The "Official" Sabres @ Pens gameday thread!

[Mitchy moo]

GO Sabres!!!!!!

Game Day Preview
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Matchup</TD></TR><TR class=colhead align=middle><TD> </TD><TD>W-L-OTL</TD><TD>HOME</TD><TD>ROAD</TD><TD>DIV</TD><TD>CONF</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD align=left>BUF</TD><TD>50-21-7</TD><TD>27-10-3</TD><TD>23-11-4</TD><TD>17-11-3</TD><TD>44-18-6</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD align=left>PIT</TD><TD>45-23-11</TD><TD>25-9-5</TD><TD>20-14-6</TD><TD>19-9-3</TD><TD>39-20-10</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=8>· Complete Standings (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/standings)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Team Stat Comparison</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD> </TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>285</TD><TD>Goals
</TD><TD>261</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>231</TD><TD>Goals Against
</TD><TD>233</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>70</TD><TD>Power Play Goals
</TD><TD>90</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>70</TD><TD>Power Play Goals Allowed
</TD><TD>73</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>8</TD><TD>Shorthanded Goals
</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>13</TD><TD>Shorthanded Goals Allowed
</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>1139</TD><TD>Penalty Minutes
</TD><TD>1193</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>15</TD><TD>Average Penalty Minutes
</TD><TD>15</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=9>Goalie Breakdown</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD> </TD><TD>GOALIE</TD><TD align=right>GP</TD><TD align=right>W</TD><TD align=right>TGA</TD><TD align=right>GAA</TD><TD align=right>SO</TD><TD align=right>SV</TD><TD align=right>SV%</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD align=middle rowSpan=3>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>Ryan Miller (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2637)</TD><TD align=right>60</TD><TD align=right>37</TD><TD align=right>165</TD><TD align=right>2.82</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>1650</TD><TD align=right>.909</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Martin Biron (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1395)</TD><TD align=right>19</TD><TD align=right>12</TD><TD align=right>54</TD><TD align=right>3.04</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>479</TD><TD align=right>.899</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>Ty Conklin (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2742)</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>9</TD><TD align=right>3.21</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>78</TD><TD align=right>.897</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD align=middle rowSpan=2>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD><TD>Marc-Andre Fleury (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3341)</TD><TD align=right>64</TD><TD align=right>38</TD><TD align=right>177</TD><TD align=right>2.85</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>1685</TD><TD align=right>.905</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Jocelyn Thibault (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=688)</TD><TD align=right>22</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>52</TD><TD align=right>2.83</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>520</TD><TD align=right>.909</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Team Stat Leaders</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD> </TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>G</TD><TD>Thomas Vanek (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3344) 39</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 36</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>A</TD><TD>Daniel Briere (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1737) 61</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 81</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>PTS</TD><TD>Daniel Briere (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1737) 93</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 117</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>PIM</TD><TD>Andrew Peters (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2979) 125</TD><TD>Jarkko Ruutu (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1981) 117</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>SOG</TD><TD>Daniel Briere (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1737) 227</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 239</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

STATS LLC
Looking to move closer to their first division title in eight seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=pit) host a Buffalo Sabres (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=buf) team that can clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win Tuesday night.
The Sabres (50-21-7) lead the conference with 107 points, five ahead of Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey and Ottawa, the top team in the Northeast Division. Buffalo has four games left and one in hand on both clubs, which face each other Tuesday at Continental Airlines Arena.
"You don't want to wait until the last game to clinch first place, you want to do it right away," Sabres forward Derek Roy (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2937) said.
While the Sabres are in control of the East, they are one point behind Western Conference-leading Detroit in the race for the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points in the NHL.
Buffalo's hopes of ending up with home-ice advantage throughout the postseason took a hit Saturday with a 4-3 loss at Montreal. Saku Koivu (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1341) scored the winner 3:22 into the third period, coming off the bench and intercepting Ales Kotalik (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2889)'s clearing attempt before driving the net and beating Ty Conklin (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2742) with a shot into the top right corner.
"We had a period of time where I think five out of six rushes we turned it over at the blue line," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "I don't think we were sitting back, I just thought we made some poor decisions when we hit the line."
The Penguins (45-23-11) managed to secure a point Saturday after rallying from a three-goal deficit before losing 5-4 in overtime at Toronto.
"We were fortunate to get a point," said Penguins left wing Gary Roberts (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=9), who scored his second goal in three games. "When you play in this atmosphere and the environment you got to be on your toes."
Pittsburgh, which has clinched its first playoff spot since 2000-01, is one point behind the Devils in the Atlantic. The Pens have not finished atop a division since winning the Northeast in 1997-98.
Sidney Crosby (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737), who had a goal Saturday to give him nine points in the last four games, has four goals and five assists in seven games against Buffalo. The league's top scorer with 117 points, Crosby had a goal and two assists before scoring the winner in a shootout for a 5-4 victory over the Sabres in the last meeting March 13.
The Penguins have won the last two matchups with Buffalo after losing the season series opener 4-2 on Nov. 17. Following the home game against the Sabres, they visit the Senators on Thursday before wrapping up the regular season at home against the New York Rangers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=nyr) in a tough closing stretch.

thx to: ESPN

[camelcowboy]

Alright Skooby its all on the line tonight. If the sabres screw up were holding votes to see who should do the next game thread. We'll need to make abrupt change like the devils :up:

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

I think the Sabres are going wait until Thurs and clinch the division & conference in front of their fans @ a sold out HSBC Arena against Boston in the final home game of the regular season.

[Michael82]

I think the Sabres are going wait until Thurs and clinch the division & conference in front of their fans @ a sold out HSBC Arena against Boston in the final home game of the regular season.
if they do that, they might technically clinch the division beforehand anyways if Ottawa loses.

[chubluv]

Lets just get it done who cares if its at home or on the road.

:hockey:

:gosabres:

[camelcowboy]

I think the Sabres are going wait until Thurs and clinch the division & conference in front of their fans @ a sold out HSBC Arena against Boston in the final home game of the regular season.

If thats the case kiss the presidents trophy good bye.

[RockStar36]

Win it tonight. Clinch the conference in Pittsburgh, on National TV for everyone to see. It might put the Crosby lovefest on hold for a few minutes.

[Michael82]

Win it tonight. Clinch the conference in Pittsburgh, on National TV for everyone to see. It might put the Crosby lovefest on hold for a few minutes.
Good post! I'd love to see them shut him down! :snicker:

[Mitchy moo]

Win it tonight. Clinch the conference in Pittsburgh, on National TV for everyone to see. It might put the Crosby lovefest on hold for a few minutes.

We'll show syd tonight that our boys are back!

[OpIv37]

ATTN DIRECTV PEOPLE:

Channel 95 is picking up the HD feed for the game! Kickass.

[Mitchy moo]

ATTN DIRECTV PEOPLE:

Channel 95 is picking up the HD feed for the game! Kickass.

whoo-hoo!

[Mitchy moo]

We win 4-1, woo hoo!!

[SkateZilla]

See, skooby posts the GDT, i threaten him, we own,

[Mitchy moo]

See, skooby posts the GDT, i threaten him, we own,

I've had the anvil hanging over my head for a while now.

[SabreEleven]

The Peguins couldn't skate with the Vs. announcer's head straight up their ass. It was unbelievable.

[Michael82]

Good post! I'd love to see them shut him down! :snicker:
That was nice to see! 0 points for Crosby. :snicker:

[OpIv37]

The Peguins couldn't skate with the Vs. announcer's head straight up their ass. It was unbelievable.

After RJ, all other hockey announcers seem boring, and the VS announcers always seem to have their lips firmly planted on the ass of the Sabres' opponents (even if the Sabres are winning or only down by one, as was the case with the Devils game a few weeks ago).

But, it was a worthwhile trade-off for seeing the game in HD.

[Dude]

The Peguins couldn't skate with the Vs. announcer's head straight up their ass. It was unbelievable.And if the games were still on RYPN ... uh, I mean ESPN - it would be the same way.