Buffalo Sabres Daily Links: The Playoffs Begin

It's Day 1 of the 2012 NHL playoffs, so kiss your significant other goodbye, and tell them you'll be back in 2 months. Playoff previews coming later today.

- Bill Hoppe's thoughts on the Roy/Ruff kerfuffle. [Tonawanda News]

- Thomas Vanek finally admitted to injury, and how he can be more consistent. [WGR]

- An All-Star end-of-the-year Sabres podcast featuring Joe from Buffalo Wins, Dave Davis of Kukla's Korner, Matthew Stewart from the Daily Torch, and our own Zach Zielonka. [Buffalo Wins]

- This year feels similar to many other Sabres years, and that's not a good thing. [The Goose's Roost]

- Great expectations led to a greater letdown. [Two In The Box]

- This post gets real heavy, real fast, but it's a very interesting and thorough look and win expectation models. [The Hosers]

- The ice has officially been melted at the FNC, pics included. [Buffalo.com]

NHL Playoff Links:

- The keys to the first round series in the Eastern Conference. [SI.com]

- Th Bruins just announced that Nathan Horton will miss the playoffs with a concussion. This is my sad face :o [Twitter]

- Here are the 5 excuses you'll hear from every team after a loss. [ESPN]

- Your gambling guide to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [Grantland]

- Playoff haikus for each series. [CBS]

- NBC's got full coverage of every playoff game on its various networks. [SI.com]

Other NHL News:

- The Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery for the third year in a row, lucky jerks. But hey, at least it wasn't the Leafs. [NHL.com]

- The Oilers are now one step closer to being great good relevant again. [THN]

- Jeremy Roenick drops some bombs on the Marek vs. Wyshynski podcast about how you can't ever say anything bad about the almighty Pittsburgh Penguins. [Puck Daddy]

- Why do coaches and GMs wait until the offseason to be honest about their team's struggles? [Backhand Shelf]