Happy Friday, folks, the last one of 2011! The Sabres play their first of a back-to-back weekend tonight against Washington, but will the Caps be any better at home than on the road? (Spoiler alert: yes.) After the break, more Sabres links and lots of fun end-of-the-year stuff.
Caps look to avenge earlier losses to Sabres – Buffalo Sabres
Tonight’s game preview..
After Sekera gets ‘smoked,’ Gragnani back for Sabres – Sabres Edge
Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera, who left Wednesdays 3-1 loss to New Jersey with an upper-body injury, confirmed today he will be out weeks.
Following Vanek’s example may cure Sabres’ scoring woes – The Buffalo News
Since Thomas Vanek seems to be the only guy scoring goals for the Buffalo Sabres, it makes sense to look at how he scores them.
Are The Sabres Unlucky? – WGR 550
Doesn’t it seem like the other teams get all the tipped goals and all the close calls?
More Sabres Links:
Gragnani gains insight from press box – The Buffalo News
Marc-Andre Gragnani noticed a few things the past four games while watching from the press box. The most obvious was how easy everything looks from three levels up.
“Gotta Support The Team” – My First Sabres Game of the Year – Dear God Why Us Sports
A fun recap of an otherwise not fun game.
12/28 Recap: Leduc gets 20th; Lagace leads Amerks – SabresProspects.com
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored his 20th goal of the year Wednesday as Rimouski lost to Chicoutimi, 6-4. Leduc’s 20 goals tie his previous career best set in 2009-10, while his 51 points in 35 games continues to lead all QMJHL rearguards.
Around the NHL:
THN’s 2011 player of the year – THN
A Vezina Trophy, the all-time save percentage record, a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe. And now, THN’s 2011 MVP award.
How Evgeni Malkin accidentally created awesome hockey cards – Puck Daddy
Malkin’s personal notes to his fellow players on trading cards are awesome.
2011 In Review: Reliving The Most Important Sports Stories Of The Year – SBNation.com
By now you’ve probably seen the biggest and best and most important stories of 2011, but how about the stories that everybody’s forgetting? Take a look back at 11 stories that still make no sense, and remember why we loved them.
The 25 Greatest Sportscasting Moments Of 2011 – SBNation.com
Over the last year, dozens of people in suits talked to you for hours and hours. Here is a list, complete with audio and video, of the 25 greatest, worst, or otherwise notable sportscasting moments of 2011.
How Don Cherry Piano Desk went from friends’ joke to viral hit – Puck Daddy
If you haven’t already seen the Don Cherry piano video, then here you go.