What I liked:

1. Tyler Myers is a fucking beast. Best player on the ice tonight, and almost scored the winner late in the 3rd. Loved when he drilled Lucic after he drilled Tallinder in the 1st.

2. Kaleta is an unbelievable force. He must have had at least 5 Carruba Collisions tonight, and whenever he was on the ice his line just dominated the shift. He may be the best backchecker in the NHL, and he barely missed the game winning goal with about 2 minutes left.

3. Gaustad needs to be our captain. He is our blood and guts the way his motor runs and how he battles. His great goal in front of the net almost held up.

4. Miller was quietly outstanding. No unbelievable saves, but wow did he smother the puck.

5. Lydman really impressed. I haven't seen him this physical cince '06-07. Next to Myers he was our best defenseman all night long. His hip check on Recci was great stuff.

What I didn't like at all:

1. Rivet may be our worst defenseman at this point. He gets burned all the time, doesn't handle the puck well, pinches at the wrong times, and seems to have given up hitting this year for some reason. I found myself wishing Sekera was in there in his place, becasue he is playing like a worthless tool right now. Tell me, did he just get old overnight, or what?

2. Connolly, Connolly, Connolly. You suck at faceoffs and you continuously try forcing passes through traffic that get picked off. I am really getting sick of your fancy fairy hockey, and am beginning to wish Kennedy would replace his giveaway ass as our top line center.

3. Hecht will never, ever, ever score. Why put him up when Stafford went down? He's inept on offense, never hits, can't set anyone up, loses every faceoff, and is my least favorite player on the team.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Didn't see the game tonight... I had an exam early in the morning and then immdiately went to work for an 11 1/2 hour shift. Was hoping I could come home to watch a Sabres victory on DVR, but that's not the case.

BUT! I did take care of Michael Peca and his family at work today...and it reminded me of how much I had a crush on him back in the day. He was my first ~hockey player crush~. Ahh, memories...

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

I wasn't disappointed with Rivet, he was never brought in to be an offensive threat for our team. He keeps people away from Miller and out of the crease, he also gets that puck out of the slot. That is what he did tonight and that is what he can do.

I never expect Rivet to know when to pinch perfectly, he isn't that type of defender.

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I agree with pretty much everything said above.

And hell yeah, Myers and Lydman were really laying the body on people. It was great to see.

We were too fancy on offense again. Just shoot the stinkin puck.

Disciplin was a major issue. We got away from playing our game at times, and I think Mike Grier is a big help at preventing that. He needs to get back in the lineup... soon.

I'd also, really, really like to see Ennis called up again.

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Wheelhouse

My biggest complaint, is we NEED to take Connolly off of the power play... at least for a test run. Against Boston and against Florida, any time I saw him try to get past a defenseman, he was immediately stripped of the puck. I don't know if he is getting too fancy or if he genuinely doesn't know how to set up a good PP rush, but either way...

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You dont take your leading point getter off the powerplay.

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The Board Drunk.

Definitely disappointed with Rivet last night, and to an extent, this year. He isn't playing great defensively.

I guess, but he's gotta work on NOT turning the puck over at every possible opportunity on the PP. It'd really help a lot. If someone else works it in and gets the puck to him, he's not too bad, but the man just cannot lead the rush on his own lately.

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Butler has been spending too much time with Andrej Sekara. Their goal in regulation came as a direct result of him not reading the play and getting caught flat footed. Seriously, he looked like Kotalik out there.


I like Steve Montador, and I think he plays a solid game, but he's just a hair slow, and a not quite a good enough puck handler for my liking.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Butler played well overall, though, and set up our only goal.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

When our only goal against Rask comes from Goose via Butler? You know we have issues "finishing".

Where are the top players, in a one-goal game? Where is that avalanche of scoring? Where are the top point-getters, in such a clutch, break-their-backs, "step on their throats", go-for the-kill type of contest?

They're MIA. I don't want to hear about "snakebit", please...This nonsense is getting to be a bit tiresome. Far too much money tied up in roster positions that show up when they feel right, and fade when the pressure is on.

These guys should be able to score in their sleep - Isn't it everything they're supposed to do in this life? It's what they've practiced, for years.

I can't fathom these lapses. They're maddening.

yes, they've been training their whole lives to score, but the other guys have been training to stop them...

just because they're supposed to score doesn't mean that they will

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FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMAN

"on the ice now for buffalo, looking for the pass, and gets it, afinogenov, couldnt get the shot away, now HE DOES, HE SCORES!!!! HOLY MACKEREL ROLE THE HIGH LIGHT FILM, MAXIM AFINOGENOV, WHAT A MOVE!!!!.... thats not fair... that was unbelievable"
-R.J. and Lorenz

Butler knew he fumbled it. He is only 2 seasons in and from time to time we will see some head scratchers from him, but overall I can't complain about this kid. He is holding his own and then some so far.
I really don't have any complaints on the defense on this team, now that Sekera is out and Lydman is in. Offensively though, We Stink!!!!!!!!! Man, the smell comin from HSBC Arena the last 2 games waffered clear into downtown Niagara Falls. Awful, just awful play from the top 2 lines.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.