get away with that against the Ottawa Senators but the New York Rangers won't let you get away with that type of play.  The Sabres are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference but I have a sinking suspicion that the ninth place team (Pittsburgh Penguins) are going to turn things around.

The Sabres got their two points but they need to better to be considered among the rest of the playoff contenders.  Luckily for the Sabres it appears that it will be a 10 team race because so many Eastern conference teams are already just about out of it.

Harry Neale Quote of the Game

The Harry Neale Quote of the Game was courtesy of Fucilli5 tonight.  It was actually an interaction between Rick and Harry in reference to the Ruutu biting incident.

Rick: I’m trying to bite my tongue
Harry: Don’t worry you won’t get a penalty.

Roll Call

Once again I wasn't here for the live Game Thread so we set a brand new DBTB record with 296 comments.  Thanks to everyone that participated in the open thread and hope you are having fun without me.  Can you tell I'm a bit jealous?

Roll Call: Joan O., dfderie, HO, kelliesac, qdloser, stopplayinglikesissies, Fucilli5, BenAllen
Total Users: 8
Total Posts: 296

Since I was forced to watch the game on tape delay and couldn't join in the Game Thread, I decided to write down all my comments and post them.  I'll have an actual recap tomorrow but for now, enjoy my thoughts on the game the same way I enjoyed all of your comments.

First Period

• What has gotten into Matt Ellis?  Three goals in his last two games and he scores only 15 seconds into the game.
• Wow!!!  Now we get a power play just 40 seconds in.
• Terrible power play for the Sabres and Hank takes a bad penalty.  Talk about a momentum killer.
• Heatley gets the idiot of the night award...he negates a power play with a feel good penalty.
• Jarkko Ruutu just bit Andrew Peters!  Did I really just see that?  He literally bit him.  I'm not sure how to react to that.  Should I laugh or be disgusted by that?
• Peters is a little upset I think, He just nailed Winchester as soon as he came out of the box.

• What a goal by Drew Stafford to slide the puck through the legs of Alex Auld.  Nice play by Roy to get the puck to him as well.  Really liking what Stafford has done over the past month or so.  A 2-0 lead in the first period against a hapless team...they better not blow this.
• Physical play is definitely picking up now.  After a harmless shot on net Goose gets a bit rough and Neil came in and got a bit physical as well.  You have to think more is coming.
• Stay out of the box Buffalo...This is the third penalty of the period for Buffalo to only one for Ottawa.  Eventually they'll make us pay!
• Great...Rivet is hurt again!  I hope it's not that serious.
• I couldn't tell if Neil got Goose in the face or not but I'll be really surprised if this game doesn't get really, really physical.
• I think I figured out why I hate the Senators.
• Hahaha...Ruuttuu is complaining that Spacek hit him in the crotch with the stick, which he may have but it was accidental.
• I just remembered that Mair went down the hallway the last time these two teams played.  Just another reason that I hate the Sens.

Second Period

• What the hell was Sekera doing?  Did I just see him skate directly in front of his own net and lose the puck?
• Finally... a Sabres power play this time!
• Terrible play by Spacek at the Blue-Line and this Power Play has started out awfully.
• Really liking Butler a lot...he doesn't make stupid plays and is so calm and cool with the puck.
• Just as I'm typing they score a goal...the best part of watching it late on DVR is the rewind button.  Oh and the goal was ugly like Harry said but those are the type of goals we need to start scoring.
• Am I the only one who hates the scrums after the whistle?  They seem so pointless.
• How did that go in the net?  I didn't even see it go in.  That is a bad goal by Miller.  He cannot let in easy goals like that.
• Crap...another goal by Spezza...this time on the breakaway.  News Flash guys...Spezza is pretty good, you may want to know where he is on the ice at all times.
• This is the type of game we find a way to lose against Ottawa...I may have to start cheering for a new team if they blow this.
• What a dumb penalty by Spezza with his team on the power play.
• That's why Pominville needs better line mates than Ellis and Gaustad.  He blocked a shot and he streaked all alone down the ice because his line mates weren't fast enough to keep up.
• Not a very good period for the Sabres although they seemed to pick it up at the end of the period.

Third Period

• I do not like the direction this game is going.
• A dumb play by MacArthur at Center Ice.  He had time and space to gain the red line and instead fired it down before getting across.
• Well it was an ugly third period but it's a win.

Buffalo Sabres (19-15-5)	Game # 40	Ottawa Senators (13-18-6)
	vs.	Pre

It's been awhile since the Sabres and Senators have played each other but the circumstances are eerily similar.  The Sabres are coming off of a couple of good games and the Senators are coming in as a team that is struggling horribly.  The last meeting was a frustrating 5-2 loss for the Sabres, what will tonight hold?

Buffalo has played two really good games recently, beating the Maple Leafs 4-1 on New Year's Day and beating the first place Bruins 4-2 on Saturday afternoon but somehow it's tonight's game that may somehow define this team.  Let's be honest with ourselves, this team has never had a problem getting motivated to play a first place team on the road.  They do however lack motivation when playing a last place team at home.

There is something about the Ottawa Senators that brings out the hatred in me.  Plenty of people have issues with the Toronto Maple Leafs but for me it's the Ottawa Senators that bring out the passion.  Maybe it;s because of the playoff history between the two teams or maybe it's because of Chris Neil and his cheap shot on Chris Drury a few years back.  Maybe it's because Sens fans will defend the hit on Drury but cry foul when Daniel Alfredsson was hit by Mark Bell last season.  It may even be that I can't stand Bruce Garrioch but that can't be right because I can't stand Bucky Gleason either and yet I like the Sabres.  I'm really not sure what it is but I hope the Sabres have the same intensity tonight that I have right now.

Don't forget to get your SPG Picks in...Lion Alum was the winner again but not eligible for prize this time.  By the way...I'm sending it out this week finally.

Injuries

It looks like Sabres Captain Craig Rivet will be back in the lineup after suffering an injury a couple of weeks back.  In the absence of Rivet, rookie defenseman Chris Butler has come up from Portland and has played pretty well.  However, it looks like he will be sent back to Portland if Teppo Numminen is able to play.  Numminen missed practice yesterday with an undisclosed illness.

Tim Connolly will not be in the lineup tonight but he is close to returning and may even play on Friday when the Sabres host the Rangers.

Max Afinogenov is out of the lineup with a groin injury and Lindy Ruff doesn't think it will be a short term injury.  It's not a big deal because Max has been in and out of the lineup as a healthy scratch anyway.  The only problem caused by the injury will be the opportunity to trade him away but he should be healthy by the trade deadline.

Starting Goalies

Previous Meeting

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Final - 10.27.2008	1	2	3	Total
Ottawa Senators	1	3	1	5
Buffalo Sabres	0	0	2	2

Complete Coverage >

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I was unable to watch the game and I have been trying to get a chance to watch it before I posted.  Unfortunately circumstances have made me unable to watch it so I thought I'd share a few thoughts before watching the game.

• Matt Ellis scored a pair of goals, only his 2nd and 3rd of the season .  He's really making a case for staying with the team when guys come back in the lineup.  He is not spectacular but he is solid.  He normally goes unnoticed in a game which is a compliment with the way the Sabres have played (before their last two games).
• Jason Pominville has four points in his last two games, including two goals in the game against Toronto.  Pominville was one of the Sabres who had been struggling lately but seems to have broken his slump.
• The Sabres have been an up-and-down team all season but somehow have managed five points in five games against the Bruins.  That's only a .500 record but we are talking about a team that is 29-6-4 on the season.  It's pretty impressive that Buffalo is two of the six losses and one of the four overtime/shootout losses.

Harry Neale Quote of the Game

A special thanks goes to HO for pointing ouut the Harry Neale Quote of the game on Saturday.

“Savard can see out of his ears. He has real soft hands with a great imagination”.
I love his quotes.

Roll Call

I guess it works out better when I'm not here because we had 211 comments (a new DBTB record) and plenty of spillover from other blogs.  Thanks to all that commented on the post and I'll inform you now that I will be on tape delay Tuesday as well so come on over and chat away.

Roll Call: HO, marky narc, qdloser, Joan O., AngelaMc, dfderie, FrankD
Total Users: 7
Total Posts: 211

Up Next

Buffalo will head back home for a rare January home game.  They will face the struggling but hated Ottawa Senators at HSBC Arena on Tuesdaay night at 7 PM.

Buffalo Sabres (18-15-5)	Game # 39	Boston Bruins (29-5-4)
	vs.

The Sabres have earned only three of a possible eight points against the Bruins this season. It doesn't sound good but nobody has much success against the Bruins this season.  The Bruins have played a total of 38 games and have lost only five times in regulation (one against the Sabres) and four times in Overtime/Shootout (one against the Sabres).  In perspective the Sabres have fared fairly well against the First Place team in the Eastern Conference.

The Sabres beat the Leafs on Thursday night in their first game since Lindy Ruff publicly called out some the teams best players and decided to make some changes insid ethe locker room.  The game today will be a much stiffer test than the game on Thursday against the Leafs.  If anything it gives the Sabres something to build on.

Unfortunately I'll be on tape delay again today because of other obligations on a Saturday afternoon.  Try to keep the game thread going so I have something to read later on.

Previous Meetings