The Toronto Maple Laughs come to the HSBC Arena to take on the Sabres-game thread

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

http://scoreboards.aol.com/images/hockey/nhl/logos/25x25/BUF.gif VS. http://scoreboards.aol.com/images/hockey/nhl/logos/25x25/TOR.gif


Faceoff: 7 p.m. HSBC Arena
TV: MSG Radio: 550 AM Season Series: Sabres lead, 2-1Buffalo Sabres Who's hot: RW Maxim Afinogenov has three goals and two assists in his last five games. Record last 5: 3-2
Power play: 39-240 (16.3%-19th)
Penalty killing: 175-213 (82.1%-17th)
Injuries: D Henrik Tallinder (ankle) and C Tim Connolly (concussion) are out.
Fast fact: The Sabres have an 8-2-1 record against the Leafs since the NHL lockout.





Toronto Maple Leafs Who's hot: Jeff O'Neill has a goal and four assists in his last five games.
Record last 5: 2-2-1
Power play: 46-234 (19.7%-5th)
Penalty killing: 194-240 (80.8%-22nd)
Injuries: LW Darcy Tucker (foot), C Kyle Wellwood (groin), Nik Antropov (ankle), and RW Aleksander Suglobov are questionable. C Michael Peca (knee), LW Alexei Ponikarovsky (shoulder) and D Andrew Wozniewski (shoulder) are out.
Fast fact: Leafs have lost two straight and have three three-game losing streaks over past 20 games.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070111/1067087.asp

[RockStar36]

Anyone know who is starting in goal. I have both on my team and need to know which one to start.

[SkateZilla]

Biron is supposedly starting.

[Valerie]

As a Leaf fan, I have very little confidence in my team beating the Sabres. The Leafs suck. Good luck tonight Sabre Fans, although I don't think you're going to need it. lol :hockey:

[MikeInRoch]

Leaf fan?? BOOOO!!

[BlackMetalNinja]

I would guess Biron even though Ryan played well last night. They mentioned on TSN last night that Lindy had said that they need to a better job of getting Marty into the lineup more often to keep him sharp and keep his value up.

[im4bflo]

"LET'S GO! SLUG-A-LO!" :beer:

[SabreEleven]

I think we should have started Marty last night and Ryan tonight, but, hey, that is just me.

[hammerbillsfan]

1-0 Leafs

[Ebenezer]

Leaf fan?? BOOOO!!
yes, but we would all be willing to try to convert her :naughty:

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

There you go Sabres SCOOOOOORES!!! :huh: Vanek on a PP goal :shocked: 1-1

[The_Philster]

****!!!

[MikeInRoch]

Nice dive leading to that goal...

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Nice dive leading to that goal...

Vanek didn't dive a Leaf cross :check:ed him in the crease!

[SpillerThrills]

Vanek didn't dive a Leaf cross :check:ed him in the crease!


I think he was talking about the "penalty" on Spacek.... he never touched the guy and he fell down! tripping my A$$

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

:doh: ooops my fault :sorry:

[SabreEleven]

We get screw by the ref's even on our home ice.

[MikeInRoch]

Yes, I was talking about the one on Spacek.

[BlackMetalNinja]

Am I the only one that can't freakin stand hearing "Go Leafs Go" when we're at home!!!

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Scoooores DRUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRYY! TIED @ 2 :question: what PP woes :laughing: that's 2 tonight!

[hammerbillsfan]

3-2 Leafs

[Iehoshua]

Martin Bi-wrong.

[hammerbillsfan]

Peters got flattened.

[Iehoshua]

Biron Buh-lows.

[Nighthawk]

Anybody who thinks that we can win the cup if Miller goes down with an injury is clueless. The style of hockey we play and the type of goalie Biron is, do not make for a championship. Also, I truly believe that this team is WAAAY to comfortable and might benefit from a trade. They just don't skate hard enough and Briere & Hecht might be 2 of the laziest players away from the puck. They are constantly caught in their own zone and are terrible at getting the puck off the other team's players.

[SkateZilla]

typical buffalo vs toronto game, not gonna bother getting worked up over it....

[GThirst]

lol yea, blame biron. Not the terrible defensive play and complete failure to clear the zone. Biron had no help. Campbell and Kalinin were especially crappy.

[Philagape]

If it wasn't for Biron it would have been 10-2

[SkateZilla]

If it wasn't for Biron it would have been 10-2

True,

lol, if it wasnt for Lydman it woulda been 2-1 Sabres...

[Dr. Lecter]

Biron Buh-lows.

You should have watched the game.

Biron kept the Sabres in the game. He was their best player.

[Tiburon1724]

I'm worried by the way they've been playing lately. I don't see them going far into the playoffs anymore. The special teams SUCKS after being great last year - WHAT HAPPENED?! And lately they're not scoring like they had been earlier in the season. Plus, they seem to have lost some of the hunger - fewer comebacks and close calls.

[GThirst]

You are completely right. The current way the team is playing, they would not even break the first round. Since around the start of December the Sabres have been anything but sensational. Infact, they have been mediocre at best. The goaltenders seem to be the only ones showing up to the games, and the defense has been very questionable.

I'm just pissed. The Canucks AND Sabres lost tonight, and those are my favorite teams :fit:

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

I'm worried by the way they've been playing lately. I don't see them going far into the playoffs anymore. The special teams SUCKS after being great last year - WHAT HAPPENED?! And lately they're not scoring like they had been earlier in the season. Plus, they seem to have lost some of the hunger - fewer comebacks and close calls.

It's only one game, this team will be fine, they hate to :loser: and they never say die! were only half way through the seaon and were so far ahead of everyone in the Eastern Conf. that they can afford to take nights off. The guys are tired but Lindy will have this team ready to go after the All-Star Break. Why the PP has been so bad :loser: Scott Arniel has really hurt us! bigtime but hopefully the 2 PP goals that we scored last night will get us started don't worry about this team we'll be fine.

[SabreEleven]

I'm worried by the way they've been playing lately. I don't see them going far into the playoffs anymore. The special teams SUCKS after being great last year - WHAT HAPPENED?! And lately they're not scoring like they had been earlier in the season. Plus, they seem to have lost some of the hunger - fewer comebacks and close calls.

You're wrong. This isn't one of the greatest teams of all times. They are going to lose games and go on losing streaks. Hell, last year didn't they lose 5 or 6 games in a row? Once it comes closer to playoffs and the actual playoffs, you see a different team. More focused. Playing in Chicago the night before and getting in at 3 am couldn't help there cause.

[YardRat]

They'll kick it up a notch when the play-offs arrive. If they are going to go through streaks where they play lazy and sloppy, now's the time to do it.

[JD]

If you blame Biron for the game, you are a tool.

It was probably the worst game I have ever been to. We played like absolute ****. Other than Drury, Goose and Biron...the rest of the team was on Chippewa at the beer blast Area 42 was throwing.

I didnt really mind the make beleaf fans until the end when they started running their mouths and fighting security guards.

I was embarassed that their country is even touching our country, thats just how bad it got.

Never a problem at the HSBC unless Toronto comes to town.. and my oh my DO THEY HAVE SOME UGLY FANS OR WHAT! lol. The girls were definitely double-baggers.

[SabreEleven]

Valerie IS a fan :snicker:

[Nighthawk]

It's only one game, this team will be fine, they hate to :loser: and they never say die! were only half way through the seaon and were so far ahead of everyone in the Eastern Conf. that they can afford to take nights off. The guys are tired but Lindy will have this team ready to go after the All-Star Break. Why the PP has been so bad :loser: Scott Arniel has really hurt us! bigtime but hopefully the 2 PP goals that we scored last night will get us started don't worry about this team we'll be fine.

That's the problem, it isn't just one game...it's been about a month & a half since this team really has played well. People get way to caught up in their record and don't look at the bigger picture, which is how the team is playing. Right now, this team is not the best team in the league...they are way to complacent and need a shake up.

[SkateZilla]

we've played half ass and effortless since game 1, and thats the truth, then again, when you play for 20 minutes and build a 7-0 lead, you can coast....